El Nuevo mexicano., 1912-01-20
Fellow Citizens:


You are here not simply to inau
gurate a governor. but also to cele
bTate the Inauguration of a state
That Is what makes this day one o
o. the greatest ever to be remembered
in the history of New Mexico 2
marks an epoch in the affairs Of our
people.
The custom of having an inaugura
address is grounded upon substantial
reason and has been SO thoroughly es
tablished that 1t cannot well be SCI
aside. The relation Of the chief exc
cutive Of a state to its people is sc
important that they desire at the out
set, to be informed of the views
which are entertained by him con
corning their government, and thus
be enabled to gauge and estimate the
sort of man whom they have chosen
to represent them in the highest Of
fee of the state.
II Depends Upon the People.
We have just passed from a terri
torial condition to our full rights as
citizens and become a distinct force
in the councils of the Nation. Not.
w~ithstanding our being the latest to
enter the Union, our civilization is,
perhaps, the Oldest and IA settlement
the first, within the borders of our
country. A proper understanding OF
the relation of the state to the Union,
OF which we are now a part, is, ]
think, of the greatest importance to
the maintenance of the true dignity
and full rights of our citizens. We
have become, instead of a people with
no rights not subject to the viii and
caprice of an administration * Wash
ington, a free people in The full sense,
and dignifed with the power and in
fiuence of a state, supreme in the con-
troll and management of its internal
affairs, except so far and to the ex-
tent that such control has been gran
ted to the National Government I'M
der the Constitution of the United
States. Upon the intelligence and
integrity Of the people of New Mex
leo will primarily depend the posi-
ton that we shall occupy in the Sis
terhood of States.
We have formu ated and adopted
a Constitution as our fundamental
law, defining and limiting the powers
of the different branches of our
State Government.
Responsibilities of a State Govern
ment.
Under this constitution you have
chosen your legislature, state and
county officers, and today we r as
Stunning the responsibility and enter
ing into the full dignity of statehood.
Much criticism have we had for many
years while struggling and contend
ing for the boon to which we believed
that we were entitled long ago, and
often have we been disappointed be-
cause Congress, for one reason or
another. decided that we might not be
capable of self government-be safe
fiom ourselves-as eel through the
eyes of prejudice and transformation
at Washington. Only a short time
ago we were warned not to be in too
great a hurry, that we did not fully
consider and realize the requirements
ard responsibilities of a state govern
ment. But we now understand the
glory and dignity of that brighv star
added to the flag Of this great Union
OF States, and we shall, we must,
prove to the world, that fear was
groundless and warning unnecessary.
Changed Not New Order of Things.
This is the beginning of a changed,
but not entirely new order for New
Mexico, We have passed from the
condition of citizens under the direct
control of the federal government, to
q position as citizens with equal
rights and privileges III the govern
ment of the United States. While
we naturally feel jubilant in the
present and hopeful for the future,
at the same time we must no forget
that our emancipation FROM federal
interference, except as the power for
such is granted in the Constitution
which makes us one with u Sister
States, has put us on a different foot
ing with the world. New obligations
and greater responsibility r to he
and borne successfully. The con-
fdence of youth combined with the
wisdom of maturity will carry us far
Il we act with caution, born Of the
experience of others that have gone
before.
Your Governor is looked upon to-
day with more consideration than is
his due. The guiding hand must be
strengthened and upheld by the will
and voice of a just and intelligent
people when it is firm with the pur-
pose of serving them; and, should it
prove weak or false, the force OF
public condemnation should render 1t
powerless for evil.
Victorious From the Battle.
The principles of a republican
form of government, based upon the
consent and cooperation of the gov
erned, were enunciated by the fathers,
victorious over the forces of wrong
and oppression which would have
bound them as a dependent province
Of a powerful nation. Now, we, the
free, independent citizens of New
Mexico, have at last come victorious
from the battle, waged for full citi-
zenship in a sovereign state, in that
Union established by their wisdom.
AS we look into the future, bright
hopes of promise appear to some and
dark forebodings may DIM the horizon
of others. The past is history, the