d the examples of a few worthy Americans, they are gradually mending
their ways in this respect; and the time will come in a few years,
when the legislature of New Mexico will compare favorably with
its sister territories; but this, not until education has made her
indelible mark upon the people.

The town of Santa Fe is provided with a Roman Catholic church, which,
under the judicious management of the present bishop and clergy, is
doing what it can to improve the condition of the Mexican population.
Other religious denominations have not yet been fully developed;
although the attempt is being made to establish churches of the
Protestant faith on a sure and permanent footing; but this, although
we regard it as certain, will take time, for the majority of the
people lean strongly to the Roman Catholic faith. It is a very
singular fact that among a population of seventy thousand souls
included in the limits of the Territory of New Mexico, there have been
such feeble and vain attempts made by Protestant missionaries to
bring the people to their mode of thinking. The task might have been
impossible when the country was under the jurisdiction of old Mexico;
but, since it has changed masters, this excuse does not hold good. The
Mexicans, as a body, learn readily; they easily discern between right
and wrong; and, as the field for Christian enterprise to work in is
large enough for all sects, it is strange that the Protestant church
is not found laboring in the good cause, side by side with its Roman
Catholic friend. It is true, there are a few persons struggling on
under the auspices of the Protestant church; but they are so few that
they are seldom met in the great expanse of the country. Santa Fe has
long been celebrated as having a depraved population; but, as honest
and honorable men are now working with satisfactory success for a
reformation, the day cannot be far distant when this town will redeem
itself. It is true that, not many years back, Santa Fe was filled with
gamblers and desperadoes of all grades; but, at the present time, law
and order is beginning to predominate, and it is to be hoped that the
next generation will see a better state of affairs. The vices which
have characterized the inhabitants have not been confined, by any
means, to the Mexicans; but rather they have been exemplified in those
Americans with bad characters, who have, from time to time, crept in
among the people. These men, in several instanc