To Patrick E. Connor is given credit for starting the mining industry in Utah. His motives, however, were not entirely commendable. If he is to be judged by his own words, his main purpose was not to “get gain” or to increase the circulation of the precious metals, but to cause an influx of “a large Gentile and loyal population sufficient by peaceful means and through the ballot-box to overwhelm the Mormons by mere force of numbers, and thus wrest from the Church—disloyal and traitorous to the core—the absolute and tyrannical control of temporal and civil affairs.”
He was acquainted with the fact that President Young had advised the Saints to develop the industries of agriculture and establish needful factories that they might be self-sustaining, and leave mining alone for later consideration. This advice was very wise, for in the days of pioneer life, and when the commonwealth was young, it was necessary that the people be able to support themselves. They could not live on gold and silver, but they could on the products of the soil; and they could keep warm from the spinning of wool and the manufacture of cloth out of which to make their clothing. The advice of President Young was the advice which governed the Pilgrims when they landed on the shores of America; but it seemed to be very distasteful and unpatriotic to men of little souls. All goods brought to the territory from abroad, before the advent of the railroad, had to be hauled by team upwards of a thousand miles, and with the constantly increasing population, all hands were needed to labor in producing what the people consumed. Even then, for a long time it was a difficult task, for several years were extremely lean due to the ravages of grasshoppers and crickets, and because of other obstacles unforeseen.
If the Saints had run off to develop mines, they would have sealed their own doom in the days of their pioneering. Moreover, the experience of the past, in 1849 and subsequently, when the California gold rush was on, taught them that the development of the mining industry would bring to the territory the riffraff and scum of humanity. This would mean the increase of crime and decrease of law and order.
Why the Latter-day Saints Settled in Utah
The Latter-day Saints came to the valleys of the mountains primarily to worship the Lord and to keep his commandments; also to develop a peaceful commonwealth where others of their faith might be gathered to enjoy the fruits of their labors without molestation.
The False Attitude of General Connor
The attitude of General Connor, and all who agreed with him, was basely false. Brigham Young was not opposed to the development of mines, but he was farsighted enough to understand—which many of his petty critics could not understand—that there were other duties more important and substantial, which held precedence, at least in the lives of the Latter-day Saints, in the development of the territory. It should be said to the credit of General Patrick E. Connor, who manifested so much bitterness in the early sixties, that after remaining in Utah for several years, his feelings towards the “Mormon” people greatly softened. When it did become possible for a ray of light and truth to penetrate his prejudices, he discovered that the Latter-day Saints were not such disloyal citizens after all.
Inspiration of Brigham Young
President Brigham Young was a practical man by nature, but, aided by the inspiration of the Spirit of the Lord, his wisdom in the establishment of cities, villages, and industries, was far beyond his human possibilities. On many an occasion when the settlers of a selected site had chosen the low lands near the center of the valleys, he instructed them to move higher up near the foothills; and at times against their judgment settlers were advised to move to less favorable looking land than that which they had chosen. Time has proved that their leader was possessed of the inspiration which he was entitled to receive.