Arizona weekly citizen., 1882-02-19
The Festive Cowboy.


 his becoming the subject of Presiden- tial message-and a special one at that.
 To be sure it's something like the Cock uey who boasted that the Prince of Wales had spoken to him. ''What did he say;7 asked a skep,ical friend. "Why he said, Get out of my way, you black guard'" Similarly, President Arthur
 invites the blackguard cowboy to get out of the way of civilization.
 There is no doubt that many oi the l Sheriffs in Arizona and New Mexco arc intimidated by the cowboy element and their confederates of the Good Lord, | good-devil7 class. Business menand prac- teal miners and prospectors can not af- ford to lose time in organizing against the criminal element, for the reason that the latter understand strategy well enough to ramain quiescent until vigilance sleeps. Beside, they have their spies in every camp and mining town--hang ers-on about gambling-hells and rum mills-vho keep them posted on all move ments of the authorities and citzens. Jn- der these circumstances the only recourse
 hes with the General Government. The President recommends that the Posse Comitatus Act be amended so as to permit ihe use Of the military in assisting the cIvil authorities m the Territories tn maintain order, and suggests such legs la,ion as may bc required. There can be no reasonable obJecJ.1n urged to such a course. The Territories are the wards of the Nation and their guardian .s in duty bound to protect them until they attain their majority and are admitted as States. IL IS not pretended, or intended that the extraordinary measures recom- mended shall be applied excepting in the Territories, and then only when impera- uvely demanded by necessity. There Is never any objection to employing the troops against predatory bands of h. dians, and as the cowboys are more dan ger0us in theIr way and more difficult to deal with, we trust that the hands Of Government will not be shackled on mere party grounds.
 Governor GOsper uuderestimated the number of cowboys in CaChise county; there must be at lcas; 100 of them not g to SO, as he states. In Tombstone, alone, there are usually upward of $ seeing the sights Their stronghold Is the Mule Mountains, convenient to the Mexican border. From that point they rad over into Mexican territory and run off hundreds of head of cattle. These are driven to the Mule country or up San Simon Valley to fatten on the sue culent pasturage, and, when fitted for market, are sold to the American butch CTS ID Arizona and New Mexico. The business Is made more profitable and in- teresting To the festive cowboys by alter hating the raids occasionally and running American cattle over into Mexico, when purchasers are not gwen much to Im- pertinent questions respecting ownership. When of duty after d successful ''clean up. the cowboy amuses himself m cap turing and running the smaller towns and mining camps. He IS a handy man with a pistol, and generally contrives to get the drop on whoever attempts to inter fere with his diversion. In such cOmpar- atIvely pOpulOus places as Tucson and Tombstone he contents himself with OuCking against the tiger and consuming tarantula juice, occasionally getting pull ed for making night hideous with his eb lrs. The cowboy who has not killed his man Is an object of pity among his fellows. The "Curiey Bills hold him m contempt l. is related of "Curley Bill, who killed Marshal White at Tombstone about a year ago, that upon being arrested he remarked, T don't see what m h-l you want tO make such a fuss about one man for-White's the twenty-second. Bill considered himself an injured individual.
 IJ IS to eXtirpate the Curley Bills and BIlly-the-kids that the Territorial author it.eS, dfter eXhauStlng their resources. have applied to the Government for as sistance. Arizona and New Mevico are both too rich in natural wealth to permit them to be longer dominated by a gang of catile-thleves, cut-throats and fugitives from justice. We, in Cali fornia, are especially interested in the matter. Arizona IS one of our best customers and millions of our capital are invested in the Territory. Its free dom from cowboys and Indian depreda- tons will rebound Co our advantage.
 Our delegation in Congress will sub serve California interests by supporting the Presidents recommendation with all their influence. Responsibility for any future outrages will rest upon those who, by objections or delays, based upon petty partisanism, leave the Territories to ten | der mercies of savages, red or white T Alta California.