Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-08-05
LOVE VS.. DUTY.
From La voz del Pueblo, August LIST
Translafed.)

The town Of Las Vegas, commonly
known as "old town" and It's citizens
especially those comprising the Span
ish-American element, find themselves
today face TO face with the dificull
task Of choosing between Love and
Duty. Love In this case presents to
them the soft caresses which invites
dishonor. the temptations that lead
to the precipice Of vice that finally
ends Ia disgrace. This love Is inspired
by greed for public office. The thirst
for lucre, whether clean or unclean,
coming from the covetous, awakened
by the allurments and Vaccinations
which Office holds u to them. This
hankering after the public crib is the
very thing that ~endangers and pro
dmces the present antagonist, giving
rise to Excuses for the purpose Of call
Ing political parties into play. with
no other object but TO gain control Of
the public money. which. under cir
cumstances like the present, are the
causes OF so much dishonor.
Las Vegas finds Itself today In per
haps the most serious crisis known
In its history. Ajnd. why? Because.
for the good or evil u its citizens.
the circumstances are irresisfably
compelling Its Spanish-American ele-
ment 10 show by facts and deeds
whether or no they still preserve
that high sense Of homer and duty
which for so many centuries ha sheen
their proudest Characteristic.
We sincerely impiore the division Of
Las Vegas into two separate entities.
two towns. and two social families, US
It were In our judgment it would be
Infinitely better, more proper and
just. and certainly more advantageous
10 the respective inhabitants. and
would, morssover. secure a greater de.
gree OF happiness. II there existed
but one town and q government
held together and conducted by
and the same purpose and spirit.
The efforts OF the best citizens TO
advance the interests OF both towns
would cqrtainly be better crowned
with the ucces they deserve. II the
consolidation and arm union into one
city would be the solution and out.
come OF the %antagonism. which to our
regret. we must confess exists at pres
ent.
Yet we repeat what we said before.
whether for good or evil, the fact
remains Of the recent incorporation Of
West Las Vegas. The movement has
already been approved by the unan-
unity Of It's inhabitants. The day has
been fixed for the election Of Its Off
GERS, and In a short time the govern
ment will exist there under municipal
authority entirely distinct from the
present one.
Such being the situation, La Voz
del Pueblo. In fulnllment OF a duty
which II imposed upon itself from the
sstart, calls the attention of the good
people which this matter most con-
Germs, to the fact that the honor and
the dignity OF the Spanish-American
people are today placed to a severe
test.
What then will you do, Al citizens
OF the newly created town?
VIII you allow yourselves to
be blinded by the weakness
already referred to? VIII you permit
the greed Of the political parties who
banker only after the emoluments Of
Office to inject partisan feeling into
this important matter, and make a
farce Of your most sacred interests.
thus holding yourself up land deser-
vedly sol to the rldicule of your enc
mics? Will you allow II to be said
that what the Spanish American citi-
xens wanted was merely to create
new offices for the purpose Of com.
hitting new abuses, and hghting
among themselves on that account
No, a thousand times. no: La voz
del Pueblo sincerely trusts that there
are still In Las Vegas may patriotic
hearts which In a critical hour. like
the present. will permit no dissension
In their forces. MOI allow those greedy
lovers OF office 10 destroy what little
hope stIll remains.
fAt us then now see whether piracy
or patriotism is to prevail.
Based ON the thousands of hsAs.
tiers which have been the consequence
OF divisions In the different communi.
ties on different occasions by reason
OF their dIsscnsiuns. we venture to pre-
dict that no matter how much tact
and skill may be employed in the
government OF the two towns now
comprised In Las Vegas, 1t will turn
out TO be neither satisfactory. profita'
Bile nor convenient TO continue sepa-
rate, divorced by ~sntipsthies and an
tagonism which cannot but harm cv.
cry one concerned.
Would 10 God that a long time may