Weekly Trinity journal., 1857-11-07
DGseret.

There is something wild and poetcal about the
very name, suggestive of journeying caravans.
limitless plains and boiling geysers. 1t is eight
years since we saw the City of the Desert Even
then it was the outline of great city, with
population in itself and the surrounding valleys
of twenty-se thousand souls. The sound of
hammer and saw and anvil was heard in all di
rections heavy ordnance lay about the broken
down fort built for temporary defence against
the Indians gardens grew luxuriantly, and well
dressed children were playing in the streets,
which covered with green sward. Many
families in moderate circumstances had comfort
able and nicely kept adobe houses, but Brigham
Young, aware of the great power of affected dem
ocraCy, lived in wagon boXes-hs great care, ap-
parentlY. was his people, not his own family.
1t appears to us that the Mormons' power of
resistance to a military invasion is strangely un
derrated it is forgotten that they are Ameri-
cans, trained to the privatiOns and cratiness Of
the backwOods and, in addition to defending their
own hearths and homes, the more ignorant be
leve themselves under the direct protection OF
the Almighty. They under the direction of
keen intellgences who grow rich and powerful
from the peoples superstition and at their bid
ding will fight till they are hewn limb from limb
To any one acquainted with the habits of the
people and the nature of the country surround
ing Salt Lake the idea of their immediate surren
der is preposterous They may be driven from
plain to mountain defes but there they will
fight their pursuers from cliff to cliff they will
take their cattle with them, and, as they did when
making their way to the Valley, will subsist on
the milk of the cows and what wild game they
can capture. Like the Tyroese, they will de-
fend every pass, and hurl down avalanches Of
stones on their pursueTs. At last they may have
to Weld but their faith in their religion will be
unshaken and Mormonism, like the fire hidden in
the stove will increase the more it is trodden on
by an iron shoe.
The editor of the Deseret Ne,oS tells what Salt
Lake is now :
In 1917, unfostered and unsustained by any
human aid the Saints wended their way to the
mountain Businesses of what is now called Utah.
Within that time cities have been built contain
ing, aside from the comfortable dwellings of the
less affluent, large, tasteful and commodious pub
lie and private edifces which would add grace to
the cities the most favored by time, wealth and
other facilities. Many locations, previously nude
and unsightly, have by laborious perseverng,
and often unrequited toll been caused to TEEN
with their rich products for the sustenaece of
man aud beast-of the citizen and the stranger
And trees, planted and watered with labor and
patient waiting that but few could endure, are
now bending with their burden of beautiful, lus-
eious and varied fruits, where heretofore nought
but barrenness met the eye. And mills and ma
chinery add their hum to the music of waters
hitherto unrestrained. These facts alone are OF
themselves perfect refutaton of all the lies and
ISLANDERS uttered against us.'-SGc .fge. Z,