The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-07-25

formal program of the day was carried
out Fully 5000 persons crowded around.
Some little time was required by the
committee in charge of this phase of the
celebration to make the aged men and
women comfortable. but under the direc-
ton Of d. NJ. McAllister seats were pro-
vioed for every pioneer. and for those who
participated in the program.
Charles X. Pike opened the exercises by
singing THE Star Spangled Banner" He
was Joined in the refrain by the pioneers.
whose Quaverin5 voices sounded strangely
weak, when the crowd took up the air.
A few Introductory remarks were made
by Dryden COOmbs, chairman of the pro-
gram committee, and Mathonihah Thorn
as was introduced as the orator Of the
day.
Mr.. Thomas said that Pioneer day
should be a day of worship, because it
marked the founding of a commonwealth
wrought in manner that is unique in
the annals of history. This common
wealth was not set up on the graves of
the defeated, but it was carved from Ma
lures broad domain as a home where they
might enjoy peace after the tumultuOus
experiences which they had suffered in
the past.
The speaker gave a synopsis of the MS
tory of the Mormon people from the earli-
est days of the church. He recalled the
trials and fluctuations of the perilous trip
across the plains, and recited the manner
in which the flag of the country had been
planted on the crest of the hills overlook
ing the valley of refuge.
/. Mr. Thomas said that the sorrows of
the formative period of the states his
tory are now past, and all that is I'M
pleasant should be forgotten. Some things
might have been done better, but could
they have been improved upon under SIM
liar conditions? He pleaded that all
classes and creeds in the state unite to
upbuild the state and to bury the bitter
neSseS of the past. in the common loyalty
to the state, and to the betterment Of all
conditions.
There is room in these mountain val
legs for all those whose hearts are in
clined TO good. to harmony and to peace -
he said in conclusion.
Utah, We Love Thee" an anthem
written by Evan Stephens, was then sung
by quartette composed Of the Misses
Irene Kelly; Edna Evans, Sadie Brady
and Claudia Holt
President A ]. Davis of the city coun-
Gil was to have delivered short address,
but owing 10 business call which took
him out of the city, he was not present.
Pioneer Makes Speech.
w. w. Ritter. one of the original pio-
neers of 1S47, was introduced.
He said that there have been few events
IN history that have been so important as
the migration OF the pioneers to the val
leys of Utah. He compared this migra-
ton TO the movements of the Children of
Israel toward the Promised Land. The
Children of Israel Travelled about $40
miles. while the pioneers travelled 1900
miles across a barren, trackless desert
land. He declared that the pioneers were
not wild-eyed fanatics. but were filled
with divine faith in God, and they had
the power to read the signs of the times
Our people did not build better than
they knew the speaker said, because
they could see what they were doing.
Brigham Young predicted that the mu-
nicipal limits of Salt Lake would one day
extend from Hot Springs on the north to
south val
diction is being rapidly fulfilled.
president Young stood at the corner
of State and Brigham streets one day
and. looking toward the mountains, said
that he. could see gold and silver enough
buried in those hills to pay off the ma
tional debt. That was before the discov-
cry of precious metals in the state
Praise for University.
Mr. Ritter then paid a tribute to the edu-
catiOnal institutions of the state. and EN-
phasized his remarks with reference to
the University of Utah. He spoke of the
patriotism OF the Saints from the earliest
days of their organization, and told of the
floating of the American flag on the hill
tops of the then Mexican territory. He
recounted several incidents of Indian war
fare when the Indians were driven from
the southern part of the state after the
pioneer settlers had become weary of their
depredationS.
in conclusion, the speaker said:
II wish to say to my old friends that
they will go to a country where they will
not be pioneers, and the color of their
hair suggests that it will not be long be-
fore they make that journey. You will
be welcomed there, though you will not
be pioneers, and may the few remaining
days of your stay on this earth be filled
with peace and plenty
w. c. A. Smoot. the oldest living pio
neer, who has passed his ninety-second
birthday was called to the stand but
could not be induced to speak.
The pioneers and the audience sang
America" which concluded the exer-
cises at the band stand