[TUCSON, ARIZONA, APRIL 21.]
Tucson, the metropolis of Arizona, was brilliantly illuminated in honor of the visitors, who were welcomed by 5,000 citizens and a band of Papago Indians. Negley Post, G. A. R., J. J. Hill, Commander, represented the veterans. The city government was present in the persons of Mayor Frederick Maish and Councilmen M. G. Sameniego, M. Lamont, Geo. Lesure, Wm. Reid, Frank Miltenberg, and Julius Goldbaum. The Committee of Reception on the part of the citizens comprised many of the most distinguished men of the Territory as well as of the city, among whom were: Federal Judges R. E. Sloan and H. C. Gooding, Gen. R. A. Johnson, Gen. R. H. Paul, Charles R. Drake, Herbert Brown, Brewster Cameron, J. Knox Corbett, George Christ, J. S. McGee, S. Ainsa, Samuel Hughes, Juan Elias, Rev. Howard Billman, Albert Steinfeld, H. S. Stevens, M. P. Freeman, S. M. Franklin, W. C. Davis, W. M. Lovell, J. S. Noble, H. B. Tenny, F. H. Hereford, D. C. Driscoll, J. C. Handy, J. A. Black, Thomas Hughes, A. J. Keen, J. M. Ormsby, H. E. Lacy, G. B. Henry, Frank Allison, George Pusch, H. W. Fenner, R. D. Furguson, F. J. Henry, and C. C. Eyster.
Hon. Thos. F. Wilson made the address of welcome. The President said:
My Fellow-citizens—It is surprising as well as gratifying to see so many friends assembled to greet us on our arrival at Tucson to-night. I beg to assure you that the interests of the Territories are very close to my heart. By reason of my service as Chairman of the Territory Committee in the United States Senate I was brought to study very closely the needs of the Territories. I have had great pleasure issuing the proclamations admitting five Territories to the sisterhood of States since I became President. I realize the condition of the people of the Territory without having representation in Congress as one of disadvantage, and I am friendly to the suggestion that these Territories, as they have sufficient population to sustain a State Government and to secure suitable administration of the own affairs, shall be received into the Union. [Cheers.] It will be gratifying to me if you shall come into that condition during the time that I occupy the presidential chair. [Cheers.] I thank you again for your cordial demonstration, and beg to present to you that gentleman of the Cabinet who has charge of the postal affairs, Mr. Wanamaker. [Prolonged cheers.]
[INDIO, CALIFORNIA, APRIL 22.]
The morning of the 22d brought the President and his party out of the great desert to the borders of California, where at Indio, the first station, they were enthusiastically greeted by the Governor of the State, Hon. Henry H. Markham, at the head of the following distinguished committee: Senator Charles N. Felton, ex-Gov. Geo. C. Perkins, Col. Charles F. Crocker, Hon. R. F. Del Valle, Hon. Stephen M. White, Gen. E. P. Johnson, Hon. Hervey Lindley, Hon. Freeman G. Teed, Hon. Irwin C. Stump, Hon. Frank McCoppin, and Adjutant-General Allen. From the districts adjacent to Indio were gathered several hundred people to greet the Chief Magistrate, mostly Indians. Postmaster A. G. Tingman introduced the venerable Chief Cabazon, head of the Cohuilla tribe and over 100 years old, who presented a petition to the President asking that the lands guaranteed his people by the treaty with Mexico be restored to them. Governor Markham delivered a cordial welcoming address, wherein he reviewed the wonderful growth of California.
The President, in reply, said he would not undertake, while almost choked with the dust of the plains he had just left, to say all that he hoped to say in the way of pleasant greetings to the citizens of California. Some time, when he had been refreshed by their olive oil and their vineyards, he would endeavor to express his gratification at being able to visit California. He had long desired to visit California, and it was the objective point of this trip. He had seen the northern coast and Puget Sound, but had never before been able to see California. He remembered from boyhood the excitement of the discovery of gold, and had always distantly followed California's growth and progress. The acquisition of California was second only to that of Louisiana and the control of the Mississippi River. It secured us this great coast, and made impossible the ownership of a foreign power on any of our coast line. It has helped to perfect our magnificent isolation, which is our great protection against foreign aggression. He thanked the Governor and committee for their kindly reception, and assured them that if he should have any complaints to make of his treatment in California it would be because its people had been too hospitable.