Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1903-06-15
REPLY TO SKINNER.
Rev. ThOs. Hdrwood Reviews Pro-
greSS Of Territorial Schools.
FALSITY OF SKINNER'S ASSERTIONS.

Rev. Thos. Harwood, who has devot.
ed many years of his life to the mis-.
sionary work of the Methodist church
in this territory, writes an able reply
to the SANDER on New Mexico uttered
by Rev. Norman Skinner, of the Pres.
byterian church of Las Vegas. In Ell
Abogado Christiano Rev. Harwood
says:
We are not in the habit of making
any ~unfavorable reference to our Pres
byterian brethren or their work in this
territory, for in one sense our work is
all one and we have always given them
credit for doing a good work, but when
one of their principal men, away from
home, before a body of probably more
than 700 of the most select preachers
any laymen of their church, strikes
such an unlocked for blow at New
Mexico, her people, our missionary
work and statehood, we would not be
true to the Mexican people, the Ameri-
a people, the church work and terri
tory did we not resent it. The follow
ing is said to be an exact statement
made by Mr.. Skinner at the general
assembly of the Presbyterian church,
recently held in Los Angeles, Cal, and
said to have been reported by one OF
their W stenographers. We have
looked for and waited for a denial or
some explanation of what is reported
as having been said by him and as a
: greater part of a month has passed
since his address was made and it has
been in almost all the papers in New
Mexico. both English and Spanish, we
infer that there is no denial Of any
part of the address or explanation to
be made, and hence we give the follow
ing as a part of his address referring
to New Mexico, with comments:
81 shall endeavor to speak the very
last thing they want to hear in my
country, the truth. They are afraid
of it, or dodge it, or deny it. We have
a population of 2O0, 200, 100, 900 Mexi-
cans.
Not 10 per cent of the MeXicans
have any education whatever; all are
looked upon with contempt by the
whites.
"We have no common schools that
are worthy the name. Public instruc'
ton is the variest farce and whole fam
lilies of al conditions are being brought
up in absolute ignorance. | prophecy
: that it will take fifty years before we
have any adequate system, and during
that time charity is all for which We
can hope.
There is in this country brethren
with it's 80, 0 poor, illiterate children.
bought and sold like cattle at every
election and at lower prices, into
whose hands you propose to put the
ballot of citizenship. Why, statehood
is the very last thing that is wanted
out there by men with public veal al
heart. Pernicious private influences
sought 1t, but my prayer, morning
noon and night, is, from statehood
from corporate influence and from
Matthew Quay, oh Lord, deliver u.s.
, etc.
Not 10 per cent of the MeXicans
have any education whatever" Sc
said Mr.. Skinner.
The above statement was very near
ly true thirty-four years ago when Mr.
i, SINNERS church and some others be
gan their school work in New Mexico
but if it is true now why call for more
schools? Mr.. Skinner says 1.-THE
churches must put in more schools.
But why, if the mission schools we
have had all these years have not re
duced the per cen of iliteracy? Or
did not Mr.. Skinner forget himself
when he said that mot 10 per cent OF
the MeXicans have n education
whatever" and imagine himself back
over a quarter of a century ago? Why
could not Mr., Skinner see that he was
turning his battery upon his own
ranks and injuring his own cause?
His church reports tw~enty-three
schools in New Mexico, forty-siN
teachers, 1925 students, and S23,47Z
expended last year; but what does il
avail if the illiteracy stands the same
as when or before such work was com
menced? And the Methodist Episco
pal church reported last year thirteen
, schools, nineteen teachers, 300 schol
airs: the COngregationalists six
schools, eleven teachers, 93S students
the Baptists four schools, fourteen
teachers, 233 students; total for all
the Evangelical churches, forty-siN
schools, nine teachers, 2,401 students.
all at an expense of $50, $40. Why KEEP
adde's and Children invited.