The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-03-19
That being true, what would it he if
everybody got aS much ms Mr.. Hill?
THE 1ovE.FEAsT AND MEMORIAL

The American lovc.fcast and Cen
cral Connor memorial held in the Au-
ditcrium on Thursday evening. was a
heart warming occasion. The scnti-
mcnts expressed were admirable. true
to the record. and tho words spoken
needed to be spoken, IL was right
Ioval function. in purpose and scutl'
mcnt. bound TO do infinite good in the
redemption of Utah from thcocratc
thralldom.
1t viii. VIC arc sure. not be thought
lnvldIous If VIC make special commcn-
dation of the remarks made by Nv. w.
G. A Smoot a Gtahn uf tho first com
pany of pioneers, and constant resi-
dent ever since. He is man i'll his
cighty-t third year. bur hale and vigor-
Gus, of sound mind and memory. He
is n Mormon, brother of Senator
Smoot, and a fcrvcnt American, He
knows what church rule is, aud what
free citizenship is, and he is able 10
contrast The two as few men arc able
10 do. He dispelled in his remarks
many studiously-inculcatcd Illusions,
such as that this was a barren, desc
late region when the pioneers came.
On the contrary. says Mr.. Smoot. it
was rich region, with abundant
grass and ample clear mountain water.
There was also plenty Of timber, as
was asccrtained by exploring the can
yons. 1T was fertile, beautiful val.
lev, inviting and attractive. We have
heard The same thing from oldtimcrs
before. and undoubtedly it is the fact.
Thus does the pretenso of special revc-
lstiou and preparation for the Saints
by the Lord receive a deadly stab un-
der the fifth rib.
Mr.. Smoot also set right another
fraudulent claim of revelation, that The
Lord directed the leaders Of the Saints
TO this place. 'IWe came into this val
ley. and did not know where we were
going, supposedly 10 California, for
such wero our orders, - said Mr.. Smoot
with vigorous candor. That. also, is
unquestionably true, California was
the place the pioneers started for. The
colony under Elder Sam Brannau had
gone there, the Mormon battalion had
gone there. and been disbandcd there.
and the body of the Saints were to
Join them But The way was far longer
than the leaders reckoned on; Brigham
got sick and had to stop; and soon he
saw that the region was very rich and
for settlement. Nor did he
omit TO note tho more perfect isoIa-
tion that could be secured here from
his 80 enemies the people and the
OF the United States.
whom he hated with bitter hate. As
Mr.. Smoot said, speaking for the
church community here: "Our Nor.
mon people arc more TO be pitied than
YOU think. For years they have been
taught to hate and despse a man who
was a Gentile.' An complication
Of which we all recall in President 10.
seph F. Smith S address at st. George.
where he referred 10 non Mormons, one
and all, as "our enemies, - aud boosted
that he had never sold foot of land
10 any Of them.
The address of Mr.. Smoot was re-
Preshing indeed. 1t was a clear state
nent of things which he knew to be
rue, And his tribute to General Con
nor was the personal tribute of one |
who saw the incoming Of that illus.
.rious patriot with his forces. and ex
the glow of American pride |
1T the sight of the flag and the intro
luction of freedom where all had been |
tyranny and suppression heretofore.
1t was worth the occasion to hear
his address Of Mr.. Smoot And the
permanent memorial to General Con-
nor announcement being made at the |
banquet of n meeting next Wednesday
evening in the council chamber to fur
her this cmincntly worthy and pat
rlotic cause) may we trust. be consid- |
cred assured, the steps thereto dating
from this love-feast and memorial ban
luet of st. Patrick IS day, Thursday,
March II. 1910