Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1890-12-30

introduced a bill granting lands to the :
erritOry of New Mexico for common school,
and for other purposes A peti,
ion to congress for its speedy passage would
certainly be beneficial.
A. Another subject Of importance is that
Of the adjudication and payment Of
INDIAN pEpREpATIoS CLAIMS.
Our people are interested in this subject
TO very large amount, and many citizens
have been almost ruined by the long delay
of the government in doing justice to those
who were sufferers. There seems to be good
prospect Of the passage Of a proper measure
for the settlement Of these claims during the
present session of congress. Its chances OF
success would be enhanced by an official
expression Of opinion from our Legislature.
5. Among other subjects as to which
memorials might appropriately and advan-
tageously be passed, are the repeal or modi-
iication of the act restricting the owner
ship of real estate in the territories to Amer
lean citizens" which has operated disastr-
ously, especially to our mining interests;
protesting against any repeal of the new
duties on lead Ores under which our miners
are now protected from a degrading COM
petition with foreign peon labor, and our
mines are again about to enjoy season OF
great prosperity and recommending the es-
Enlistment of an assay office in the terri
tory at some proper point; SocOrro prcsum-
ably being the location on account of its
mineral surroundings and the establishment
of the school Of mines
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
| Proceeding now to matters Of legislation,
no subject calls for more immediate and
careful attention than that of public educa-
ton. While we have a system which in
theory seems not altogether imperfect, yet
in practice we all know that 1t falls far
short of what it should accomplish. 1t is
disagreeable to have to speak OF these mat
tiers, and to expose to the world the mad
equacy of the actual provision made for the
education of our children, but it is far better
by plain speaking to bring about reform,
than to let the defective system continue for
another two years. The failure of the at
tempt in the last legislature to pass the inn
proved school law-which will ever be con-
nected with the name of one of our esteemed
citizens recently removed by death, as the
"Kistler bill''-was not only depored by all
good men within the territory, but has
been the cause of great injury to the reputa'
ton of New Mexico in other parts of the
country, and has kept from us much of the
best class of immigration which was tending
toward our borders. The American system
of universal free education is found in every
state of the union. It is fundamental
, American institution. Even in the south
where in the days of slavery it was nearly
unknown, it is now almost as fully recog
nzed as in the north. No American citi
zen will knowingly leave a locality where
the whole community has had the benefit
of universal education, to remove to one
, where the reverse is the case. We can neve'
, expect to draw to our towns and our valley:
the solid class of people who make gooc
citizens, if they understand that by such re
motal they will leave behind them thu
, schools in which their children are being
! admirably educated, and will find no other
. of similar excellence to take their places
Those connected with immigration matter
, know that the first question asked, is as t.
! the condition of our public schools, and /
8 is folly to spend money in spreading infor
: nation as to our climate, and soil and bust
, ness opportunities, until we are ready II
present to the inquiring immigrant, as grea
advantages for heeducation Of his sons ant
! daughters as they enjoy in their presen
places of abode.
And another voice. more potent and NOR
. touching than that of any from without ou
e borders, calls on Us to do our duty i'll thi
Q regard. 1t is the voice of our own children
J., born on New Mexican soil, of New Mexican
e parentage, and crying out for that educa
D ton which will give them fair chance t
t compete with their brethren in other state
i in the struggle Of life. The boy or girl ser
l. out into the world in these days, withou
4 education, is like mechanic without tool:
- | LAX r,,.;tI Out In hoap Fn
. chance in the battle of existence he
u doomed to disaster and defeat before he er
!. tiers the conflict; he is sentenced in advanc
Il to be newer ofwood and a drawer of wate
n for his educated neighbor all his day.
Without the means to rise, his lot is that {
It toll or of degradation to his life's end. n
l. parent has right to destroy the prospect
of his children in this way; no communit
does its duty which does not provide this
every boy and girl shall have the educatio
a necessary to a successful life.
" Other defects in government may be cor
sidered simply as errors, but any FAULT
q the system of public education is not merel
n a mistake-it is crime 1t is crime again:
the whole generation which is to succeed u
Youth once past never returns. II no edt
cation Is then afforded, the loss can neve
!. be made up If you fail to establish a CON
plete system at this legislative session, tn
" two years before another opportunity occur
o will carry many boy and girl beyond tn
Vt age when it will be available, and they wi
!, be launched upon the sea of life, not onl
d at constant disadvantage in every business
n but subject to the deception and the sham
n which ignorance everywhere entails. Thos
: thus deprived of this dearest of rights, wi
;, have reason through their whole lives t
heap maledictions on the heads of thos
= who from seltishness or carelessness robbie
!, them of that equal chance for success in lii
l. to which as human beings and America
l. citizens they were entitled. Such failur
8 would be more even than crime agains
!, the young lives so wronged and sacrificed
n it is a crime against the whole community
v In a republic, where government is "of tn
T. people and by the people," there can be n
q security for society at large, unless tn
y whole body of the citizens have sufticien
o education to enable them to exercise tn
Z right of suffrage with intelligence. TIL
y stream can rise no higher than its source
l. In free government the people are tn
Q source of power if they are ignorant an
It uneducated, they easily become the prey c
VI designing men and the dupes OF dems
a gogues. There is no safety in republic bu
# in the universal education Of the people.
n The people of New Mexico have not bee
= unmindful OF the great importance of thi
. subject For years they have endeavored t
. make proper provision for the free educs
= ton of ali their children. They have bee
9 liberal in the amount of taxes imposed 70
f. this purpose. But for some reason tn
e practical results are entirely unsatisfactory
j. There is scarcely public school in the terri
" tory such as those common in all the state
d A most fragrant example Of the utter failur
"a of the present law is seen in the fact tha
, during the entire past year, not publ
>, school has been open for single day in tn
> capital county Of Santa Fe do not kno'
q inquire. But that such a condition {
q things can possibly exist-something ce
ID tainlY unheard of elsewhere in the Unite