Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-01-29
EXAMPLE or pATERnALlsM.

It's ali q mistake III course, New
Mexico doesn't need statehood. Sh.
Is under the paternal rare Of the gov
eminent Of the United States. She
Is the ward Of the nation, and the ma
ton Is sacredly bound To guard thu
interests Of the territory. She is ID
even better condition than the states
she has Uncle Sam on her s~ide-ready
70 come 70 her defense at all times
Congress- exercises watehfui care d
the interests OF New Mexico-is ready
nay. anxious. 10 %oyerrule any harmful
law passed By the territorial iegisla-
ture. Why ever our good. disinterest.
ed friend Beyeridge Is trying 10 pass
a bill through congress- providing for
the investigation Of boodling In New
Mexico-and he couldn't do that for a
state. Q. no. We don't need senators
and representatives in congress TO
guard our interests. Beverage and
the rest will do II for us. Brownlow
Of Tennessee ID assisting nobly In the
sanle direction See how nicely he
does It.
Our good friend. Mr.. Brownlow 81
Tennessee. has prepared a bin which
Is thought 10 have an excellent chance
Of becoming a law. This bin aims TO
secure federal aid for the mainten.
ance Of the roads Of the individual
states. The minimum amount to be
appropriated TO a state will be $780,
900, States with q population Of more
than 100000 Will receive more than
that amount According to the bill,
each state must expend an amount
equal % that appropriated By the feder.
al government, and, OF course. the
territories. being under the brooding
paternal care Of the government, fare
better than the states. Senator Gal
OF New Hampshire Ii especially
Interested In New Mexico. No doubt,
he looked 10 II that liberal provisions
were made for our welfare.
How much does one suppose the
bills would appropriate 10 the terri
Il provides not one cent.
Doubtless. our good friends Brownlow
and Gallinger imagine we have pro-
so rapidly under this ennobling
patcrnalism that we don't need roads.
Well, We have a few people and a
towns IN spite OF the senators, and
representatives who lie awake nights
studying our interests.
The argument, even yet advanced
citizens OF this territory, that we
Are better of under a territorial form
government is unworthy Of any
nan who prizes the American idea Of
The Brownlow bin Ii anoth.
n excellent example Of what paternal.
does for us. New Mexico has
deceived. robbed and mistreated
,yer since II became a territory. The
appointments, the appropriations. the
have all gone IL the states.
We haven't ven been given the
that fell from the tables Of
hese Dives IN the American congress
sho are sworn 70 protect our interests.
letter % mlsgoyern ourselves fright
llly than 20 suffer any longer the dis.
raceful and humlllating conditions
orced upon Us BY paternalism
IL the people Of the American con
#ress wan to be true 10 their pledges
hey Will vote a federal appropriation
2 the territories and not call for a
corresponding appropriation from the
legislatures. But we care little
bout the appropriation. What we
liz the right to govern ourselves.
lore than half a century ago, this
crritory was divorced from the Unit.
u States. We have been denied all
be- privileges priced by free men. wei
ave had ignuminy heaped upon dis
We have had to struggle along
eglected and despised. while those in
over have forgotten their duty 10
have robbed lis OF our birthrieht
nd have devoted every effort 10 the
eoplc who are fortunate enough to
In n state.
And. despite this humiliating and
nbearablc state Of Affairs. We find
ome people In New Mexico and more
! Arizona. who are foolish enough
, say they will continue slaves, when
last congress seems inclined to give
3 freedom by permitting union OF the
NO territories. II we decline what
ar good paternai government offers.
perhaps this same good p~atcrnai
overnment imagincs We shall, we
Just u the responsibility and
the consequences.
Buffalo Bill. during one Of his Wis.
s 20 Chicago. was fhr rlleaf ~ honor