Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1895-11-02

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vast area OF land that has heretofore
been considered worthless. II has been
locked upon as unfit for human habita-
ton. 1t is what is called the arid re-
gions, OF which Utah may be said to be
the center. II was thought that this
was good enough for Mormons, and
some who have found fault with us re.
ligiously, and who have said that we
were misled, have described our land as
n cursed land. land OF salt, land OF
dryness, land OF bauenness. a land
that should be stunned by men instead
OF sought for as a home. They would
use this as an argument to show that the
authority OF the Priesthood was not here
or we would not have been led to such
place. This until quite recently has been
the very general opinion; but We have
had visitors come here by the thousands,
and they have discovered that Utah Is
an exceedingly fertile region, and they
have seen the results OF the labor and
the application OF the La,tcr-day Saints,
and their admiration has been excited
by the sight. Hence change has
gradually taken place In public opinion
upon these points, Aud now the time
has come when there must be some
thing done to relieve the crowded popu.
lation OF the large cities; attention is
turned to what is called the arid regions,
and steps are being taken to provide
ways aud means for the settling OF these
regions, and thinking men look around
TO see the best plan tnat can be adopted
Tor the settling Of the people upon these
lands. This brings before them the
condition Of Utah Territory. They see
what has been done here by the Nor.
mon people, to begin with, and by others
who have come in, and they say, This
Is the example. Here Is a practical
illustration Of the manner In which peo.
pie who have very little means can make
their living from the soil in the arid
regions" Everything that President
Young did IN the beginning, and every.
thing that has been done since, is now
looked upon with the greatest favor.
have listened to most eloquent adj.
dresses, giving to President Young the
greatest praise Tor that which he accom-.
plished in Utah Territory.
My brethren aud sisters, this is the
condition today. The world Is turning
their attention TO us. They are looking
to see what we are doing, and they give
us credit for being far richer people
than we are. A most extraordinary
thing happened-that is, | thought Il
extfaordinary-at this late Irrigation
Congress. A committee on resolutions
was appointed, and all the resolutions
introduced In the Congress were referred
TO this committee. They embodied such
OF these resolutions as they approved OF
in an address, and when the ad lress was
brought In and reported, ! thought IL
was tho most important part Of the pro.
ceedings, because upon the character oi
this address would be likely to depend
the legislation OF the United States Con.
gress, and prepared myself by going
on TO the floor (having before that a seat
on the platiorm) to discuss this address.
In the address there was a comparison
between the landless people OF Massa.
chusse,ts and the ninety per cent OF the
people oil Utah who owned their own
homes. which was uniavorable TO Massa.
chusetts and exceedingly favorable TO
Utah. l had a conversation with dele
gate from New Mexico aud suggested 10
him that that did not please us, and he
called attention to It. | afterwards got
tins floor myself, and ! addressed the
Congress on the subject. and do you
know that II was with diiiirIty that we
could get that changed, they we've 50
determined to give Utah the praise which
they said Utah deserved and to give
Massachusetts the discredit which they
said Massachusetts deserved. They
said II was only telling the truth, and
why not let II standl Aud u was only
by using influence OF this kind, saying to
them That we from Utah preferred TO
have that stricken out, because we did
not want to excite any feeling in MasSa-
chusetts against Utah. tina, we succeed.
ed IN getting the line stricken out about
Massachusetts. To me this was a won.
derlul thing. | said to myself, who
would have thought few years ago
that II would be necessary for delegates
from Utah to plead against getting too
good character as conrasted with
other portions OF the Union, especially
with the state OF Massachusetts,
mention this to show you how public
opinion has changed At that Congress
whenever allusion was made to Utah II
was in the most respectful manner. !
call attention to this because we are
being forced into public notice, Tine
eyes OF the world are being drawn to us,
and in the providence Of our God this
will continue to be the case more and
more. There is not an irrigation gSsocia.
ton that would not like TO have men
from Utah come and visit II and tell the
people how to settle the land. how to
irrigate the land, how TO live ON a small
piece OF land and keep out OF debt, and
now to live In union aud harmony, and
now to build farm settlements close to-
gether, where the people can meet to.
gether Tor religious, social and educa.
tional purposes, aud not be scattered
over large surface OF ground, distant
from each other. These measures that
God has inspired HIS servants to take in
this country, aud which we know the
Lord inspired President Young to take
as the leader OF the people, and which
some probably have thought were Just
the conlrivance OF man, are today ap.
proved OF men. The world, OF course,
think il is mans wisdom and shrewdnssi
that has accomplished this; but we know
that President Young was inspired OF
God. After the lapse OF time the win.
dication Of these measures and the coun-
sci given by the servants OF the Lord is
coming We have had to wait some
time for il, but II is coming at last--a
vlndicauon that Is most gratifying to all
OF us who have lived to behold IL and to
hear 1t expressed.
So It will be, tell you. in everything
connected with this people. Men are