The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1880-07-23

The CELEBRATION OF Pioneer Day
The Oath of July-is one of those
pleasant and proper ceremonies in
which we can all take part without
doing violence TO our feelings. 1t is
true, the pioneers we're religious
band, seeking a country away from
the haunfs of civilized men, and
hunting for places to build bomes
where they could be freer to practice
their peculiar faith than they had
been " in the world" But they
were nevertheless pioneers, and
while doing for themselves did for
mankind. Whether or not they
built better than they knew
is not to be considered now.
They built well, and the hun
dreds of thousands OF people who
have been benefited and profited in
various ways by the enterprise and
wisdom of the pioneer band can well
afford to give credit and just aokaowl-
Cdgment to the brave little company
Of men and women who marked the
trail and opened the way that has
been travelled and followed by the
countless Thousands since. It is not
necessary for a citizen of Utah TO be 8
Mormon" in order to celebrate the
TWenty-fouyth of July, and respect
the advance guard of the civiiiz ition
that has sprung up in this territory.
All classes Of citizens are, or
should be, alike interested in
keeping green the memory OF that
eventful July day in 1S47. the ami
versary OF which We celebrate TO-
morrow, when the little company of
dusty, weary, ragged but brave and
determined people came through the
mountain pass en- the east, and un-
furled the stars and stripes to the
breeze in this delightful valley.
Declaring their journey into the
wilderness ended, and that this must
be their future home, they put the
pillow into the ground and with the
determination aud industry that had
characterized them in their lonely
and tedious march of over a thou.
sand miles, they went to work and
laid the foundation OF what VIZ
see to-day when We look around
l: was they who choose the site
for this. tho preltiest city on the
American continent. We all owe
them much for this. 1t was they
who led the way for the 145, 600 pee
pie who now make up the population
OF Utah, and call this pleasant land
their home. Do we not owe them
something for that, ami can We DO
less than honor them in marking by
extra ceremony and Joyful observance
the anniversary OF the completion OF
their long and lonesome journey that
has resulted in so much In so brief q
period ? Some grumbieEs at men say
IF Brigham Young and his associate
pioneers had not come across the
plains, and opened the way to
these valleys, other men would have
done So" Yes, that ia true.
1t is also uue that il Christopher
Columbus had not discovered
America others would have made the
discovery. II We are not bigoted,
net mean, we can honor the pioneers,
and praise the mighty work the foun-
dation for which was laid thirty
three years ago tomorrow and We
will let no narrow prejudices, no
smallness of mind or littleness OF
seul deter Us from paying just hon.
sge TO the men to whom credit and
homage are dus. l. is a delightful
and consistent custom that demands
the celebration OF JAY 24,h. We
hope the custom will grow into
law, when the day will
be made a legal holiday, as it
is a holiday by popular consent and
observance now. It is the only day
belonging exclusively to Utah, and it
ought to be disIinctively and lawfully
marked, though there is little danger
that it viii be forgotten. The cele-
bration premises to be the grandess
thing of the kind ever seen in the
west. The people. with a degree of
appreciation and enthusiasm worthy
oil them and the occasion, have
entered into the proceeding with q
will, and the result will be a
procession, and 3 trade and industrial |
representation that cannot fail to
astonish as it must certainly plea,e
ell who behold or take part in it.