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Show 87 loyal citizens of the Great Father. If, as suggested by the previously cited advice of Commissioner Manypenny, teachers and guideshad been sent instead of troops, great things might have been accomplished and respect and trust engendered for federal government. Congress made the mistake of acting only on the unfavorable reports concerning Mormon activities among the Indians, instead of heeding the crying needs of the Territory, voiced alike by Young and the agents. Mormon and non- Mormon. Studied from the angle of the Indian policy, it becomes clear why the Mormon War of 1857 was called " Buchanan's Blunder." " The Utah War cost several hundred lives, and at least jgifteen million dollars . . . . and accomplished nothing save that it exposed the President ana his Cabinet to much ridicule. What a saving and an honor to the United States if, instead, only a fraction of this sun had been added to the work of solving the Indian problem in Utah. If, instead of attacking the Mormons for teaching the Indians to distinguish in their favor between MorraonB and the 1 Bancroft, Hubert Howe, History of Utah, p. 538. |