So we are no more America's people alone, we belong to the world, to carry out our part in its redemption.

On such questions as this, I think there should be no partisanship-they are too broad for politics, in the sense in which the word is generally used; they call for that patriotism that shall, if necessary, bend or sweep aside technical objections, and rest the case on deep foundation principles, deeper than constitutions as construed by man, upon the very basis of God's will to the world!

From a past record of which no American citizen need be ashamed, we must now turn hopefully to the future. It is full of promise to us. There are great deeds to inspire us, great lives to emulate. Though we face serious and perplexing problems in our industrial life, we will solve them if we are true to ourselves, and I think our destiny will be to multiply in greatness.

Prophetic eyes foresaw the downfall of Babylon, of Greece, and of Rome. Their fate was written long before their greatest successes were accomplished. It needs no prophet to read the end of those nations in which there is not the elements of strength and endurance. An immoral, an unvirtuous or tyrannical nation cannot long remain. Weakened by its own corruption, or disintegrated by its own dissentions, it must sooner or later be absorbed by the forceful powers of the earth. Let us prophesy good of our country; let us say that soon we will settle these questions of tariff, and trusts, and labor, upon the basis of the best good to all-that we will listen to the clamors of no class, but that Justice, which should ever guide us, shall have control. Let us say that the powers of the central legislative department shall sometime be freed from the influence of gold, and directed solely to the benefit of our people. Let us say that part of our ever accumulating wealth shall be turned to our internal development, that forbidding and arid lands shall smile and blossom, that our children and our children's children may find abiding places!

The Jews as a people look with the certainty of the divine word to the re-establishment of their kingdom in power, and it will be done. We here today may trace our history, past and to come, in pages that to us are no less divine; but that the feelings of the most sensitive may not be aroused by a religious controversy, on

a matter supposed to be wholly political, let us admit that this book (Book of Mormon) which purports to be the ancient history of our country is merely the coinage of an imaginative brain, and place it by the side of those other works of fiction that have assisted in moulding public sentiment.

Then, in this light, let us turn to these pages that have influenced the lives of three hundred thousand Americans, and read these dreams of this boy, and see as he saw our country-old and new. He saw it desolated and scourged, its temples thrown down its cities depopulated-a mighty but despotic nation swept into oblivion by an angered God, whose fiat had gone forth that this land the choice of all the earth, should forever be the abode of liberty. He saw it, the spoil of a conquering and degenerate race, who roamed its boundless plains, threaded its matchless woods-walked silent and wondering amidst its ruins, until Heaven directed, that from across the seas there should come the man who should reveal it to an incredulous world. He saw it awaking from sleep under the feet of the adventurers and pilgrims of the mother countries. He saw a people grow, though trammelled and restrained by the despotism across the waters; he saw them rise, as if inspired by God's decree that this should forever be the land of liberty, and throw off the chains that bound them. He saw a great light come to them the light of independence, of truth, and of a mighty inintelligence; and now the vision merges into the future with these words still ringing, "Behold, this is a choice land, and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall be free from bondage and captivity, and from all other nations under heaven, if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ, who hath been manifest by the things which we have written."

This is part of our literature; if divine, as we testify, it is wonderful and inspiring; if fiction, it is still inspiring as possessing the very elements of truth.

Who that has not felt within his soul that this land was ordained to be the abode of liberty? Who that has not seen the Allpowerful Hand in the shaping of our republic! Who does not believe our Constitution to be inspired-our Declaration of Independence to be as the call of some warrior king of Israel for his hosts to battle! Who that has not seen in our example to the

world the radiance of an eternal truth, and the promise of better things to all mankind!

But we must, in the light of history, and of this warninggiven by prophet or patriot whichever you may choose to call him-face the future with solemn gravity, for it bears within its breast our fate, either for good or for evil. If we become an immoral or despotic nation, our strength shall dwindle, and our prestige wane, until by the hand of the Great Avenger of his decrees, we shall pass into merited oblivion. But if we are virtuous-if we are high-minded-if we treasure our brother's liberty as our own, or, in short, if we are a righteous nation, then shall we increase in glory and dominion until it shall be said, "The sun never before looked down on such a people!"

Citizens of this great republic, choose ye this day which ye shall be.

We who have grown up under this highest form of patriotic teaching ought not to stand questioning, at this stage in our progress.

Our future requires that as the individual makes the nation, so every man must be a citizen of the highest type. That our young men must be brave, clean and high-minded, that our young women shall be pure, modest and refined, that their ideals must be as lofty as these mountain peaks, their integrity as firm as these giant boulders. Then, my country, if such as these shall bear thy flag, it shall forever float the standard of liberty and enlightenment. Thy bounds shall extend, thy strength shall grow, until thou shalt be the arbiter of a grateful world, which to its utmost confines shall be made better by thy influence and light!

BISHOP EDWARD HUNTER.

BY OSCAR F. HUNTER, SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.

II.

HIS EARLY CAREER.

It was the intention of the father of Bishop Edward Hunter to give his son a thorough scholastic training. The father was much opposed to idleness, and the son was therefore early taught industry and economy, and was always given work to perform when not attending school. His father's desire to make a scholar of Edward failed because of the young man's preference for agricultural pursuits; and besides, he was somewhat opposed to attending school, and expressed a preference for work on the farm. It was then that his father insisted upon the young man learning a trade, which was agreed to, and the future Bishop was sent to Peter Pachan, his brother-in-law, who carried on the business of tanning leather. The young man worked just as other apprentices did, and made great progress in currying, and at length became proficient, both as tanner and currier, being made manager of the business at the age of twenty.

He continued in this work for some time, but the liquor of the bark seemed to close the pores of his hands, which disabled him from working. He quit the trade, and concluded to attend school again; this time he mastered the art of engineering, including the use of instruments. Having completed his study in this direction, he went into the field, but owing to the fact that

there were so many surveyors in the country, he quit the practice and visited the western part of the country, going to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, with a Mr. Davis, his intention being to engage in the mercantile or drug business. In those days there were no railroads, and overland travel, in many instances, was considered dangerous, especially where the travelers had means. He purchased a boat, in conjunction with two other persons, intending to go to St. Louis. Reaching Louisville, Kentucky, he was advised to go no further, on account of the danger encountered in traveling by land; diverted from his purpose, he continued his return journey through Kentucky and Tennessee, thence to Huntsville in the Mississippi territory, returning to Philadelphia by way of North and South Carolina and Maryland. He then purchased a half interest in the mercantile business of a Mr. D. Bomount, though this venture was rather against his father's will. However, his consent was obtained, and the good counsel which he gave to his son was carried out by the latter. Among the good. advice was this: "Edward, my son, if you lose money, say nothing about it; if you make money keep it to yourself, but do not fail; that is, do not become insolvent." This wise counsel was sacredly kept by that son throughout his whole life, and he truly remarks in his journal: "I have done business from my early manhood, and can truthfully say that I have paid every dollar of indebtedness that I ever contracted." The effects of the war of 1812-14 demoralized trade, and business was very undesirable; values shrunk, and depression continued to increase from year to year, until things looked very discouraging-so that the whole investment was threatened with being entirely wasted away.

When Edward was twenty-two years of age his father died, whereupon the son was offered his position as Justice of the Peace, which he declined on account of his youth. He was also tendered the federal candidacy, and certain election, to the Pennsylvania Legislature, but would not accept on account of being a Democrat, of which party he continued to remain a consistent adherent. He served three years as county commissioner of Delaware county, receiving at the election a higher vote than any other officer on the ticket.

In 1822, he enlisted in the Delaware county troop as cavalry