Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-04-23
QUEEN CITY OF NEW MEXICO.

with a condition which means the
building of the greatest city in our
territory, or the utter humiliation of
all tine civic hopes of the progressive
people of our town. The unfortunate
discussions along the line of sectional
ism are the source of our weak
ness and if persisted in will compass
our ultimate destruction. With a feel
ing of inexplicable hostility between
sections-the unreasonable and sense
less waste of energy in trying to des-
troy, when that energy should and
could be conserved as a mighty force
for creation. is as incomprehensible as
it is reprehensible. To u shame, be
it said, the condition above referred to
is a sad fact, and the unanswerable log
ic of passing events proves it beyond
this unbearable and inexcusable con-
dition of affairs should be the united
effort of our people. Let us as n
man throttle the miserable sentiment
of we towns. Let our motto be. Unit
ed we standardized we fall" "A
Greater Las Vegas" Unity of thought,
unity of purpose, unity of sentiment,
and move like some invincible
phalanx with irresistible force for the
accomplishment of the holy object of
one magnificent community in which
the interest of the individual is merged
into the greater interest of the whole
and becomes an integer in a complete
AMI hsautti1ful RolitJiceal structure 5sn it j
5000 inhabitants living in harmony.
Is preferable to two towns of 1000
each. in conflict. Under the former
condition we a carry out the ideal
Q American citizenship; under the
latter condition we but relapse back
to the almost aboriginal condition of the
survival of the fittest," the destruction
of the weaker by the stronger, or an
equally as unhappy condition of con-
slant warfare between sections that
will only serve to weaken ourselves
and upbuild our neighbors at our e
pense. We know there are broad.
strong, patriotic citizens in our midst
who deeply deplore the foolish feeling
of sectional bitterness that in strenu-
Gus times manifests itself, and we
know, too. that many of these men
through timidity or bashfulness are
10th to come out and express their
sentiments boldly as the occasion re-
quires. This is mo- as it should be.
Every man who is a citizen owes 1t to
himself-to his family-to his town, to
stand for progress and improvement
as much in his civic as his personal
duties. and he should sound a clarion
note of warning when a hostile interest
assails this community. The cultiva-
ton Of civic pride-Las Vegas one
ana undivided, our present and our fu-
ture hope-is bound to bring satisfac-
tory fruition and the flnal coali-
ton of all conflicting interests.
Las Vegas is surrounded naturally
by all the elements that go to the max
ing up of an important city. Those
elements are but awaiting the intelli-
gent developing hand of her friends to
bear fruit a thousand fold. No city in
the great southwest is SO bountifully
blessed with favorable conditions, and
in refusing L foster a strong senti-
ment of community Of interest we
show an i~nexcusable indifference. We
must be broad-no paltering to person
a. s~elfshness. Personal feelings and
desires should be submerged in the
erander thought of a collective behset,
Then let as "get together" Let the
dead past bury its dead" let us dis
caro- the ragged habiliments Of dis
cord and jealousy and don the robes Of
a perfect citizenship; let II obliterate
the imaginary line between an east
side and a west side and concentrate
our efforts to sa.hrone our beautiful
city as the Queen City of Ssw Mexico
and crown her with the wreath q
good will toward all.