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President's Office
Gt Salt Lake City Feb. 19th, 1866
President Geo. Nebeker
Laie, Oahu, Sandwich Islands.
Dear Brother:-
Your very welcome letter of Jan. 7th came to hand on Saturday evening the 17th instant, and was perused with interest and pleasure. It has been some weeks since we heard from you direct, though letters from various ones of the brethren have been received which have informed us of your welfare and prospects.
The winter here has been more than usually severe, and the snow has been deeper and has remained longer on the ground than it has any previous winter since our settlement here. The fineness of the Fall enabled our people to do a great amount of work before winter commenced, and they were better prepared for cold weather when it came than they otherwise would have been. The weather now is very pleasant through the day, though the nights are rather cold.
The health of the people has generally been good and peace has prevailed. Our enemies have not been idle; but, notwithstanding their villainous plots and secret working, no Saint has been disturbed; we have been permitted to pursue the even tenor of our way unmolested and undisturbed with our rights of worship and liberty of action maintained intact. The heathen will rage and imagine vain things, as long as, they live; they will plot mischief and exercise all their ingenuity to make their schemes successful; this is all the delight they have. But God reigns, and what can they do beyond what He permits? Every act of theirs, though condemnatory of them, through the evil intents which prompt them, will be overruled for the good of the righteous, and for the perpetuity and triumph of His work. These men, who are now doing all in their power here to injure us and destroy God's work, are as unscrupulous and wicked as any who have preceded them in the same labor and Spirit; they would not hesitate to adopt any measures, or to go to any lengths, where their lives would not be endangered, to accomplish their accursed designs; but their fate will be the same as the fate of those who have preceded them. Out of the host of those who have taken this course, in opposition to us, who is there that has gained anything but disgrace and shame, or has prospered in their operations?
Our City election was held a week ago to-day. Bro. A. O. Smoot resigned the office of Mayor after being re-nominated, desiring to be relieved from the labors and to enjoy a respite. President D. H. Wells was elected Mayor; and two new Aldermen and three new Councilors were nominated and elected in the place of the same number of the old members. An effort was made which proved very successful, to arouse the people to action who had not taken the necessary steps to qualify themselves to vote, and also to have the citizens turn out to the polls. Hundreds took out their first papers and hundreds more took out their full papers; 2433 votes were polled. Our enemies appeared to have some notion of running an opposition ticket; but, if they had any such intention, they thought better of it, or considered it hopless.
Your letter speaks in encouraging language of your prospects for planting cotton and cane, and the adaptability of your land for the production of those articles. I am pleased to hear this, and also to see that you feel so cheerful and hopeful. There is no need for yourself or any of the brethren to feel discouraged or bad. We are required to do the best we can in the labors which devolve upon us, walking uprightly and meekly before the Lord our God; and when we do this, it is our privilege to be happy and to be filled with peace and joy.
I do not doubt but that the cultivation of sugar cane, if rightly conducted, will prove profitable. There might be some persons who would propose to put up a sugar mill on your place, and would only ask you the interest for the investment; but if you were to accept such a proposition, you would find that it would embarrass you, and you would be put to difficulty to pay the interest, and the first thing you would know your land would have to go to pay for the mill. Now, if you could make an arrangement with some person, who is able, to put up a sugar mill, with the understanding that you would furnish cane, and the owner of the Mill make the sugar and refine it and put it into market, and you get such a share as will remunerate you, it would prove a safer thing for you, and you would be able to keep out of debt, and to make something. Should you conclude to cultivate sugar cane, you will be able to hire natives and chinamen, and if deemed suitable and best, you could put the whole of the ground into Cane, or Cotton and cane as would be most convenient and remunerative.
You should do every thing you can to meet the payments on the place; but if there should be any failure, I shall be ready to assist; of this, however, you should advise me in time. There should be no failure in meeting promptly every contract, and do not allow any thing to injure your credit or influence with the Government or among the whites and natives.
Bro. A. Randall left a note of yours with Wm B. Wright for collection. He did not sell it, so he informs me, or receive anything for it from Bro. Wright, and the latter is merely his Agent. Upon learning about the note being there I had a conversation with Bro. Randall, and I have written to Bro. Wright to bring the note home with him when he returns.
Elder Wm B Wright is released from his Mission to the Islands to return home at such a time as will suit his convenience.
With love to yourself and family and the Elders and their families who were with you, and praying the Lord to uphold and bless you in all your labors.
I remain, as ever Your Brother,
Brigham Young