en assured by Harris, that if he did not, he would be
destroyed in 1832.
"T.N.S. TUCKER."
GROTON, MAY 23, 1842.
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Note 1. As I have mentioned the word _titles_: I must make myself
understood. There are certain classes of individuals in the United
States who, by their own fortune, education, and social position, could
not be easily brought over to Mormonism. Joe Smith, as a founder of a
sect, has not only proved himself a great man, but that he perfectly
understands his countrymen, and, above all, their greediness for any
kind of distinction which can nominally raise them above the common
herd, for it is a fact that no people hate the word equality more than
the American. Joe Smith has instituted titles, dignities, and offices
corresponding to those of the governments in the Old World. He has not
yet dared to make himself a king, but he has created a nobility that
will support him when he thinks proper to assume the sovereign title.
Thus he has selected individuals expressly to take care of the Church,
these form the order of the Templars, with their grand masters,
etcetera. He has organised a band of soldiers, called _Danites_, a
sacred battalion--the _celeres_ of Romulus--these are all _comites_ or
counts; their chiefs are _conductors_, or dukes. Then follow the
pontiffs, the bishops, etcetera, etcetera. This plan has proved to
answer well, as it has given to Mormonism many wealthy individuals from
the eastern states, who accepted the titles and came over to Europe to
act as emissaries from Joe, under the magnificent titles of Great
Commander, prince of Zion, Comte de Jerusalem, Director of the Holy
College, etcetera, etcetera.
CHAPTER FORTY THREE.
Let us now examine into the political views of the Mormons, and follow
Smith in his lofty and aspiring visions of sovereignty for the future.
He is a rogue and a swindler,--no one can doubt that; yet there is
something grand in his composition. Joe, the mean, miserable,
half-starved money-digger of western New York, was, as I have before
observed, cast in the mould of conquerors, and out of that same clay
which Nature had employed for the creation of a Mahomet.
His first struggle was successful; the greater portion of his followers
surrounded him in Kirkland, and acknowledged his power, as that of God's
right hand; while many individuals from among the better classes
repaired
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