The Weekly Arizonian., 1871-02-04
THE WEEKLY ARTZONAN
FEBRUARY 4.................~........l87
GLOOMY PROSPECTS IN ARIZONA

We have faint recollection of an old nr,
 verb which maintains that troubles, annoyanc
 es, losses, etc, make it point to visit men
 one and the same time, and also of one whic
 maintains that night is darkest immediatel
 before day. But it is not our object to nor aIlze ou either proverb-only to view the con dItlon of Arizona in the light of their teach. ingsi and while we accord the applicability of the former to hope that the application of the latter, also, may soon become warrantable
 The history of the past fifteen years fails to picture time at which the prospects of the Territory appeared as gloomy as at present At tns time, when from every thicket and mountain pass along our public hiphwavs thA dreadful war-cry or hostile savsges apprizes the traveller that he is called upon to defend his life the country is being divested of it's pro- tective force, protective stations are being a. bAudoned, and the few that are permitted to remain intact, instead of being strengthened to meet the emergencies of the hour, are being weakened.
 The valley of the Sonoita which has hsre.. tofore been protected by Camp Crittenden, will be restored to the Indians, with the removal of that post already many of the settlers have left aud others are preparing to follow. The large and beautiful valley of Tubac will soon be abandoned. Indian depredations have re- gently become so frequent and daring in those neighborhoods that men fear to go out to their fields to labor; and upon leaving their homes, of years, to seek security in other parts, are obliged to steal of under co oVer of night, and in parties sufficiently strongfor mutual defense, in case their flight should happen to be discov- cred before they should have reached a place ofsafety. The few companies of troops re- maining in inc Territory fully sympathize with the Apache ridden settlers, and are doing all that earnest, persistent men can do but their numbers are toO few to cope with so many fierce, blood thirsty savages.
 To the people of, Arizona, Gen. Stoneman has done grave and serious wrong-to ex- press his acton in the mildest possible term We know net through what motive he has been actuated; and if he had no motive in penning report so detrimental and unjdst-if he acted in accordance with his opinions of right-we can only add that he has been basely deceivA ed, and the people of Arizona are the victims of the deception.
 Not only as a protection against hostile h. dians, however, is il necessary that strong military force be stationed in Arizona for it should be considered that the southern boun-- Gry line of this Territory is also the boundary of foreign State. True, we are at peace with Mexico, as government, but locally we are not at peace with her criminal classes. All coun- tries and communities have their law-evading ghouls that prey upon the industry of others, and mexico has hers. In organized bands they invade our frontier, murder our settlers and | carry off their property-and then take refuge | in their own country. It only few weeks sgo that we recorded aG instance in which station-keeper, near Fort Yuma, together with 1 his two employees, was struck down by the hand of those foreign assassins Sundry at tsmpts have, since then been made upon the l lives of our industrious settlers along the Gila rivsr-not only by Apache Indians, but alter natsly by these and Mexican desperados.
 Not single instance is known in which one of the latter has ever been brought to justice | The murderer once within the boundaries of Sonora, is as safelY;fortifed against the efforts of retributive justice, as though he were march ing forth from before the tribunal of law, le- galy acquitted, and leaving uought save ex- hausted evidence behind. Hence the neces- sity for troops upon this frontier.
 Time was when foreign desperadoes might not, with impunity murder American citizens in their homes but the present administration of government, with Self rsigning in every de- partmeut, has no sympathy with communities disordered by other than political strife.
 To look back to the proverb we must conclude that the millennium IS nearly at hand, now that the history of Arizona is passing through its darkest stage.
 It is not true that Col. A. w. Von Schmi d of Blossom Rock, has gone east to contract