Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1881-01-01
Helena, Montana Saturday, January 1881Hohday Number


now in recalling the scenery of my daily life
the summer sunsets, beautiful as indescrib-
able; the purple tints of the mountain pines,
glowing in the suns radiance; the cleaning
Of the rivers; the rich verdure Of the foot
hills; the majestic sweep Of the Valleys and
all the mottled and picturesque varieties of
rock, lake, forest and mountain. Then the
phenomenal glOries of the mountains! Can
anything in nature exceed the grandeur of
an ampitheater whose mountain walls may
be distinctly outlined for hundreds of miles,
and all at irregular distances displaying num-
erous storms of thunder and lightning? Yet,
how familiar are these views to the dwellers
in the Gallatin and other valleys. How per-
fectly glorious, how seemingly defiant of all
the laws of nature, when the lifting Of the
storm admits the suns rays into the defiles
which break the distant outline.
Living in the midst of scenery like this,
with everything in the climate and soil to
| tax the highest energies, man must neces-
sarily experience q great degree Of mental
and physical development The practical
and beautiful are here brought into very
close relationship While one is exercised in
overcoming the rigors Of climate, in the cul-
tivation of the soil and in utilizing all the
means Of livelihood, the other, however in
susceptible at first, cannot escape the elevat-
ing influences of the surrounding world.
The cOnioint effect of these diverse objects
must ultimately fill Montana with remark
able people. But there is great work to be
done first, and in this the inhabitants are
now engaged. Their schools, churches, Ii
braries, social relations and business pursuits
have had their severest trial The second
and grandest period opens with railroad
communication. Thousands, allured by the
mineral resources of the Territory will flock
there in pursuit of wealth. Thousands, pleas
ed with its climate, scenery, and the induce
ments it affords, will permanently remain
there. 1t will rapidly grow into one of the
most promising States of the Union, and its
growth in the present auspicious period must
be morse rapid than the most sanguine can
imagine. There is no prophecy in that which
must follow as a natural result; hence / ar
rogate nothing in this assertion. II IS To-day
the II ost promising Of all our Territories.
The resources of Montana, great as they
are, have not been sufficiently developed to
determine how great they will be under more
rapid settlement. The explorations which
have been made, partial and superficial in
character, have effected little more than to
assure the world that the Territory is full of
natural wealth. These explorations are
highly creditable to the people They have
been made under all possible difficulties and
privatiOns. No commonwealth in the world
deserves q better destiny than Montana,
and this must surely come.
To young men, Just starting out in life,
whose moral sense is not overshadowed by
their ambitious designs; whose generosity of
nature equals their abilities, and who have
to struggle with and conquer
early difficulties, Montana affords greater
inducements for immigration than any other
portion of our country. They can soon gain
there as citizens and with a
working people, work their own way to for
tune in any legitimate pursuit. Ample re-
ward awaits them in the future It is to
men Of this class that Montana must look
for her future renown. That she may not |
fail is my ardent wish.