Letter from William Paxman, 24 September 1887
To Presidents
Geo. Q. Cannon,
Joseph F. Smith,
Wilford Woodruff.
My Dear Brethren:
We have received this day two very
interesting letters, one bearing date of August 2nd from Presidents
Geo. Q Cannon and Jos. F. Smith, the other from President Woodruff,
bearing date of August 16th; and I now hasten to acknowledge
the receipt of the same, for, the Lord being willing, we desire to leave
on Monday morning for a visit to the North part of the Island and
while thus traveling in Maoridom there is but little convenience or
time for corresponding.
We were delighted with the contents of your letters, and can
say Amen to all the words spoken concerning the greatness and no-
bility of character of our deceased leader and Prophet; but as you say
his biography is interwoven with the history of this dispensation, and
it is unnecessary for me to enlarge on his many noble qualities of
heart and mind, all of which are so widely known, and inasmuch
also as I wrote last mail my feelings to you regarding his death.
We were much surprised and amused at the audacity, and
brazen cheek of Uncle Sam in demanding $4,000,00000 of the Church.
And for what? Is the Nation in a state of bankruptcy and do they
wish to fill up their coffers with the hard earnings of the people
of God whom they have driven and robbed before and some of
whom they have killed? It seemes as though this step on the part of
the Nation is too glaring an act for the people of the United States even
to look upon without a feeling of insecurity for themselves and their
denominations; for if they can thus rob us, they can in like man-
ner rob them, should they happen to fall under the displeasure of
an Edmond or a Tucker. But we do not fear the result, for we know
that the Lord is on our side, and we have every thing to encourage
us. This step against the work of God will, as has been the lot of all
others, result in the complete overthrow of our enemies and the fur-
therence of the cause they are seeking to destroy.
We were thankful to hear that the People's Party came out and
did their duty at the polls to the defeating of our Liberal candidates
We think it high time that the Saints were arroused from the lethargy
