The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-03-24

1t can not be, and is not disputed that the
educational facilities in Utah are of high
order Of excellence, and the effect is shown
in the statistics above presented.
CHURCHES.
OF churches other than Mormon there
are sixty-ive DIN the territory, holding
church property of the value Of $40, 900,
and having los ministers. These are
Catholic, Episcopalian, Presbyterian,
Methodist, Congregational, Baptists, etc.
THE MORAL STATUS OF THE PEOPLE oP UTAH.
The population of the territory may be
classified, generally, as follows:
Mormons- 900
Non Mormons- OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES 1000
1t is universally conceded that no locality
equally populated with Utah is freer from
the vices that affiict communities than this
territory.
1t is singularly free from saloons, houses
of prostitution, and the like, and it is undis-
puted that the people generally are moral,
industrious and law biding. While this is
true as to this population as an entirety, it
is especially true as to the Mormon portion
of it. Their characteristics in these re
spects are indicated by the following:
Governor West, in his report to the secre-
tary of the interior for 1888, says:
81 shall not arraign the Mormon people
as wanting in comparison with other PEG
pie in religious devotion, virtue, honesty,
sobriety, industry, and the graces and
qualities that adorn, beautify and bless
life"
DIR. Miller, editor of the Omaha Herald
says:
ITO the lasting honor of the Mormon
people and system be it said that for
twenty-five years such machines of moral
infamy as whisky shops, harlotries, faro
banks, and all the attendant forms of vice
and iniquity were totally unknown in
Utah.
Bishop Spaulding, in the Forum for
March, 1887, says:
THE Mormons are sober, industrious and
thrifty
Mrs. Emily Pitt Stevens, editor Pioneer,
woman's journal, writes:
Utah is the wisest and best governed of
any large section of people in the United
States. In great Salt Lake City there is
less of rowdyism, drunkenness, gambling,
idleness, theft, conspiracy against the
peace of society, and crime generally than
there is in any other city of the same popu-
lation in the country, if not on the globe"
The testimony of Bayard Taylor, the il
lustrious traveller and author, is:
1.-THE Mormons as people are the most
temperate of Americans. They are chaste,
laborious, and generally cheerful"
Governor Stevenson, of Idaho, in his re-
port to the secretary of the interior for
ISIS, says:
Paris bear Lake county, has a popula-
ton of about l, 800, all Mormons, and there
is not a saloon or gambling house, or any
other place where intoxicating liquor is
sold, and this is, am told, the case in all
the towns in Idaho where these people
have exclusive CONTROL
The governor of Arizona bears similar
testimony, and it appears that the moral
character of the Mormons is good wherever
they reside.
THE FINANCIAL CONDITION OF THE TERRI
TORY.
That the affairs of this territory have
been well managed in the past is sutfi-
GENTLY evidenced by the fact that there is
no territorial Indebtedness except S150,000
which was created about a year ago under
an act of the legislature for public institu-
lions.
The legislature had appropriated 1925, 900
for an insane asylum, $4,000 for reform
school, S25 900 for capitol building, $50, 900
for an exhibition building, $4,000 for the
university building, $4,000 for deaf mute
asylum, S25, 600 for an agricultural college,
and the debt of $50, 900 in 5 per cent. bonds
was created to meet balances due on these
appropriations.
There has been no case Of Official embez-
Element or malfeasance in office during the
twenty nine years of territorial govern
ment.
From what has now been stated it is APP
parent that all the conditions exist in
Utah, in marked degree, necessary to en-
title the people of that territory to have a
state government, and it is equally appar-
ent that, by reason of her geographical posi-
ton, her immense agricultural and mineral
resources, her accumulated wealth, and the
general intelligence and industrious and
character of her people, it is of ma
tional importance that Utah should have a
state government.
Your committee will present, however,
THE OBJECTIONS THAT ARE URGED AGINsT AID
MISSION.
These objections are:
~ The existence of polygamy.
(2) The power of the teachings of the
Mormon church on that subject.
The facts in respect of these will be pre-
sented in their order.
1t is not denied by the advocates of admis-
sion that polygamy is practiced in that ter
rltory. But they claim that it is not oblga-
tory upon the members of the Mormon
church; that it has been gradually dying
out, until now there are comparatively few
who are living in polygamous relations, and
that this few are chiefly past the meridian
OF life. They claim that polygamous mar
rlages have ceased to be solemniZed; that
In the near future polygamy will have
ceased to exist altogether, and is even now
practically dead; and that it is unjust to
deprive the many of political rights
because comparatively few are vic
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