THEIR IMPUDENCE. 315 



Still they continued to spread and multi- 

 ply, not by conversion but by immigration, 

 to an alarming extent ; and in proportion as 

 they grew strong in numbers, they also be- 

 came more exacting and bold in their pre- 

 tensions. In a Httle paper printed at Inde- 

 pendence under their immediate auspices, 

 eyerything was said that could provoke hos- 



their ' worldly' 



boldened by impunity, i 

 their determination to b 



they became 



boast of 



of the ' Land of Zion ;' a revelation to that ef 

 feet having been made to their prophet 



The people now began to perceive, that, at 

 the rate the intruders were increasmg, tliey 

 would soon be able to command a majority 

 of the county, and consequently the entire 

 control of affairs would fall into their hands. 

 It was evident, then, that one of the two par- 

 ties would in the course of time have to aban- 

 don the country ; for the old settlers could not 

 think of bringing up their famihes in the 

 midst of such a corrupt state of society as the 

 Mormons were estabUshing. StiH the nuisance 

 was endured very patiently, and without any 

 attempt at retahation, until the 'saints' actu- 

 ally threatened to eject tlieir opponents by 

 main force. This last stroke of impudence 

 at once roused the latent spirit of the honest 

 backwoodsmen, some of whom were of the 

 pioneer settlers of Missouri, and had become 

 familiar with danger m their terrific wars with 

 the savages. They were therefore by no 



