Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-08-28


now named Vera Cruz, with one
hundred and ten sailors, five hun
dred and fifty three soldiers, and
two hundred Indians, fourteen pieces
OF artillery, and sixteen horses. Dis
embarking, he established himself in
an intrenched camp, and opened
relations with the Cacique Of the
district, who treated the strangers
with the utmost hospitality. Their
first interview began with the cele-
bration of the Mass, after which
Cortez invited the Cacique and his
attendants to collation., which, be-
ing ended, conversion began. Hav-
ing learned from the Cacique that
Montezuma, the king of the country,
resided at great city two hundred
miles distant, Cortez asked permis-
sion to visit him, to which the Cacique
replied that he would send his re-
quest to the king. A week after, the
messengers returned, bearing to the
Spaniards magnificent presents, and
a message from Montezuma, decIin-
ing the proffered visit. A second
request elected other costly gifts,
aud positive order from the king
for the strangers not to approach the
capital.
Cortez hesitated not moment.
Feigning submission, he prepared
at once to march to Mexico. Some
of the followers. however, not as bold
as himself, murmured, and plotted
against him Then it was that, be-
sides REFRESHING the mutiny with the
strong band, he resolved to make all
turning back impossible. He caused
all his vessels, except the smallest,
to be scuttled and sunk. From that
hour, there was no safety except in
the total conquest of the country.
Leaving at Vera Cruz sufficient
garrison, he began his immortal
march,, August 10, 1919, with the
following forces -four hundred foot
soldiers, fifteen horsemcn, thirteen
hundred Indian warriors, one thou.
sand Indians to draw the cannons
and carry the baggage, and seven
pieces of artillery.
To relate the conquest of Mexico
requires volumes. That great en-
pre- fell, like Peru, because it was
divided against itself. At what
an enormous sccrifce of life the
conquest was made, what perils
Cortez escaped, what an amazing
energy and genius he displayed,
how much wisdom and humanity
were united in him with bigotry
and crueity-to know these things,
the reader must repair to one of the
numerous works which relate the
conquest of Mexico.
For twenty-one years, if we de-
duct one short triumphal visit to
Spain, Cortez lived in Mexico, and
for Mexico, fighting, organizing,
governing, exploring, evangelizing.
He explored the Isthmns of Darien,
and discovered California. He &C
CURED ineslculable wealth, and ex-
pended the greater part Of it in ex-
plorations and establishments, from
which be neither received nor ex-
pected any return. Falling into
disfavor with the king he returned
to Spain. aud. after living in obscu-
r:y for seven years, died in 1647,
aged sixty-two years. He left large
sums for the establishment ia Meg
leo of three great institutions, hos
pital, college for the education of
missionaries, and a convent. His
will contained one passage so curl
GUS that We will conclude by copy
ing it. After recommending bis
heirs to treat the Indians with hu-
manity, he proceeds thus:
at has long been question
whether we can,in good conscience.
hold the Indians in slavery. This
question not having been decided, |
order nv SOD, Martin, and his heirs,
to spare no pains to arrive at the
knowledge of the truth, on this
point, for it is matter which inter-
ests deeply their conscience ard
NINE"
Who would have thought to find
such a passage in the will of Cor
tez ? Nothing ia more certain than
this, that Cortez, in all that he did
in Mexico, fully believed that be
was an instrum snt in the hands of q
benevolent God; for he found Mex
leo Pagan, and left it Catholic.
Massacre, rapine, devastation, the
betrayal and murder of king, the
TALL of an empire-these were as
nothing in view of result like
this So thought all good Spaniards
of that age.