Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1889-12-03
GAINING GROUND.
The Progressive Element Gradually Get
ting the Upper Hand of Non
Progressive Residents.
Statehood and Ignorance-An improved
Condition-TimeIy Talk with
Hon. G. W. PriChard.

| Col. G. W. Prichard, the author Of the
state constitutional convention bill in the
last legislature, is one OF the brightest
politicians and most eloquent orators OF
the territory, who loves his friends and
remembers his enemies, and whose official
record is free from faint or suspicion, was
in the city yesterday, on business for Las
Vegas clients.
Being met by a representative OF this
paper Col. Prichard was asked what he
thought of the growth of the statehood
sentiment, and in response he said that
so far as he could learn in his section of
the country the feeling for admission was
becoming stronger every day. Many who
few months ago openly opposed state
hood are now in favor of our admission as
soon as practicable. The intelligence, the
talthfulness displayed, and the cxcelleu at
work Of the recent convention, had ma
telially modified the feelings OF many in
Hnontlal men from opposition to support
OF the statehood movement.
1t will be remembered" said he, "that
Wv NAEiAi' w W ICIl Tux
convention met, came not so much from
a desire that We should remain terri
tory, as from pretended feeling that the
onstitution when formed would be Il par
tisan instrument. The enemies of the
proposition were, however. disarmed by
the absence Of any provisions more favor
able to one party than to another"
II do not presume" he continued,
that any one really at heart would like
to see New Mexico continue for any great
period of time as a territory. Those who
oppose end those who favor statehood
may be divided into two classes, the
progressive and non-progressive. 1t is
not rational to assume that there can be
many OF the latter class"
DO you think there are any objection
able provisions in the constitution that
was framed by the late convention ?" WAS
asked.
No more so than in other state constitu-
tons. Its not claimed that the instrument
is perfect; but compared with other state
constitutions it is among the best. Ger
tanly as to some OF its provisions i! is in
advance of many state constitutions under
which people live reasonably happy and
prosperous. Upon the questions that most
vitality concern us the instrument is fully
ample and adequate
do you think it would be to the inter
est of the territory to be admitted now ?"
That question might be answered by
asking another. Did you ever hear of Il
territory being admitted as a state that
was not benefited ? Did you ever hear
OF state expressing its dissatisfaction
over its admission, or that ever applied to
be relegated to its former condition? Or
did you ever hear OF state that was worse
off by reason Of its admission? The peo-
pie themselves are the best judges as to
that. Suppose the question to relapse in
to territory was submitted to the peo-
pie of Colorado, California or any of the
admitted northwestern terrific
ries, or any other state, how many votes
do you suppose would be cast in favor of
the proposition? Territorial governments
" ere organized in the first place from ne
cessity as soon as the necessity ceased
then the reason for their continuance no
longer existed. What were the necessi-
lies? Lack of population and the revenue
With which to sustain state government. |
Does any one claim that We lack these |
.hings in New Mexieo?"
How about intelligence?"
Ignorance and intelligence are twin
brothers in every state. No state can
BOAST of intelligence alone, and no state
S without its due proportion ofignorance.
But what does that imply? Does it
means that where ignorance prevails the
people should be kept more ignorant
sill, and that they shall not be given an
,ven chance in life. can show by sta,
sics that other sections Of the country
hat ENJOY the blessing OF statehood pos
'ess q larger per centage of unlettered
PERSONS than does New Mexico. But
suppose We are not as intelligent as we
ought to be, then the greater the neces-
ity for our improvement. The sooner
We are admitted as q state the sooner
viii that improvement come. That is
me of the objects of statehood. Statehood
would promote intelligence, pride and gen
raj improvement"