The old Abe eagle. (White Oaks, Lincoln County, N.M.) 189?-189?, 1893-09-07
FOR STATEHOOD.
Delegate Joseph Will Make Strong Ef-
fort to Secure the Admission of New
Mexico During this Session of Congress.

From Denver News]
Delegate Joseph is preparing to make
q strong attempt to secure the admission
of New Mexico as state this season, and,
as both houses are Democratic, he has
sanguine hopes Of success. He has pre-
pared bill which he will present at the
first opportunity. This bill provides an
enabling act for the people of the Terri
tory Of New Mexico, by the terms of
which constitutional convention will |
be held in the Territory, and the consti-
tuition framed submitted to the people |
for their ratification or rejection. All |
persons who have resided within the
limits OF the proposed state for sixty
days and are otherwise qualified by the
laws Of the Territory to vote for the rep
resentatives to the legislative assembly
thereof, are authorized to vote for dele
gates to form the convention.
An apportionment of delegates to the
convention is made by the bill in strict
accordance with the population Of the
Territory as shown by the last census.
The governor is authorized to order the
election on the Tuesday after the first
Monday in November, 1894. The num-
Der Of delegates in the Territory is to be
seventy-five. The constitutional conven
tion will assemble at the capitol ON the
| first Monday Of December, 1894, and
when assembled it shall adopt the con-
stitution of the United States and pro-
ceed to the formation of state consti-
tuition.
| SPECIAL PROVISIONS OF THE BILL.
The bill specially provides that in all
the public schools the English language
shall be taught The constitution shall
be submitted to the people for their rati-
fication or rejection at an election to be
held in said Territory on the first Tues
day after the first Monday in April, 1895.
II majority of the votes cast shall be
for the constitution the government of
the Territory shall certify the result to
the president Of the United States, who
shall then issue his proclamation an
nouncing the result of the election and
the state Of New Mexico shall then be
deemed admitted into the Union.
Delegate Joseph is fully prepared to
meet the arguments urged against the
admission OF New Mexico on account OF
the large portion Of Mexican speaking
population. He says:
"Can it be said native Of New Mex
leo, who renounced his allegiance to the
republic of Mexico over forty years ago,
has less interest in the government OF
the United States, less devotion to the
Republican principles, or less fitness for
American citizenship than subject OF
European Kingdoms who has within a
few years left his native home?
LOYALTY OF ITS CITIZENS.
Seventeen years after the Territory
became a part Of the United States, New
Mexico was called upon to furnish SOL
diers to defend the Union. There was
| no hesitation in responding to the de.
mand. New Mexico gave 5000 soldiers
to the Union during the late war, being
! more than was furnished byal the other
existing territories combined, including
D the present states Of Nevada, Nebraska,
Q Colorado, Washington. the Dakotas,
D Montana, Idaho and Wyoming.
"These troops we're in greater part
8 commanded by persons OF Spanish de
' scent, and the ranks were filed by the
/. same race, but although only seventeen
years citizens OF the country the people
n of the Territory did not hesitate to de
vote themselves to the country as read
lily as IL born under the flag. Numerou
wealthy citizens voluntarily loane,
money to the government at the out
break Of the war on the request OF th
military authorities when the countr
had no funds in the Territory. Nor
or than thirty years have passed since the
and yet it is said the people OF New Me,
leo are aliens.
IL NEW MExIco's POPULATION.
"Out OF population reported by III
=, census at l53,502, the popular vote iC
! delegate was 32,355, a proportion ,
\ voters rarely exceeded, and the more r,
~ markable because Of the great distanc'
aud difficulties in reaching the polls in
I. country not thickly settled The flag
this country is large enough to flo,
~ alike over persons OF English an
Spanish descent; the principles Of Il
~ constitution are great enough 10 col
mand the admiration OF all lovers
"A liberty.
"rhe people Of New Mexico are
much citizens OF the United States
the people Of Ohio. Indiana or Illino
What they want is TO be admitted 10 I
full rights OF citizenship aud allowed
bear their share OF the burdens OF /
common defense and general welfare.
ION New Mexico becomes q state her min
will be developed, her railroads extends
ho' her schools enlarged and she will Ia
Inc npon herself n new encouragement
nn. progress. When once the natural reso
to ces Of New Mexico are developed,
whole nation will wonder why so rich
''' section of our country should 30 10