Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1892-07-02

there has existed in the eastern mind
prejudice against her on accoun. of tn
supposed
| CHARACTER OF THE POPULATION.
BY many the people are looked upon Il
foreign, and not in harmony with Amer
ican institutions. 1t is strange that this
objection should arise in land which alb
serbs 100000 Of foreigners every year
ard which manages to assimilate the very
worst elements of continental Europe
1t should be remembered that New Mex
leo was acquired in 1916, that all of its
inhabitants except the oldest were born
on American soil, and that its people be-
lsnged to sister republic with institu
tions similar to ours, and 80 needed nc
new education in free government. For
almost half a century they have been
electing their legislatures, making their
laws and carrying on their local govern
ment under the American system.
The people have shown themselves as
loyal as any In the nation, during the re-
bellion ont OF her total population Of 90,
567 she sent 6,561 into the army. Her
volunteers fought at Valverde, Peralta
and on other fields; and at Glorieta, to-
gether with their comrades OF Colorado,
defeated the enemy and turned back the
column which was advancing northerly
from Texas with the intention OF cutting
off the Pacific slope from the remainder
OF the country. The value OF that service
to the Union cause can scarcely he over
estimated. The total number of voun-
teers from the territory now composing
the six new states OF North Dakota, South
Dakota, Washington. Montana, Idaho
and Wyoming, wss LILO. Colorado sent
but 4,903; and Nebraska, Oregon and
Nevada taken together, did not contribute
but 6,047, being 500 less than New Mex.
leo alone.
If we look at the foreign element in the
population We will find it smaller in New
Mexico than anywhere in the country
except in certain southern states. A COM
parison with territories recently admitted
is instructive in this regard. The figures
are those of the census of 1880, which are
the latest on this point.
New Mexico contained 1919 foreign
born inhabitants to 100000 native-b born,
or 7 to 100.
Washington had 20 foreign to 100 native.
Wyoming &C 80 100 ''
Montana d" Al " 100
Idaho Al 100
Dakota 81 100
Even in the older states, New York
and Michigan had 81 to 100; NJ. ssachu
sets, 49, Rhode Island, 36; Wisconsin,
A; California, 81, and Minnesota, So.
So that New Mexico looms up as a spe-
cially native-A American community.
But to the unirformed the large num-
ber OF voters OF Spanish descent is looked
upon as grave misfortune. There could
not be greater mistake. 1t is the posses
sion OF that conservative element in con-
nection with the energetic and enterprs-
ing American from the east which gives
New Mexico her special advantages as
self governing community, over most
other territories. Every one familiar
with the far west knows that the prin-
cipsl danger in new communities arises
from the unsettled and irresponsible
character of much Of the population.
They have energy, general intelligence,
vigor and enterprise, and We recognize
lueul III thooc ieopeCts a5 goou etatc-
builders; but at the same time they have
some characteristics not so desirable.
One is that they are continually ION the
move" The number OF men through all
that region, with whom two years is a
long residence in any one place, is aston
ishing. The habit Of moving is upon
them, and they are always looking for
some new place to which to migrate. OF
course there are maLy solid, substantial
citizens; but this restless, nomsdic popu-
lation constitutes an element that is al
ways active, aggressive and noisy. They
are eager for office, ready to vote for any
amount Of bonds and taxation; and to
their irresponsible action is principally
due the heavy indebtedness and not in.
frequent bankruptcy of 80 many western
cities and counties. They do the mischief
and are gone before it's effects are felt.
The chief danger in a new community
comes from this class of men and from
the over-enthusiasm OF others who think
that life in the new west is continual
boom and many state and territory
has suffered from it. But New Mexico