[Inclosure in No. 851.]
Mr. Bayley to Mr.
Wurts.
United
States Consulate,
Palermo, September 26,
1879.
Sir: In response to your esteemed favor of the
30th ultimo, and in accordance with the requirements of the Department
of State communicated to me in a circular letter
[Page 645]
of the same date, I have the honor to submit this
report on the subject of Mormon emigration from this consular district
to the United States.
Inquiries at the several cities in my jurisdiction elicit but little
information of a positive character regarding the present status of this
spurious system of religion. The cities of Girgenti, Lecata, Marsala,
and Trapani, if I can rely upon the information I have obtained from the
most available sources, are and have been, at least for a number of
years, absolutely free from all intlueuce tending to propagate this
faith, and to encourage emigration to Mormon territory in the United
States.
Within the last five years a few Mormons of Sicilian extraction have
visited Palermo with the ostensible purpose of looking after their
pecuniary interests, and although they seem to have displayed during
their sojourn here great activity in representing the advantages that
must neccessarily accrue to all those who espouse their creed and
emigrate to Utah, it appears that their efforts to obtain converts were
unavailing, and that they left Palermo alone for Salt Lake City, their
adopted home.
However, there is no evidence to warrant the conclusion that these men
were authorized agents, sent hither to inculcate the doctrines of their
religion, to encourage emigration, or to develop the interests of
Mormonism in any way whatever. Indeed, I am inclined to the belief that
they were not vested with authority to encourage emigration from Sicily
to Utah, because they refused absolutely to give pecuniary aid to all
those who showed a disposition to accompany them.
The geographical position and barbarous dialect of Sicily, the lack of
sympathies and affinity of its population with people of another creed,
and the influence of the priesthood, would seem to interpose an almost
insuperable barrier to this system of religion in Sicily.
On the other hand, it is by no means certain that Mormonism would be
benefited by such recruits, inasmuch as any civil community, having a
proper regard for its prosperity, rather than encourage would inaugurate
measures to discourage the introduction of an element so ignorant,
superstitious, and barren of those attributes of character generally
found in well-to-do and law-abiding citizens.
I am, &c.,
S. P. BAYLEY,
United States
Consul.
