The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1880-01-06

ALettcr from the City Of the saints.

Editor Butte MINER gsaf asa ~ .1.#5aa
Thinking that some interest might attach to
a letter from an old Montanian, 1 have con-
cluded to send the MINER a few items con-
corning the Saints of the Latter Days and the
mining outlook Of the Territory of Utah.
Salt Lake is now much "livelier than it has
been since the palmy days of '72, when the
Emma excitement brought men and money
to the country but it beginsto look as t,ougl,
the prosperity will be short lived. The Nor
mon Church leaders are becoming thoroughly
enraged at the present policy of the general
government. They are revolutionary as well
as fanatical, and in defense. of their most
holy faith or any principle Of it would hest
tate not one moment to resort to arms to pre-
vent the execution of the laws. Since the
Supreme Court confirmed the validity of the
anti-polygamy law of '62, there is no longer
any reason why Congress should neglect to
enforce it, and now that President Hayes has
announced his firm purpose to bring every
~violator Of that law to the bar Of justice, and
to bring Utah under the active jurisdiction of
the United States Government, extreme
bitterness of feeling has been provoked
against the national authorities. They are
denounced alike by press and pulpit, and
Mormon agents are industriously sowing the
seeds of sedition throughout the Territory.
Owing to the violent and persistent oppo-
sltion which Brigham Young manifested
towards the cause of education, the people
are grossly ignorant and superstitious and
readily believe everything concerning the
~"iniquity" of the government which these
church emissaries choose to tell them. The
result is that these poor dupes are at all times
ready and even anxious to engagein HOSTILE
ties against the government, for by wearing
the endowment robes with which they are
provided while going through the beastly
and disgusting rites of the Endowment
House ceremony, they are taught to believe
that no harm can befall them, that the bullets
of their enemies will glance off their persons
like hail-stones, and that the Lord will inter-
pose His potent influence to defeat and ami
hilate the common foe.
The extreme danger to the material inter-
es!s of the Territory is thus made apparent.
So sure as Congress undertakes to enforce the
law against poIygamy and bring the crime
stained votaries OF that loathsome practice to
the bar of justice, so sure will the Mormon
people assemble forthe armed defense Of their
so-called g principles y and warprotracted and
disastrous will inevitably follow.
Men of capital both in and cut of Salt Lake
City are rapidly taking this view of the pres
ent situation of affairs in Utah. A large
number of leading business men are quietly
going out of business before their fortunes are
wrecked by the on-coming conflict. With
few exceptions they intend removing to Mon
tana where a large number of Utah mining
and business men are already established and
making money.
But the danger of a Mormon uprising is
not the only reason why men of means are
directing their attention to Montana. 1t is q
better mining country than Utah. The mines
in this Territory are beginning to show signs
of petering. The lead deposits are not so en-
tcnsive as was reported and q great deal OF
money which has been invested in them viii
Oh the other hand is young and vlgorous,ant
now that she will soon be threaded by opposi
ton lines of railroads, it will be all easy mat
ter to market the ores and bullion Of whicl
her mines contain almost bOundles> uuanti'
ties. More Anon.
SEBASTIAN.
SALT LAKE. Dec. "a.