Year: 1868

work, and lack oi gunpton. have beldllcn me, that my old friends, and the readers of the MINER, have been long neglected, though not forgotten. From time to time have been reminded of my silence by the welcome re- ccipt of the MINER. The last number an- nounced the election of Mccormick, delegate to Congress. You now have, perhaps, a clear insight of the causes that led to the removal of the Capital and the end to be secured by it. It is to be hoped that he will render some service of importance to the Territory, but if he follows the footsteps of his three illustri- ous predecessors, little besides pocketng his salary and mileage will be accomplished. I am sorry to know that everything, as former ly, continues to go adverse to the interests of Central Arizona, and can but admire the pluck of my old friends who still believe in the good time coming, and continue labor under so many disadvantages and disappointments. would like to return to Arizona, but there seems to me 10 be no present inducement and at this distance, looking over the past, it seems to me that the present undeveloped and unprosperous condition of the territory is ow- ing. in great degree, to the incapacity, ial sity, selfshness and inefciency of the officials, both civil and military With the fewest ex- captions nothing has been well done in the right direction, and but little many Itis to be hoped that you will have a good, honest legislature, that will neither be bought or sold, and that will unnest fraud and do jus tce to all. have had chats about Arizona with many persons from various parts of the country, and all express great interest in it. But when l speak of the Indians, their do- ings and character, they loose all interest in that country. But for this great obstacle, thousands would be ready this fall tc go to Arizona. For the present however, politics absorbs all things, interests and persons. The campaign has opened vigorously, and wind and whisky are abundant. The best posted of both parties are doubtful about the result. In this matter I am rather locker on in Venice.' To believe the papers and speeches of either party, one would think that chaos and old night" would come again, which ever party succeeded An Arzonian is not much excited over these things.

 What bust this glorious Union up:

 It can't be did"

 An absence of five years finds many chang es among individuals and society so there is change in the social feelings, custom, fash ion and tastes of people even in the olden States, hence it is so difficult for person a few years resident on the Pacific slope to be- come satisfied on his return to the States For my own part like the comforts, conye- niencies and goodies" of this country, nei- ther am envious of good looks, good man. ners and good clothes but superabundanee of starch is my adherence. Precision is de- sirsble in all material affairs, and certain for malities are indispensable in social matters, but when position, attitude, look, action and speech are eTerlastingly dressed up in sunday go-to-meeting clothes, and doubly starched, society becomes next thing to a nusance- This is what freezes up all human feeling and makes men and women, in society, false un- feeling and cold as a frozen wilderness. Fun keyism has grown apace and "shoddy" and He" swell in splendor and roll in luxury and all cloth and ribbondom swell and strain in imitation of glow and glitter. Parrotry r manners, dress, speech and thought, threaten; to annihiiate all individuality and scif-hoot on the face of the earth. lam glad that thert are yet some uncivilized Territories out west where individuality and even natural eccen tricity of character may still be seen. Wha is man in this world for? Not surely to D, duplicate of some other man, for God never duplicates the human being, but to live out hls own life, to weed out the garden of hi own soul and to be a man according to tn, original and diyinest intentions in him. Il was to be hoped that the church would act ai check upon the headlong rush of the ricl and well to do classes, into fashion, prohigacy and extravaganza, but the church las felt the flush times" and has entered the race of dis play and extrayaganeo Religion seems tC have been converted to the world, and now there is an extravaganza in the church build. ings, and sumptuousness in furniture and finish, and dress of tho congregation that savers rather of the reign of magnifcence and splendor than of Jesus of Nazareth. But il is an age of progress and the doubt is rather in regard to the direction than the motion, for it may be downward, not upward.

 It was to be hoped that the ordeal through which our nation has passed, would increase our patriotism, moderate our national greed