Albuquerque weekly citizen. (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1891-19??, 1903-06-20
REPLY TO SKINNER.
FAlSlTY OF SKlNNeR'S SSeRTIONS.

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 Pre-.
byterian church of Las Vegas In El
Abogado Christano 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 rot he
true to the Mexican people, the Amerl.
| can people, the church work and terri.
tory did we not resent IT, The follow.
ing is said to he 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 own stenographers. We have
! looked for and waited for a denial or
sc,ne 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:
Il shall endeavor to speak the very
last thing they want TO hear in my
country, the truth. They are afraid
of 1t, or dodge 1t. or deny 1t. We have
a population of 200 1000, 100000 Mexi-
cans.
|
have any education whatever. all are
looked upon with contempt by the
whites.
1--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
] Ia, nIg \
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 its 30 600 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 YER, last thing that is wanted
out there by men with public veal at
heart. Pernicious private influences
sought Il, but my prayer, morning,
noon and night, is. from statehood,
from corporate influence and from
Matthew Quay, oh Lord. deliver us"
etc.
Not 10 per cent of the Mexicans
have any education whatever SO
said Mr. Skinner.
The above statement was very near
ly true thirty.four years ago when Mr..
SINNERS church and some others be.
gan their school work in New Mexico,
but II 1t is true now why call for more
schools? Mr.. Skinner says the
churches must put in more schools"
but why. II the mission schools we
have had all these years have not re-
duced the per cent of iliteracy? Or
did not Mr.. Skinner forget himself
when ne said that mot 10 per cent OF
the MeXicans have any education
whatever" and imagine himself back
over quarter of century ago? Why
could not Mr. Skinner see that he was
turning his battery upon his own
ranks and injuring his own cause?
his CnufCn Reports twenty -'hie'
schools in New Mexico, forty-six
teachers, 1875 students, and s23.i72
expended last year; but what does II
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, sos schol'
ars; the Congregationalists six
schools, eleven teachers, 33S students
the Baptists four schools, fourteen
teachers, 233 students; total for all
the Evangelical churches, forty-siS
schools, nine teachers, 2,4Ol students
all at an expense of s55,62o. Why keeT
up all these schools at such an ex
pense. II the illiteracy of the territory
is not being reduced? The Roman
Catholics have eighteen schools, six
ty.seven teachers, and 1.75i students.
: - NlaAl