Arizona silver belt., 1901-05-09
Official Paper of Gila County
THE PRESIDENTS TOUR.

It is probably true that President Mckinley received as cordial wei come in Arizona as was, or will be. ac- corded him in any other portion of the country included in the itinerary of his western tour And it is proper that it should be so, as the chief ex. ecutive of the nation is at all times and in all places entitled to distinguished consideration from the citizens of the republic irrespective of political opin Ions or distinctions of wealth or class.
 The principal regret in connection with the event is that Tn the flight of the presidential train through the ter. ritory, nearly five hundred miles oi desert was traversed and only two stops of more than a few minutes dura- tion made, which, naturally, would not tend to oimpress the distinguished visitors favorably, or to give them an adequate idea of the natural advantages and re- sources possessed by Arizona to such an eminent degree. True, in the Salt River valley the presidential party viewed an oasis which is equalled by few garden spots in Uncle Sam's do- main, and in its midst, in an emerald setting. Phoenix, the gem city of Ari. zona, comparing favorably in archi- tectual beauty, and in the progressive spirit of her citizens, with any city of the same size in the eastern states. And at Congress they had the oppor- tunity of seeing great and splendidly equipped mine, where from the depth of three thousand feet is raised a wealth of gold which contributes to the enrichment of the nation. Let us hope that these pleasing features dwarfed and may outive in the minds of the president and his official advisers the depressing effect of the desert jour ney, and that the contentious of ob. sequeous politicians at the capitol city were overlooked.
 The only feature of the presidents tour that is distasteful to the truly democratic mind is the ostentation that obtrudes in it's every detail. The gorgeous equipment of the train, the army of political retainers and lackeys. the obsequeous attentions from rail roud officials and the political time servers along the route of travel, and the apparent pretention to royal dis tinction, impress the sensible citizen unpleasantly, and disturbs bis mind with thoughts of the imperialistic trend of our government. Such things as these offend the best sentiments of the republic.
 "No;let the candied tongue lick absurd pomp;
 And crook the pregnant hinges of the knee,
 Where thrift may follow fawning-"
 But the good sense of the people con demns it. President Mckinley is him self not so much to blame for this coun- terfeit of royal pomp as are the leaders of his party and the harmful influences which surround him at Washington, where official life has become emascu- lated through the gradual acquiescense in European diplomatic customs and a growing adherence 10 caste and official precedence. It would require another Jackson or Lincoln in the White House to put down the arrogance of a parveHue society and restore the sim plicity of the earlier administrations.
 The policy of the president visiting parts of the country distant from the seat of government Is commendable, and Mir. McKinley's tours should fur nish precedent for future executives to follow. He and the members of his cabinet will be impressed with the vast ness of the Great West and its possi- bilities for development, and it is to be hoped that they may come to meas urable realization of its importance as an integral part of the union, that national aid may be given to the reclamation of the arid lands which would rebound to the advantage of every section of the country and inaugurate an era of national pros- perity unknown in history.