Graham guardian., 1911-10-06
OCTOBER s, 1911.
SMITH AND ARIZONA

The following article from the
pen of Judge Thomas T. Hunter, is
not only descriptive Of the early
DAYS of Arizona and the hardships
of the pioneers, who blazed the trail
and whose sacrifices made possible
the civilization that will now enter
Statehood, but it also graphically
depicts the earnest and heroic work
in her behalf in the most trying
times of Arizona's history. of her
greatest son and statesman, Marcus
A. Smith:
Stafford, ARIZONA,
October 6, 1911,
Having spent the best part OF my
mature manhood within the Terri
tory Of Arizona, my mind often car
ries me back over the moving scenes
that have been enacted during the
last third Of a century or more.
amid her mountains, her mountain
canyons. her mesquite covered
mesas and her numerous valleys,
where the waters, from their noun,
tain sources, thread their way to
the sea-.
Many thrilling scene, witnessed
by eyes, now forever closed. and
participated in bv hands. now for
ever stilled. will remain forever un-
written. That period witnessed the
real history making epoch Of Ari-
IONA, and no portion of the Western
Continent can tell story of greater
hardship and struggle, of greater
courage and fortitude, Of more
heart-rendering suffering, amid the
many solitary homes, and of greater
loyalty among frontier brothers,
than is presented by this broad ex.
panse of domain, lying between the
Utah border and the Mexican Re.
public. and now emerging into the
great blessing of Statehood from
the dark gloom of their historic
past.
During this period Arizona was
making the fight Of her very life
an unceasing struggle to fit herself
for future destiny. A sorrowfu
trail of desolation could be traceC
from the Black Mesa of the north
to the International border line or
the south; it was marked by the
murdered remains of thousands o.
her struggling settlers, some resting
in shallow graves. while the bones
of many bleached into snowy whit'
under torrid sun, while the Onl'
requiems over those lonely spot
were the voices of the birds min
Cling with the chanting of tn
winds. The charred homes, witt
the ascending smoke. told of sor
rowing families. of anguished heart
and of suffering souls. Too ia
away from the city of Washington
for the lonely pioneers cries to b
heard, the war-dance kept steadil.
on and the shrill war-cry still re
sounded upon startled ears. Tn
settlers flocked, now and then. t
such military posts and settlement
as they could reach for protection
from the merciless savages. The
began that momentous event whic
was to change the future of Arizon
and point the way to her gran
destiny as a coming State.
Mark Smith was for the frs
time elected as a Delegate to Con
gress, and there he speedily becam
power among his fellow members
Arizona's cry Of deep distress wa
borne by him to Washington; h
pressed it home to listening ears
the voice Of the humble Delegat
from the desert increased in volum
as he pleaded the cause of Arizona
the voice of entreaty grew into tn
voice Of humanity's demand. Ari
zona no longer stood hat in hand a
begging mendicant at the portal
of Washington. but she stood erec
upon the floor Of the American Con
gress. laundering forth the story o
her unnumbered wrongs. and tn