Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1903-01-31

OfCA thVot hfVito iVSiOhos
The character of the population
seems to be a bugbear to the unfriend-
ly senators who recently became ia
miliar with the territory, which is
much larger than New England and
New York combined, in three days.
Facts, however. should carry more
weight than prejudices or unfounded
ISLANDERS.
The people are loyal. During the re-
bellion out of a total population OF
80. 567 she sen 1851 into the army, a
larger percentage than any eastern
state; and the victory at Glorieta saw
ed the Pacific slope to the Union. In
the recent Spanish war no less than
1889 volunteers enlisted, including
about 500 Of the Rough Riders, who
gained renown and made a president
at San Juan hill.
They are American. The foreign eie-
ment IS smaller In New Mexico tina
anywhere else in the country, except
some parts Of south. Only IN per cent
of the population is foreign born. Idaho
has 81, Wyorming "a, Washington %,
Montana 90, North Dakota az. Even
in the older states, New York and
Michigan hare 26, Massachusetts 90,
Rhode Island. Wisconsin and ~Califof-
MIA, 80, and Minnesota SO per cent.
They are public spirited. Without
the slightest aid from the national gov
eminent they have built a beautiful
capitol, a substantial penitentiary, an,
insane asylum, university, agricultural
college, school Of mines, normal n
versity, normal school, military insti-
tute and blind asylum, and when the
capitol was destroyed by fire they
erected another, which Is the object OF
general admiration. Besides these ter
ritorial institutions they have erected
a multitude of county and city build
ings.
But to the uniformed the large
number of citizens of Spanish descent
is looked upon as a grave misfortune.
There could not be a greater mistake.
1t is the possession of that conserva-
tive element in connection with the
enterprising American from the east
which gives New Mexico her special
advantages as a self-governing COM
munity. Every n familiar with the
far west knows that the principal dan
ger in new sections arises from the I'M
settled character of much of the popu-
lation. They are always looking for
some new place to which to migrate.
They are ready to vote for any amount
of bonds and taxation. and to their ire
sponsible action is principally due the
heavy Indebtedness of 81 many west
ern counties. The chief danger in
many a new community comes from
this class of men, and from the over
enthusiasm of others who think that
life in the west is a continual boom.
But New Mexico runs no such risk.
She has. a stable and conservative ele-
ment in her native population, which
counteracts. the danger, They are at
taehedsto the soil and have no thought
of leaving. They are naturally opposed
to rash schemes which involve extrava-
giant expense. Mixed with the Jealous
American they form an admirable COM
bination. e.--
Another objection raised against us
is illiteracy. Some years ago there
may have been force in this argument,
but it has disappeared. In no respect
has New Mexico made such rapid pro-
gress as in public education. Even un-
der the crude system which existed
before the public school law of 1891,
the census showed that while the popu-
lation of the territory increased % per
cent during the decade from 1880 to
1890. the number of children enrolled
in the schools increased 2S3 per cent,
or ten times as rapidly. During the
last decade the gain has been equally
gratifying. The school law of 1891
gave a great impetus to public educa-
ton, and the system is now very salts
factory. The total enrolment OF schol-
ars last year was 1926. In this con-
.nection ! wish to state a fact which
may be a surprise. that New Mexico,
with less than $50 900 people. now sup
ports more public institutions of col
lege grade than any state east OF the
Alleghenies. She has the university,
agricultural college, normal university,
school Of mines and military institute.
All these have fine buildings and are
credibly administered. Where is
there any other community of similar
population doing as much for higher
education?
Thus II will be seen that in every es
sential particular New Mexico hal
long passed the period where a terri
torial government was necessary o.
iustifable. But for craftsmanship ant
prejudice it would have been admitted
long ago.
The right OF self-government ough
not to depend on the political view
of the people interested or on part,
prejudiees or exlgencies. Yet we d
know that in practice these things d
influence the admission OF states, an
no one has yet forgotten the long cor