Bisbee daily review., 1909-02-13
NEW MEXICO, ITS HISTORY
 AND ROMANCE
Former Governor Price Writes in Defense of the Name An interesting Narrative of the Territory

CBy L. Bradford Price. former Gov
 ernor of New Mexico)
 From time to time all through the
 strugSe for statehood. suggestions
 have been made by eastern congress,
 men, and more Frequently by eas,ern | journals. that the name of New Mex leo should be changed. This has aris- en, | think, from lack of familiarity with the history of this region ana iof appreciation of the antiquity and ! importance of its name.
 Dates Back 10 1883.
 ! Very much of interest might be said on this subject, but I will eonfine my self to two points; the antiquity and
 the dignity of the name, New Mexico. ! There is but one name in the entire United States that is older than it. ' nd that is the name of Florida Long
 before the settlement Of Jamestown,
 still longer. before the HOllander5
 came to New Amsterdam. or the Pii- grims landed at Plymouth. the name ! Of New Mexico had been fixed and established. It dates back to 1883 more than three and a quarter cen | tITies ago. In that year Espe1o marea- ed up the Rio GEande in hopes of res cuing from martyrs fate the three Franciscan missionaries who had set ! ted upon it's banks near the modern Bernalillo. After passing the desert
 to the south. he came into the beauti- T ui and fertile valley of the Great riv- CT of the north, and was so struck 1 with its resemblance to some of the most charming spots in New Spain. that he christened it New Mexico. There is no doubt Of this fact or or | it's date; they do not rest on r1mor | or tradition
 1 4 little ycllum covered volume which is in the rare library of the [ Historical society, was printed at Paris in 1jsS. IL contains the full mar ! ation of the chivalroas expedition of 1 Espejo. from the day that it left Santa | Barbara in New Biscay until it's re- 1 turn And here we have a chapter i headed "Of New Mexico and How lt | Was Discovered" which tells that in i the year 1884 Antonio de EspejO. after | travelling up the Rio de Norte. dis ! covered a land of l5 provinces, which ! he called New Mexico" This, you see, is TO modern invention. for this liJtle book was printed but five years after the occurrences themselves. So the antiquity of the name s absolute ! ly established: nnd from then until nov. through all these years uf time. that usmc has never changed.
 Dignity of Nan1s.
 ! As to the dignity which that narne | lrepresents New Mexico vas never an 1 ordinary province of New Spain. IiEe ! the regions Co tho south of il It was always . separate govaEnment. with the authorities appointed directly by ] the spanish king. and in all ancient documents it is called the kingdom of | New Mexico This high dignity it 1 possessed from the very beginning
 I quote now rom the oldest document
 of which We have any knowledge, is- sued fin New Mexico. It was writ ten even before the Spanish settle
 Inent of this historic city. at San Ga briel. the first capital of the province. situated where Chamita station now stands. in the wide valley at the june. tion of the Rio Grande and the Cha
 ma; and 1t is signed by the first gov ernor and captain general, Don Juan 1 dc olste. under date of October. 1908. And this venerable docarrent de scEibes Onate as governor. Adelsnta- ! cd and Pacifcator of the kingdoms usd provinces of New Mexico"
 Once a kinsdon.
 | More than hundred years mad 1 passed since the days of Onare. and ' the notable signature. with its unique | r1bic- is that of the marquis de Ia ! 1eneula, whose fame is kept ever be fore us by the inscription in the old l church of San Miguel which he had the honor Of rebuilding And the doc ument begins:
 {; Tn tho city of Santa Fe. capital of | the kingdom and provinces of New
 sieSico. January 29. 17I2" Here is !, the word ''kingdoH" again. showing i constant use for more than Q century.
 ending almost 200 years ago.
 Another ancient document is signed | by Lon Juan Ignacio Flores MosoL ' lon, after whom the mountains and iiiiuins camp are named. and with a somewhat late date. Bnt the title Is ! unchanged. The high official Is 'gov-
 eiHor and captain general of the king < com and provinces Of New Mexico" l Everywhere the word is "reino.r king | dom. and there Is no other part of tthe United States that, ever possessed 60 excited title
 Once Had Vast Territory. Tn it's extent as well as in its title
 New Mexico exceiled in dignity and grandeur. Consult any of the ancient mGpS in the Historical society's rooms and you will see that for more than a century the whole range Of country
 now constituting the southern part CT tEe United States. from the Pacific to ! .he Atlantic. was diviced between New Mexico and Florida. Inc dividing
 liHe being the Mississippi river. Then fer another hundred years. there were three divisions instead or twO-f.ouis- i;na occupying the Mississippi valley In the center. but the northern bourl- daiy Of New Mexico ruBning up in- dcfmitely to the Arctic regions.
 So there need be no reason 10 be ashamed of the pame: hut rather to rcioice that it represents SO glorious Ia history.
 Under Three Nationaiities- For 325 years, this great region has known 10 other name. it is true that Tn later years 1t has lost part Of ffs