Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1898-01-24
EDUCATION In NEW MEXICO.
Some Reasons Why the Federal Gov
eminent Should Aid the Schools.

ALBUQUERQUE, N. NJ, January 18th,
1S98.-New Mexico became a part Of
the United States under the provisions
of the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo,
made with Mexico at the close of the
war, and by act of congress of Sep
tember 9th, 1850, it was organized as
a Territory, and has since 1851 been
represented in congress by q delegate.
By act Of congress OF 1868 what now is
Arizona was detached from New Mex
ico-and what is true of this Territory
will apply with equal force to Arizona
when made a part of the United
States, was settled almost exclusively
by a people who did not understand
tho English language; and yet from
that day to this congress has never
granted a dollar nor enacted a law to
aid the cause Of education in either
territory. Other great governments
acquiring territory with foreign pop
ulations have established systems Of
education, which, in some instances,
have been compulsory; but to all OF
our earnest appeals for assistance
congress has remained silent.
The principal argument against our
admission to statehood is that we are
not qualified OF account of the Hitter
acy of the people, and yet all national
aids to educate have been withheld
Our public lands have been sold BY the
government, granted to Indians,
donated to parties under grants by
Spain and Mexico, and settled upon BY
private parties, until nearly all Of the
valuable portion of our public domain
is appropriated; and still the work
goes on, and If not soon checked our
common schools and big her educa.
tlonal institutions will be deprived of
that support which has been the foun-
dation of the grand systems of educa.
ton throughout the states Of the union.
1t may be said that school lands are
from occupation. Such re-
servation, however, does not apply to
land grants under the laws of Spain
and Mexico, nor to %unsurveyed lands,
and we have been so neglected that
our public domain is largely unsur-
veyed to-day, so that all the valuable
areabeing appropriated, and our
schools thus deprived of their main
support.
We have requested before, and
earnestly request again, that we be
granted all the rights, privileges ard
smoluments, 80 far as educational
matters are concerned, that we would
be entitled to on our admission to
statehood, except that we desire that
40 lands should be leased or sold with
the approval of the secretary oil
he interior.
As nearly all the valuable lands have
been granted, as above stated, |
md as we have a large population rot ,
Jet educated In the English language,
We feel that nearly all the remainder
# our public lands should be donated
o tho common schools and other
public educational institutions; and
ven then, under the circumstances
he remaining lands all being arid
'ur people would not receive in value
Yearly as much IS has been granted for
uch purposes to other commonwealths
omitted to the union.
We now have a good public school
and are making satisfactory
Progress under the circumstances, but
s our schools are supported entirely
y direct taxation we urge that con-
should at once appropriate S per
ent. of all moneys heretofore received
sales of public lands for school
imposes, which we would have re-
had we been admitted to state.
God as agreed under treaty stipula-
ions with Mexico; and which assist
nee, so sadly needed at this time,
'ould materially aid us in maintaining
ur public schools. E. s. s.