Tombstone epitaph., 1902-06-01


 the Congregational Rec Jrd of the last speeoh made oy Delegate Mark Smith is Congress on the statehood bill isi before he w.s stricken GU ideniy Ill On the floor of the house. It Is 6 mae terfui presentation aud the follD~iua speaks for itseli:
 Are you not shocked to hear from men on this floor that treaty promises created no obls,' ton on the part of the Government which u vas bound to respect There vas nothing binding in a mere moral obligation. and fl you could not appeal successfully 10 a mandamus or other legal remedy there you must bear what you csa not help. and make the most of ip No writ can be executed legally against sovereignty. and therefore by this new code of moral ethics governments can do rghtfully jus, what they please to do ii they do it against those unable to to psht. Away with such doctrine- The fact that a promise can not be enforced makes strict observance in it's terms all the more sacred
 The Government is bound by treaty obliga ton-by the principles oi the Declaration of Independence. by the very warp and wool of the Copstitution-by that spirit of liberty and equality on which our institutions are built. and our existence depends. to admit Ariz ona as State whenever she is qualified and worthy. That such is her condition nov l shall attempt 10 demonstrate
 Mfr. Chairman. Arizona is entitled 10 siaie- hood. Political considerations unworthy O the Congress of the United States have SO far re. tarded her progresa Since my advent 10 the privileges of this floor l have seen admitted and l have advocated the admission Of Washington. Montana, North Dakota. South Dakota. Idaho, Wyom ng. and Utah to the Union of States l have during all this time stood a protesting rk. ,..s., A. which was as well equipped any. and far bet ter than some of these for the responsible duties and obligations of statehood Twice have l passed the bill for the admission Of Arizona through the House of Representatives. and once under a suspension of the rules. which required a t~o-ihiris vote to pass it. 1 stood at the deathbed Of its hopes on the Calendar of the Senate. The opposition in that august .egisla tive body came from and the fatal blow vas gwen by Senators from States whose whole area would barely make good COW lot for Arizona. Opposition to the admission of the Territor ies was born Of and has been nursed by ignor- ance and Selhshness; ignorance of the re- sources, wealth. and civilization of the West: seinsnness Tn maintaining the power of the East in Federal legislation and the further selfish fear that political advantages may be lost. From such considerations appeal 10 your patriotism. your justice, your duty to your felio~-men. your country. and your conscience. The inherent
 
 can not be disputed or questioned. It was guaranteed by the provisions of the treaty under which Ariyona and New Aexico became a part of our possessions. And even if that treaty had been silen; as to the right of statehood for these newly acquired possessions. the Govern. ment would in ju ,tce still be bound to admit any Territory into the Union when capable of self-government and possessed of the requisite population. This from the very beginning has been the policy Of our Government and an essential part of that freedom and equality on which our Union is constructed and through which il has reached its present glory and re noSn.
 Complaint is made ths, we have no, sufficien, population. The same complaint va, m1de against thIee-fourthS of th States on ,heir ap- plicatisn for admission. The late census shoA $ that Arizona has in round number, 30. 600 population. In this estimate many Indians are included That the census is scsndalously wrong the-e can be no doubt The Department admits that il is unreliable In fact, there was no census taken. Under she laws fixing the compensation of census enumcrators. no real census could be taken As instances Jf the accuracy of that alleged census let oe cite you to the city Of Phoenix, the capital of the Ter l. tory. The census gives that town something over 5000 people. when the school cen.u, and the voting population shows beyond doubt that there are. al the lowest estimate, over 10. 900 people in that city. Yes, there are more than that.
 Take. again. the case of Bisbee. Ariz., where the census alleges populs tioa of > coo. when the fact is that the town has al least 900 peo- pie in it. There are more men at work ard with their names on the pay rolls of tre mines than the census gives as the population Of the town. II the enumerators have done such work as this on the cities. what can you expect of their returns from the distant outlying country prec;nctsf he fact is. TO census was ever taken al all. No reliance whatever can be placed on it.
 It IS enough here for me to say that we have a population of at least Iso. GOO people with as much patriotism and more general education han can be found in any other part of ths United States. They add 10 the general wealth of the country mOre than twice as much per capita as any other subdivision of our country. They give per capit, twice as much 10 educa- ton. hospitals, and charities In support of ele- emosynary institutions than political subdivision of the globe. They have spent o. their own money more on public buildings. roads. high ways. and other public improvements than any other people in this broad land: and yet some oG you from States with schoolhouses which we would not use a, stables for our horses assum- ing airs of superiority over us and daring to assert that are not ht fo, political associa- ton with you I assert. measuring my words and knowing whereof speak. that represent here constituency as well educated, as well | p<I4scu. du0 ds NuOA( pAtflOuC AS any memOcT of this House. come from what State he may.
 No informed man on this loor. whatever reason he may have for his opposition, can be in earnest when he attacks our risht on the ground of insufficient population
 Who settled the Westf What character sf | people and whence came theyS Were the | pioneers in Arizona alien outcasts from foreign | lands and the good so iety of our own Ssatesp | No, sir. those were the young men from honest | families of all the States. with an ambition to make a name for themselves and hoIies for | hose who loved them With hearts that kneW no fear and with spirits undaunted. they left their kindred and friends and home-endearine hes and set tbeir faces 10 the wilderness Im- passable mountains seemed only an obstacle in | heir path. and the endless desert was invaded | without fear. With untiring energy all di6- ;ulties. until at last the desert vas compared; he mountains surrendered their treasure, and he home of youihs bright hop became a real ty; villages. towns. and cities sprang into active .Iisfencs. schoolhouses everywhere dot the 'lains. and church spires point 10 heaven from very hamlet.
 This has all been done without your aid and 'hile you were sleeping. Many o; these brave, rue men arc enjoying in the peaceful sunset of fe the full fruifion Of it's morning hopes. May hey long be spared to usi From that first cttlerent until now the sons of those pioneers nd men cf hbe mold have spread over every ounty of the Territory.
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