The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-12-27

There will be continued material pros
perity for both city and state. That is
already assured. An abundant water. sup
ply is already stored in the snow-bank
reservoirs Of our mountains, a guarantee
of abundant harvests. of grains and fruits
and vegetables; also a prosperous year for
stock raising and dairying industries. The
mines Will yield their treasure to the city
and state. Business enterprise will en-
large the fields of its activity, and the
clearing house reports will testify to the
increased volume of business Salt Lake
City will continue her marvellous growth;
her present phenomenal building activity
both in business centers and residence dis
tTictS. The climate for health and COM
fort, matchless; the fruitful soil; the d.
versified industries already existing and
so capable of wider expansion; the grow
ing and already famous city-all these
things making our state and city pre-
eminently the land of opportunity" will
bring within our gates a very large in
crease Of population.
But in the midst of all these splendid
prospects we stop to ask the question:
Shall we attain to the full realization
even of our material possibilities in the
coming year2 City and state will pros
per without doubt; but will il be because
wise coUnsels obtain among those who in
spire and direct community thought, and
influence public policy? Or shall such
degree of material progress as comes to
city and state obtain not because of the
triumph of wise counsels, but in spite Of
fostering the continuance of bitterness
born OF hate, and narrOwneSs and selfish
ness born OF fanaticism and bigotry? The
determination of these questions will have
much to do with the measure of our prog
reSS, even of our material progress to saw
nothing Of progress in the higher and
more noble realms of civic. moral, educa-
tional and spiritual community life.
The trend of our politics, both in our
city and our state, at present threatens
to divide DpnDlfa into
anti-Mormon parties, than which nothing
is or could be more disastrous TO our ma
tes1al and civic progress. Practically that
is our condition now in Salt Lake City and
county; and unless that tendency is
checked. it will soon be the condition in
other political subdivisions, and event
ually throughout the state. II matters lit
tie which of these parties might be suc-
cessful at the polls. In the event Of one
being successful. the other would be in
violent and bitter opposition. or in sullen
and vengeful resistance to policies inau-
gurdted, and agitation would be rife: for
the bitterness of the strife engendered by
prO-chUrch and anti-church parties is not
of the things that pass away in gOOd-na-
tured submission to the expressed will
of the majority at the close of an election
as in ordinary political contests The
questions involved in the strife between
prO-church and anti-church parties over
politics take hold of larger questions than
mere governmental policies They stir the
depths of the souls of men. and appeal
to prejudices and passions that are not
soon or easily allayed- These are the
things that menace the realization of that
fullness OF prosperity in city and state in
the coming year. and for many years to
come. And all of it is so unnecessary. If
only dispassiOnate and earnest considera-
ton was given to the things that concern
our present and future community well
fare--If they were viewed even but i'm the
twilight of craftsmanship they could be
ended But let is be set down by all
parties to the conflicts which now render
alien to each other those who should be
united in the common purpose of building
up both a still greater city and a more
noble state. wherein shall dwell both peace
and .ighteOusness-let il be set down that
a consummation so desirable cannot be
attained by the parties TO the conflict in
sisting, respectively. that all the faults
and all the errors lie on the side of their
opponents. while all the virtues and all
the wisdom are with their own side
The first steps necessary to the attain
ment Of our very highest possible devel-
opment in city and state is for each of the
coTtending parties to ask the question il
the present strife and bitterness pays If
it pays them. We all know il does not
inure TO the welfare of the city or the
state. And thence proceed to consider if
somewhat of fault lies not with them
selves, with their own methods with their.
own conception of things. with their
treatment of the party opposed. It must
be conceded that little of Christian char
ity that "endureth all things has been or
is likely to be present in our pro-church
and anti-church discussions and conflicts
City and state will make progress in the
year of grace 1909 in spite of the con-
tinuance Of our unnecessary strifes: bur
il will be a restricted progress in compar-
ison of what might obtain if only our
citizens We're united. ~
Gentlemen. have done with our local
strifes. Then viii our sister states see
such progress In city and state here as
will be worthy of the intermountain en-
pire in which our state is centrally To-
Gated, and of which our city is destined
to be the metropolis.
VIII the strife cease? Yes. ultimately.
VIII ii cease In 1909? 1 would to God il
might be So B. n. ROBERTS,
Verses 6-S-Hundreds of strong.