Page:A dictionary of the Book of Mormon.pdf/202

King-men. and agreed to hold the city of Zarahemla in their mutual interest, which he supposed would so weaken the Nephites as to enable the Lamanites to conquer the remainder of the land. This being accomplished, he would be made king of the Nephites. The success of the royalist cause was of short duration. Moroni and Pahoran united their forces, and being joined by thousands of volunteers, they attacked the city of Zarahemla and defeated the revolutionists. In this battle Pachus was slain, and his followers, who were captured, were speedily tried for treason, as were also the king-men of the previous abortive revolt, who, for about five years, had been lying in prison awaiting trial. Those of both periods, who would not take up arms in defense of their country, but would fight against it, were executed according to law. (B. C. 62.)

In later years, the Gadianton robbers, when it suited their purposes to obtain power and plunder, declared in favor of a kingly form of government, but they had to satisfy themselves by electing to or otherwise placing on the judgment seat men of their own order, which amounted to much the same thing, as it placed the reins of government in their hands. In A. C. 30, the final attempt to restore the monarchy was made. As usual, petty place-men, and those claiming to be of higher birth, were the instigators and leaders of this disastrous uprising. The chief spirit of the revolution was a demagogue named Jacob. He was the one they chose for king. The outbreak resulted in the assassination of the last chief judge, Lachoneus the younger, and the breaking up of the nation. A kingdom was not established, but the people separated into numerous tribes, each with its independent ruler or chief. Disorganization, degradation and partial anarchy followed, crime and sin abounded, and bloody and wide-extended wars would doubtless have