Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1898-03-05
EDUCATION IN NEW MEXICO.
Professor Herrick Defends the Territory
From Eastern Iraducers.

Professor Herrick Defends the Territory
From Eastern T~raducers.
The president OF the Territorial Uni
yersity, Professor G. l.. Herrlck. Is doing
a good work for the territory in helping
10 enllghten the minds OF the people OF
the eastern states in regard to educa-
tional matters. In the last number Of
| Outlook, n OF the best magazines Of
New York City, the professor wrote as
follows
The territories OF New Mexico and Ari-
iona have been knocking In vain for ad-
mission TO the Union for many years,
though in population and resources I'M
doubleday entitled to such admission.
Whether OF not that the real cause OF ex-
clusiOn Is the fear that these states, II
admitted, would swell the number OF
silver senators land my observation leads
me 10 believe that In New Mexico this
would not be the cass), yet the strongest
objection 10 admission entertained by
: most eastern statesmen Is the illiteracy
OF the people. This illiteracy IA granted
though we point out that IL IL not
greater than In Alabama, Florida,
Kentucky, Tennessee and some other
states. New Mexico became a
part Of the United States under the pro-
visions OF the treaty Of Guadalupe Hidal-
90, and was organized as a territory In
1850, but, though II was pe0pled nearly
entirely by those who did not understand
the English language and we're strangers
10 our civilization, congress turned a
a deaf ear 10 all requests for aid. Not q
dollar has ever been expended from the
federal treasury for promoting education
In New Mexico except In the case OF the
Indians, whose reservations, together
with the old Mexican grants, have
depT rived the schools very largely OF
the so-called ''schoOl lands" A good
school system, nevertheless, IL In force
and is maintained by direct taxation.
Under its influence illlteracy has de-
creased from 44.5 per cent In 1890 10 81
per cent In 1897, and az a result OF
shrlnkage In values due TO hard times,
many school districts are heavily In
debt. At this time, when the defeat OF
the bill for statehood Is conceded by ell,
the educational forces Of the territory
and all the citizens are unitedly
appealing 10 congress to at least
grant the territory the mean for over
coming the defect by reason Of which
she Ia excluded from the union. The ter
ritOry has been deprived Of statehood for
1fty years because II Ia said that its pop.
ulatiOn Is too ignorant; II now asks
"Why not give us the means OF educating
ourselves. especially as we only ask ouI
own public lands for that purpOseI Al
the present time the old unsettled grants
from Spain and Mexico TO indi.
yiduals and companies are rapidly beinG
decided and thrown open 10 settle.
ment. These include the greater part Of
the Immediately available lands OF the
territory, and II the apportionment o.
lands Tor the support OF the edncatiOna.
institutions Is longer delayed, the op
pOrtunity will be lost forever.
The bill which will be presented Il
congress at once after the failure OF thu
statehood bill, provides for the granting
TO the territory OF all the rights, priyi
leges, and emOluments, 80 far rs educa
tiOnal interests are concerned, to whicl
II will be entitled on admission as
state, but under the direction Of the sec
J. rotary Of the interior. Your support 1
solicited.