| Show BANCROFT'S ur UTAH AH THE numerous subscribers in this Territory to the great historical work of Mr H H Bancroft the History of the Pacific States have been looking for a long time for the It volume on Utah It is now in cir cir- cir A cursory examination of its eight hundred and o odd d pages leads to the opinion that the author has taken even more than his usual 1 pains to make his work complete and to gather up all that has ap- ap appeared ap appeared in print relating to to this Ter Ter- Territory Terr Territory Territory r its and and its people and has com com- complied compiled compiled piled plied from every available source facts opinions theories and pre predictions predictions lic- lic historical incidents and sta sta- statistical statistical statistical data which he gi-fes gi gi es to his readers with very very- little expression of any views he may entertain eon eon- con concerning 0 the people and their religion religion religion ion who have made Utah what it is The volume commences with a relation of the incidents of modern r visits to the regi region n now known as the Territory of Utah the earliest reliable account being an exploration exploration tion in 1776 by two Franciscan f friars who from New Mexico pene pene- penetrated penetrated penetrated as far as or Utah Lake Halfa Half Halt a century later fur hunters and trappers come came me to the borders of Salt BaIt Lake then came Fremont and others and finally the Mormons the first to settle here a and attempt to till the soil The story of Mormonism is then related from 1820 to 1844 and so on to the present date facts and figures about the Territory its organization government relations 1 with the Federal authorities pro pro- product products ducts duct duc ind industries politics s social cial tem educational system religious system etc In treating the philosophical so- so social social so social cial and theological tenets of the Mormon Church and people and the rise and progress of the organization both sides of the controversies o on these points are presented presente the author having evidently exerted himself to the utmost to present all an that has been said by the opposition as well as a fair epitome of the claims of the supporters of Mormonism f While he has stated the chief doctrines and principles of the Church from the Mormon standpoint Wj a as nearly as could be expected of o one one not in the faith he has been boon very careful to give the statements and arguments of the Mormon anti antl Mormon side so as to leave no room for complaint as to 1 any bias in favor of Mormonism The number of authorities con con- cons consulted s suited is something astonishing The index to them occupies twenty twenty- twentysix twentysix six six pages page of close print There are many more Mormon anti than Mormon references Works that the oldest and most erudite of j Mormon preachers and writers J r probably never heard of are men men- mentioned mentioned mentioned by their titles and theirS their S 0 4 F Fr rik r f places of publication are given The Theauthor author has certainly searched farand far farand farand and wide for every every scrap of fact and the Mormon fiction relating to question that could be found on either hemisphere and he has com com- compiled compiled compiled piled it with rare skill and made of r it a most interesting entertaining and instructive volume A radical enthusiastic Mormon who feels impatient at the printing of anything which he be knows to be untrue concerning the faith and do doings do- do doin doin in ings Rs and motiveS motives of his religion co coreligionists coreligionists will wUl not be satisfied with Ban Ban- Bancroft's Bancroft's crofts croft's history of Utah On the other fir Mormon Mormons hater hand the fire eating ting hater who thinks any evil thing justifiable is if it it is inimical to the people an and creed that he detests detests will be disgusted with a work that I Simply places the two sides of a strongly contested question before the public and does not recommend 0 1 1 u of at an unpopular faith and community But BuL the conservative reader on either side will we believe agree with us in saying that this volume is a remarkable aggregation of the things that have been heen said and done in the most important contro contro- controversy controversy controversy versy or- or orthe or the nineteenth century that ft n is a faithful history of the they y chief events in the settlement and progress of this Territory and that it is a valuable work of reference because of its accuracy as to dates and places and the impartiality ot of the writer in regard to the incidents J rela related and the ideas explained It Itis Itis is a strong link in a great chain of histories and as much as any other portion of this vast literary under under- undertaking taking the taking the History of the Paci Pacific c will States will reflect credit upon the painstaking as taking author |
