El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1898-12-10
ARE THEY FIT2
Statehood For New Mexico.

The following was contributed by
n. w. Loomis, late chief deputy Unit
ed States marshal OF New Mex
leo:
One Of the stock and standard rea-
sons urged for the opposing OF all
schemes looking toward stateh hood for
New Mexico has always been They
are not fit for statehood. Wait until
they are better fitted and then admit
them"
In an article in the ST. Louis Re-
public, some years ago, the writer dis
cussed this aud compared such
as advance this argument
with the father who would
refuse to send his boy to school be-
IL the people of New Mexico lack In
any of the qualifications necessary to
an enlightened self government they
certainly need the influx of new blood,
of more enterprising citizens, OF people
who will assume control or the pad
forces and who will help left them up
to the high standard of Missouri and
Arkansas, for instance, anu otner
states of the union.
The admission OF every western state
has without exception, been the sig
nal OF great step forward, and the
starting of an era OF progress and, I'm
ancial developments.
LII mas 8QVerUlsSQ bu6 new otobo %
one Offering new fields for investment
and has directed the sttention Of both
enterprise and capital to the develop
ment of those fields. The old political
rings have been swRmped and new ana
better forces have assumed command.
We are often told that the new state
of New Mexico would be controlled by
the native element and that there
would be none others elected to office,
ETC., etc. After having lived sixteen
years among the Mexican people the
writer can candidly say that he be-
lieves the worst element In politics
there 10, and always has been, Ameri-
can; that certain unscrupulous leaders,
who have preyed upon the Mexican
people, and who have taken advantage
OF their ignorance and poverty, are.
and always have been, the only really
dangerous elements in political affairs.
That these leaders, together with some
Jesuit priests, who have fought The
cause OF the common school, and who,
after three hundred years OF the most
complete control OF the ma
tive people have so little to show
to the credit of::their stewardship, are
the most dangerous and disturbing ele-
ments is beyond question, and one can
think of no more promising method to
dethrone these powers of evil than to
encourage the immigration OF new
minds to assume control and to bring
the general spirit OF enterprise so dis
tinguishing of the American people.
The enabling act which provides for
the admission of New Mexico should
have certain safeguards of liberties
coupled with 1t, though, which should
be imposed by the power Of congress-,
not as restriction upon rights and
liberties, but rather as an assurance OF
the fullest measure of both in spite OF
the combined powers of evil. Among
these provisions may be suggested that
of an educational qualification to vote,
cit on juries, and to hold office: that
such qualification be the most simple,
viz, the ability to speak and read tie
English language.
That such test OF good citizenship
should be required is most proper
and is certainly good policy. No one
who can neither speak nor read our
language can be in touch with his fell