Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1890-02-21
THE ASSAULT UPON STATEHOOD.

1t i, not at all likely that New Mexico
viii he admitted iuto The union as a state
during the present sitting OF congress.
| ! ne politicians OF that territory committed
Iiri kari 10y fighting among themselves
Ger the constitutional ronvent0n.-Den
Yer Republican,
The Republican, which has been
Staunch in its support of New Mexicos
claims for statehood, makes the above
comment on the strength of a telegram
from Washington wherein the statement
j., made that this terfitory's prospects
lave received a setback because OF an al
logged factional fight supposed to be in
progress in New Mexico The New
MEXICAN refuses to believe that the lu-
telligent gentlemen comprising the COM
mittees on territories i'll the present con-
gress have undertaken to shrk a plain
d0ty behind any such paltry excuse as
this.
Now the fact is, there was no fight be-
yond that instituted by few Democratic
soreheads and ambitious politicians
simply because they were not allowed to
run things. These sef-same men are Oh
record as being the most earnest advocates
Of the state movement up to the hour it
dawned upon them that they could not
so gerrymander the territory as to make
it possible to defeat a number of the Re
publican delegates to the constitutional
convention. Up to that time they We're
the loudest in proClaiming New MeXico's
fitness for state government. Later, when
an appeal was made to them by the Re-
publlrans to join in dropping all political
differences, the rank and file OF the Dem
ocratic party throughout the territory
would gladly have done SO but for the I'M
wise counsel OF this selfish and seli-m-
portant element OF the Democratic party.
They took chances of killing their party
to secure personal revenge. They have
accomplished the former but the latter is
yet q long way off.
Had the Democrats accepted the propo-
sition of the Republicans to join in the
constitutional convention they would GER
tainly have stood very fair chance Of
electing one-half if not a small majority
| Of the mem bers thereof; but they hadn't
| the nerve, or rather their advisers hadn't.
Those Democrats who did take part in the
election OF delegates saw the mistake their
party had made; they saw it from the
first, but they realize it fully at this time.
Now what is the situation? Having
been ignored in the formation OF state
constitution that would reflect credit on
any state in the American union, the sore
head and rule or rum faction OF the Dem
ocratic party, under the delusion that the
territory can be 50 redistricted as to make
Democratic success possible, mas entered
upon this effort with view to staving of
any action in our behalf by Republican
congress. This is the scheme. New Mex
leo is now Republican, we believe; the
action OF this Democratic faction has made
1t so. Therefore, in order to attain their
end, no matter at what cost to the husi-
ness and industrial interests of our PEG.
pie, this mere handful OF disgruntled poll
tiClans circulate the most sCandaous and
outrageous lies and false statements about
the territory and its people, and through
misrepresentation, lying and fraud hope to
secure the postponement OF New MeXico's
admission until Democratic congress
becomes a possibility, when they expect
to be given power to reapportion the ter
ritory as they see fit and in order, as they
imagine, to carry it as Democratic state,
with the power and the offices in their
hands.
This Is the secret of the whole opposi-
ton. 1t constitutes the limit OF any
fractional fight" that by New Mexico's
domestic enemies in Washington may be
alleged to exist here. AS above stated,
the New MEXICAN refuses to believe that
the territorial committees in the present
congress will single out New
Mexico as unit for statehood when the |
real intent OF this coWardly, injurious and |
lnholy assault upon the terrltory's adj
,ancement is made clear to them.