Mexico Missouri message., 1907-02-14

over across the mountains the year
before, on the decaycd granite bed
rock OF the tail race ut the mill u
one Suffer. man had picked up
few particles OF gold. the largest as
big as grains Of wheat. The nows OF
the wonder had spread TO tho east,
and now came frenzled hordes OF gold
seekers. The valley OF the mountains
where tho Saints had hoped to hide
was directly In their path. and there
they stopped their richly laden trains
to rest and to renew their supplies.
The harvest Of 40 was bountiful In
all the valley; and thus was the Wild
prophecy OF Joel Rae made sober
truth. Many OF the gold seekers had
loaded their wagons with merchandise
for the mining camps; but in their
haste to be at the golden hills. they
now sold II at a sacrifice in order to
| tighten their loads. The movement
across the Slerras became a wild
race: clothing. provisions. tools and
arms-things most needful to the
half-clad, half-starved community on
the shores OF the lake-were bartered
10 them at less than half-prlce for
fresh horses and light wagons.
Tho next year the gain to the Saints
was even greater. as the tide Of gold
seekers rose. Early that summer
they sold -four to the oncoming le
glons for a dollar a pound, taking
their pay in the supplies they most
needed on almost their own terms.
This passing Of the gold seekers
was not, however. a blessing without
drawbacks. For the Saints had hoped
to wax strong unobseryed. unmolest-
ed forgotten. in this mountain retreat
But now obscurity could no longer be
their lot The hated Gentiles had
again to be reckOned with.
First, the United States had ex-
panded or the west to include their
territury--the fruit of the Mexican
war-the poor bleak desert they were
making TO blossom. Next. the gov.
eminent at Washington had sent to
construe and administer their laws
men ~ho were aliens from the Com.
monwealth of Israel. True. Willard
Fillmore had appointed Brigham gov
ernor of the new territory-but there
were chief justices and associate jus.
tices, secretaries, attorneys, mar.
shals, Indian agents from the wicked
and benighted East; men who frank.
ly disbelieved that the voice OF Brig
ham was as the voice OF God, and
who did not hesitate to let their
heresy be known. A stream of these
came and went-trouble-monge who
despised and insulted the Saints, and
returned to Washington with cal
umnies on their lips. II was true that
Brigham had continued. as was right
to be the only power in the territory;
but the narrow.minded oppointees og
the federal government persisted in
misconstruing this circumstance; re-
fusing TO look upon II as the just
mark OF Heavens favor, and declar-
ing 1t to be the arrogance Of a mere
civil usurper.
Under such provocation Joel Rae
longCd more than ever TO be a Lion
OF the Lord, for those above MIN in
the church endured too easily, he
considered, the indignities that were
put upon them by these eyilmindel
Gentle politicians. He would have
rejected them forthwith, as he be-
lieved the Lord would have had them
do.-nay. as he believed the Lord
would sooner or later punish them for
not doing. He would have thrust
them into the desert, and called upon
the Lord for strength TO meet tho
storm that would doubtless be raised
by such 4 course. He was impatient
when tho older men cautioned moder.
alton and the petty wiles OF dIplo-
macy. Yet he was not altogether
discouraged; for even they lost pa
thence at times. and were almost as
outspoken as he could have wished.
The spring OF sc found them
again digging roots and resorting ia
all the old pitifuI makeshifts OF
famine.
This" declared Joel Rae. to the
starving people. lis a Judgment oi
Heaven upon us for permitting Gen
tile aggression. II is meant to clench
into our minds the Gods truth thai
we must stand by our faith with the
arms OF war II need be-"
Brother Rae is Just a little mite
soul.proud." Brigham thereupon con
: fded to his counsellors, and
y wouldn't wonder II the Lord woult
e be glad to see some OF II taken ou
OF him. Anyway, I've got a job fol
3 him that will just about do it,
Brigham sent for him the next day
4 and did him the honor to entrust 4
;, him an important mission. He wal
a to go back to the Missouri river ant
!, bring ON one OF the hRnd-cart parties
NJ that were to leave there that sum
!, mer. The three years OF famine haS
u left tho Saints In the valley poor. 81
u that the immigration fund was de
"a pleted. The oncomlng Saints. there
I, fore. who were not able to pay thei