Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1905-01-16

pose, congeniality OF pursuits nor
unity Of interests. The whole plan IN
based upon real or affected mistrust
OF our people II Is an undisguised m.
sertion that by ourselves We are no.
qualified or prepared for statehood.
Hence every act OF this legislative
assembly VIII be most closely scanned,
most widely disseminated, our friends
VIII be seeking for facts as illustra.
tions to be hurled into the very teeth
OF our calumniators; our enemies will
seek acts and incidents that mAy be
distorted into confirmation Of their
accusations. In our hands. gentlemen,
rest the honor and reputation Of our
beloved Sunshine Land" Let us DO
wise as serpents. harmless ~ doves.
Let us bury Animosities. subordinate
personal interests. forget local gains.
Let us have but one mind and one
heart. to work earnestly, harmonious
ly. speedily. effectively for the public
good, Let that be our purpose and
that alone.
And now word for myself. /
know It Ia not seemly for one entering
upon any enterprise, to make broad pre-.
dic,ions and wide extended promises.
The past Ia easily road. lts successes
or failures stand boldly out A. facts on
the highway Of events---but 10 no
man n II given 10 ut the impenetra,
bic curtain of the future. You must
excuse me. then. II I make few prom.
ises. can say In all sincerity that
bring to the position an honest desire
to serve you, my party. and our ter
ritory. In q way that shall be salts
factory 70 you and ereditable to my.
sclf, ! have no personal prejudlces 10
direct memo personal enmitleM to
crafty; no favorites 10 rewArd--no
opponents to punish. With me there
shall be NO rule Of the gavel, but q
due regard for the rights and inter.
ests, the feelings and failings Of all.
But you must realiez. az I do, that.
without proper assistance from every
member Of this council, your presiding
officer will be unable to accomplish
anything helpful 10 the people. graft.
flying 70 You. and pleasing to himself.
do wish with an intensity which b,,f,
Ties expression, that our entire delih-
eratlon may be characterized by har.
mony courtesy. good will, wisdom
and a complete consecratIon OF time,
effort and energy to the duties which
have brought us here. and the obli.
cations we have assumed In coming.
In one thing, gentlemen. have both
IN advantage and disadvantage |
stand In the shadow of New Mexico's
greatest son, her loved and lost, the
peerless J. Francisco Chaves. His men,
DRY IL my incentive to noblest hope
and intensest effor. His example
illumines the way for my inexperi.
enced feet. The contrast To- the easy
perfection OF his presidency is the
burden my official hhoulders must
never cease to bear, Who can gaze at
that chair. which for 10 many years
he graced and adorned. and not with
eye see again the old man
eloquent, whom time had touched
but could not taint7 The courteous
the ripe scholar, the faith
fnI friend, the wise councillor, tho
,ble leader, the matchless parlamenta.
rian. and over all and above all, The
devoted. tifeless patriot.
Such, gentlemen, was Colonel Chaves
In life, and such history will ever
hold him In her casket of fadelcsr
levels. New Mexico, which he loved So
well and served so faithfully, was
stricken indeed when the hand OF The
assassin laid him low. but.
we weep not as those who /,
have no hope, for he left us the price /
ess heritage OF his noble example,
Be II ours to follow nhis footsteps.
4 the spirits Of the departed ever ~.
urn to earth to mingle In the scenes |
hey know and love In life, TO .,artici.
pate In events that filled their minds
md hearts while living, who can for |
Concluded on Eighth page)