New-York tribune., 1903-01-19
NEWMEYICO'S Claims.
E.r- GoUernor Prince Pleads for
Statehood.

To the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir: In January. 1889. The Tribune published let
ter from me- headed Admission of New-Mexico:
Both Justice ard Expediency Demand IT." which
intended TO correct gross misstatements made
in Congress and in portion of the press 1t is
strange that after fourteen years the same igno-
rance and prejudice should exist, and call for the
same kind OF correction.
Yet these fourteen years have seen great prog
and Improvement in all material respects In
1852 ycu NO Territory ever had such thor-
ough preparation for Statehood" That was true
then, and it is far more true
As early as 1850 the people OF New-Mexico rely
ing the pledges of government held a con-
vention. adopted constitution. elected State ofii-
GERS. legislature and w. S. Messervy as memoer
OF Congress In July the legislature elected r, H.
weightnan and F. c. Cunningham as Senators.
and they. with the member of Congress, proceeded
to Washington While the journey they were
met by the intelligence of the passage on Septem-
ber 8. Of the famous Compromise Measure
which admitted California State and relegated
New-Mexico to the condition Of a Territory. From
that time to the present attempts to secure ad-
mission have constantly been made, and Congress
has not entirely failed to respond to these ap-
reals In Is74-'75 both houses of the XLII1d Con-
gress passed enabling act the House by a vote
Of I5o to 81 and the Senate by 30 to IL The Dill
as slightly amended the Senate, and failed be-
cause it was impossible at the end of the session
to bring ii up for concurrence in the House In
the succeeding Congress a similar bill passed the
Senate by vote of 30 to Is was reported favoraoiy
in the House. but failed to be reached For twenty
years scarcely Congress has met In which an en-
abling act has not been passed in one house or
the other. b,,t by some accident obstacle con-
current action has failed. If it was proper 10 su
NIT New-Afexico in 1874. before it possessed iiie
Of railroad. single pubic building. developeo
mine a natured orchard alfalfa field. what
reason can now be given for delay, when its popu-
lation has greatly increased its condition vastly
improved and its resources OF all xmas are peis
developed into sources OF wealth
In the pending discussion in Congress and In
most articles in the press. the really great prih
chile involved seems to be lost sight Of or ignored
That is the right of sef-government- Tnls Is IN.
fundamental principle of republican lhsutut4''e' ~
is the inherent right of the American cltzen. IL
is our best heritage from our fathers IL Il
enough to make our New-England RevolutlonarS
ancestors turn in their graves TO see thelr oe-
scendants deprived Of these rights ana he|o a.
bondage, and that by the votes OF NeT-Ehs'du
Senators. l confess It makes my ReFoiuti,'n"ls
blood hot with Indignation find that the 4%test
raturalized foreigner in Colorado or Texas mas
all the rights Of American citizenship, ana that'
because choose TO cross an imaginary oouiiais
line I am deprived of the dearest OF American
rights that OF sef-governnent
A Territory has not republican government
If is simply a province its people are not cltl-
zens they are subjects. If it has bad ofhclais'
there is no remedy, for they are not respohSlVle
20 the people answerable to public OPINION.
{
violate law and override justice with impunity.
AS a temporary expedient when the population
is sparse and poor and cannot sustain local gov
eruuent the Territorial condition is necessary
evil; but it is exceptional and temporary, ana as
soon as the people are able TO become sef-goVern-
ing they are entitled TO that right. Every moment
Of delay after that time is an outrage on their
Anlericanisn.
desire briefly to state few facts to show not
only that New-Mexico has long passed that ex-
+bas
bettsT prepared for Statehood than any OF the
Territories heretofore admitted
Formulation No Territory at the time Of its ad-
mission with the exception Of Dakota ana Otah'
contained the population now in NeW-MeXlco. by
the census Of 1900 it had 19510 inhabitants without
counting the Indians the reservations. Inc
real population as has been conclusively shown IN
public documents. about 225,oc0. But taxing
the census figures. the above statement IS correct
must not occupy space with the full hst OF the
populations of Territories at the times or their
admission. but, examples. Tennessee, Ohio' IN
diana and Illinois each had about $1,000 inhanltants'
if we take the preceding census, as we are ooiil6
with New-Mexico, Indiana had only 2+,55o, ana
Illinois l22s2. So 1t is evident that there is now
no reason on account of lack OF population for de-
priving the people of New-Mexico of their rights
as citizens On the contrary, it has more popuia-
ton than the old State of Delaware. $4,000 more
than Idaho. than double that OF wyoming
and five times that of Nevada.
If we consider the matter OF natural resources
and actual taxable valuation, we find that in the
latter she far exceeds many other new States ana
as TO the variety and extent Of resources no State
approaches her except California and Colorado.
and her vast treasure OF coal gives her the ad-
vantage even over those favored regions
The character Of the population seems to be
bugbear to the unfriendy Senators who recently
familiar with The Ierfitery CRY Wa1c9 *
noT9bfned in three days. Facts however. should
carry more weight tnan prejudices or unfounoeo
The peope are loyal During the Rebellion 10 out
fbe army a larger percentage than any Eastern
State and the victory Glorieta saved the Paeidc
no less than LOSS volunteers enlisted, including
about 500 Of the R9gg6 Kders de SAN |90 nag ga@qHa @
They are American The foreign element Elem m 4s rs
nTy eonntry t extspt sone parts Of the South on
per cent of the population IS foreign porn Iaa9o
SoT SS DAKOTA fti IS Even IN the older states New
York apd Michigan have 25 MaSsacnussa66fs a6 ,2d
They are public spirited without the slightest
q beautiful capitol, substantial penite an an
school of mines normal university: normal school
miitary institute and blind asylum, and wnen
smother which is the object Of general admra sg
have erected multitude of county and city build
inga. .,.,n.ora, -. largo r,ro,er Of citi-
zens of Spanish descent is locked upon as grave
misfortune There could not be greater ms. ms.
eaent taE Il in Is eonnecI0n ne With the entrprRs
can from the East which gives New Mexico her
sssl ona fasr With he ar EnoHs That
the principal danger IN new seGonS 9 m aPlses oIIa
ton They are always locking for some new
place foG 10 AVN auo2nt of bonds ard taxation and
TO their irresponsible action is principally due the
The chief danger in many a new community comes
s class Of men & and tn fF9m {Fat the fs over n & &e
West is a continual boom. But New-MeXieo runs