Santa Fe daily New Mexican., 1890-08-07
THE STATEHOOD ADDRESS,

I'M . L Al haoUD nDOhhSS,
The committee appointed by the con-
stitutional convention to prepare an
address to the people OF New Mexico,
have performed their duties, and in to-
days issue We publish the same signed by
the chairman of the committee, Col.
Chaves, who was also the chairman of
the convention.
The address places before the people
the constitution which was prepared and
calls attention to the advantages of a state
government and the disadvantages of
territorial government. AS many of the
people of New Mexico have never resided
in state and are practically inexper-
fenced in the workings of state govern
ment, We urge upon all to read and study
this address in connection with the con-
sttution from the address they will see the
many advantages which tley will reach,
which they have never enjoyed under
territorial government The address
points out to them the fact that they will
make all their laws to regulate their own
affairs without the interference of con-
gress, the members OF which know moth
ing OF our wants and are in supreme ig-
norance OF our resources or requirements.
1t can not be denied that New Mexico
is we'll equipped to enter the race as
state. To-day the assessed value of prop
erty in this territory is greater than it was
in any one OF the thirty-one states which
have been admitted since the formation
of the federal constitution at the time of
admission, except the two Dakotas and
Washington. And it nearly or quite
equals them with the exception OF the
three last mentioned states none OF them
have had as large population as we now
have.
New Mexico has, since the Republican
party has controlled it, made rapid ad-
vances in the way OF education the year
last past showed schools in nearly every
precinct except in those counties con-
trolled by Democrats, and in many OF
them there were such schools. 1t will be
remembered that no public school system
was inaugurated in New Mexico until
after the Republicans obtained control in
New Mexico in 1869, prior to which time
either the Legislature or governor was
Democratic since which time our school
system has grown to be better and
more appreciated every year; the
number Of school children last year COM
pares favorably with many OF the states.
Nearly half of the schools teach English
only, and about half OF the remainder
both English and Spanish, the people
are fast adopting the idea that education,
and that in the English language, will
bring about the greatest amount of bene-
fit. No one can doubt that under the
provision Of the constitution the people
can be trusted to make the laws; the
man who pretends to doubts this is not sim
cere nor is ne friend to the people.
There are some among the people
of New Mexico ambitious for place
and preferment, Of the demagogue
stripe, who would like to defer the
time of New Mexico becoming a state
with the hope that an immigration may
come into New Mexico, which will favor
their desires and plans-to such we say:
you can never succeed, the resident Of to
day understands you, and the immi-
grant will not be of your way of think
ing. Demagogues you are and dema-
gogues you will remain.
We do not believe that any candid
person can read the constitution
and this address without being i'm
pressed with the Importance and bene-
fits to New Mexico of the adoption
of this constitution. Our miserable state
of poverty now, arising from Democratic
legislation in congress, as shown by the
address, is brought about principally
by excluding foreign capital from the
territories and not from the states,
by taking from you this source of pros.
perity and dividing it among themselves.
No country has ever been able to legis-
late satisfactorily for another. Arbitrary
power will be increased by selfish
ness, and the country which has no voice
will suffer and the other prosper.
The address is able and energetic and |
presents the reasons in forcible manner
why we should become a state. No one
doubts that we will become state if we
adopt the constitution If we reject it we
will remain territory another half CEN
tury or be cut up by congress and divided
between the neighboring states and terri
tory, families and friends separated and
their interests and property placed under
foreign law. The people do not want this
and will not have it. The constitution
must be adopted and New Mexico will at
the next session of the present Republi-
can congress and administration be ad-
mitted as free and sovereign state.