Letter from Stephen D. Parrish, 9 August 1892
Wilford Woodruff, Esqr.,
Salt Lake City.
Dear Sir: I trust the interest I take in the subject men-
tioned will be an excuse sufficient for the liberty I take in
thus addressing you. For several years I have read and studied
every thing I could find relating to the Mormon church, its
morale & its people, its origin & growth and prosperity, and
with especial interest I have watched the various measures
of Congress relating to the matter. I am forced to admit that
there is something far above the ordinary in the teachings and
practices of this people that has enabled them to spread and
propogate their peculiar system so extensively and successfully,
& to do this against poverty & the bitterest persecution, oppression
& vituperation. Above all this, I admire this people for the great good
they have wrought for our common country in redeeming the
waste places in the desert & most abandoned sections of that country.
They have done this, & spent millions of money, thousands of lives in
conquering the savage, clearing the forests, clothing the desert
plains and arid valley with fruitage, towns, cities, roads and other
incident of civilization. All done seemingly in a spirit of self-
denial, patience, fortitude and patriotism!
I have just finished reading a little book by Austin
Phelp, "Our Country," in which he says, among many
