The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-07-27
SENATOR CANNON ON " NEW
UTAH."

Senator Frank j. Cannon has con-
tributed to The Illustrated Ameri-
can" an article on New Utah." from
which the following extracts are ia
ken:
"On July "a. 1S47. the pioneers came
/ into the valley of the Great Salt Lake
"a desert land under a cruel sky-a
| land which seemed to crumble to ashes
under their touch; a land whose only
visible water was the Dead Sea, for
the little rivuletS of the mountains lost
themselves speedily in the thirsty soil.
+ Here they said, we will write a new
genesis They began at that moment
a more completely creative work than
has ever been witnessed by any other
people since history dawned. for they
had carried with them all the wants
with none of the facilities of nineteenth
century civilization
. g g,
There was among them a mighty
manufacturers say mighty because in
spired by God; all others will admit
that he was a wonderful empire foun-
der, building more from small begin
nings and by peaceful means than had
ever before been witnessed; Brigham
Young. of Puritan stock, q law giver to
them-more than a Moses, more than
pope He spoke: Thus saith the
Lord Under his guidance they mas
tered all their difficulties"
1.-THE Mormons knew that there were
riches in the hills of gold and silver;
but they practiced the self-denial of
uncovering none of these. 1t is 4 sDlen-
did exhibition OF community self-cOn-
troll in poverty, with wealth in the
mountains, and yet dangerous
wealth, that they refused to take it.
1t was they who found g0id IN Cali
fornia. When a little money was
needed Brigham Young called men On
missions 70 go TO Califo- MA and dig
gold, and bring it back to U-ah for
community purposes. While at the same
time refusing his assent II any level
opment Of mines within tn. territory"
In 1890, aged MILFORD Woodruff, one
of the pioneers and the president OF
the church, presented a manifesto TO
the congregation of his people that
plural marriage should cease. This
was ratified by the body of the people,
and the epoch of old Utah was ended.
Instantly there arose a powerful move
ment for the new Utah. MOrmOns and
Gentiles made business alliances with
each other. But more than all, there
was political division upon national
party lines. In this the church sought
to make no interference. and yet it
divided the fabric of church solidarity
from turret to foundation stone. Hot
campaigns were waged, for the people
of Utah are intense in all things. But
they partook of the nature Of no re-
ligious warfare.
The last jealousy is stilled, the last
hatred is buried. We have a state
which has laid a wonderful foundation.
Its years have been years of sorrow
and tribulation. But, rising above all,
there has been a courage IN both sides
which has exalted mankind, and the
bold spirits. once in opposition to each
other, now stand clasDing each others
hands in the determination that Utah'S
future shall be worthy Of an heroic
past. With peace and prosperity abid-
ng within our borders, with unlimited
resources to be called into being by
The stroke of industry, with oppor-
.unities unrestrained by jealousies, re-
igious or political, Utah is the fairest
ield today within the domain Of the
great American republic. l believe in
'etribution, ard as a land suffers and
stones, so I believe that it is glOrifed;
md Utah, through 80 years, has suf-
cred, and through 40 years has atoned-
Now she is coming 10 her great herit-
lge.
Editorially the American Says:
ITO many Americans Utah is still an
Unknown land in respect to it's social,
eligious and political conditions. 1t
vas within % years, the story goes,
n the midst of the unhappy struggle
'etween the Gentle and Mormon pop
llation, that somebody on a Fourth of
uly half-masted the national flag
yer the tabernacle. Yet it was five
ears ago that that great tabernacle
vas crowded beyond its capacity with
?, 600 people, Mormons and Gentiles
like, to witness the impressive cere-
nony of the presentation of 25 flags,
iven by the Youths Companion of
Soston TO the public schools of Salt
AXE City, while the vast audience
ang the Star Spangled Banner and
Ny Country Today the stars and
tripes float over every schoolhouse in
Ttah. Out from the surging antag-
nisms between the pioneer MormOns
nd the later Gentiles a new Utah has
sen. A bloodless revolution has been
nacted. The united Jubilee of the
attlement, which this week is being
Celebrated, is another demonstration
lat in America church and state have
0 quarrel that cannot be composed,
nd that patriotism in the long run is
egnant over all