The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-10-27

them under the guidance of their caciques, -
thus making compulsory slave-drivers OF
their own Chiefs that they should be com
PEELED to hear mass and be instructed in the
faith" and finally that they should 'dO all
these things willingly and as freeborn men,
for so they are'' The first fruit of this or
der was the adoption of a system called by
the mild name of "encomienda" After APP
propriating all lands and property, the gov
errors distributed the Mexicans among the
Spaniards to be veritable slaves under the
following legal formula: ITO you, Senior
Don -, is given one hundred Indians,
with Cacique -, and you are to teach
| them in the things of our holy faith" which
Senior Don - proceeded to do by
working them to the utmost OF their en-
durance in the fields and mines. Then there
remained only the perpetuation of the title.
At first it was life estate; then it was
extended through sons life; then two
lives, and then unending irrevocable slavery
for parents and children. With the history
OF further oppression, the Council of the
Indies" the Courts of the Royal Audiences"
numerous revenue bulls the alcabala, cler-
ical tithes etc., all are familiar. To such an
extent did unlimited power and greed of
gold carry the conquerors that the Pope
finally issued a decree declaring that 'the
Indians are really and truly men," By the
system of the ''mita," which compelled four
out of every 100 Mexicans to work in the
mines for the benefit of their masters, re-
suited an amount of suffering to the victims
and wealth to the viceroys and crown impos-
sible to compute, and the mines Of Siberia
cannot so dark tale unfold of mans inhu-
manity to man. The natives groaned under
burdens greater than those the Israelites bore
i'll the land of Pharaoh, till their Moses came
in the person of Hidalgo. He was native
Indian poor curate of the province of Gu
anajuto. His interests were identified with
those of his poor parishioneTs; their wrongs
were his, and the yoke CALLED his neck not
less than theirs. 1t was he who first intro
duced the silk-worm into Mexico, and did
much to promote the culture of the vine
and improve agriculture. 1t was not the
policy of Spain to allow the condition of the
Indians to be improved but to perpetuate
the enormous revenue derived from import
duties, so, by royal order, Hidalgos vines
were all destroyed, and his enterprises for
native manufacture sum marily nipped in the
bud. This drove him to rebellion, and pos
sessing much influence he formed a plan for
general instruction, which was to have been
carried into effect Nov. l, 1910. But the plot
was disclosed by one of the conspirators,
which precipitated the movement. They
we're wont to meet by night in secret places.
On that memorable 18th of Septem Der they
remained all night in session. About 2
o'clock in the morning it is said that Hidalgo
arose-a tall old man in priestly robes with
piercing black eyes and white hair floating
over his shoulders--and announced that. as
their lives we're already forfeited, immediate
action was now their only course.
PATRIOTIC STRUGGLE.
At daybreak the little band sailed forth,
as irregular and undisciplined, and as desti-
tute 81 accoutrements and arms as the de-
termined troops that marched to Lexington
and Bunker Hill but these were actuated
by the same spirit and were not less true
and self-sacrificing. Called by Hidalgo's re-
markable eloquence, the people fiocked to
him by thousands and when he raised a
rude picture of Our Lady of Guadalupe for
his banner, the movement assumed
the character of crusade. Their
first self-taught lessons in military
life must been hard, indeed. for these poor
Indians after all the disabilities so long i'm
posed upon them. But they manifested a
courage and love of liberty worthy of any
race, in any age or land. They went TO SOW
their fields and save their harversts, and re-
turned to the driR and discipline of the
camp. Again they scattered to protect and
provide for their families, and again re-
turned prepared to lay down their lives in
the cause. In all those external appoint
ments which give prestige and power to mil
itary organizations they were totally desti-
tute, but in high-souled patriotism the
world has not seen their superorS They
equipped and supported themselves Even
the women assisted, preceding the columns
in the march, and fulfilling the triple func-
ton of cooks, purveyors and nurses. The
fundamental principles involved in this
struggle are the same for which our fore
fathers fought, and identical with those set
alienable rights of man." On Sept. 80, with
an army 10000 strong Hidalso ca ptnred
Guanaj uato. Afterwards he took Valadolid
and several smaller cities, and was pro-
claimed generalissimo of the army. Then he
advanced toward the City of Mexico. But
he seemed to have been as il-ad-
vlsed as our own John Brown,
of Harper's Ferry. OF course the
archbishop communicated him. and this
gave rise to assertions and disorders, and
being totally without ammunition. he was
soon obliged to retreat. On Nov. ne was
defeated at Aculo, driven soon after from
Guanajuato with great slaughter and routed
at the bridge of Calderon. Then he came to
this old CITY, Saltillo, where he left the rem
nant OF his forces, and with a small escort
set out for the United States, with the hope
of obtaining arms and military aid. But he
was betrayed on the journey by one OF his
most trusted associates-EliZOndo- whose
name deserves the same eternal contumely
which is bestowed upon him who according
to some creeds. was "foreordained from the
foundation of the world" to betray our Lord
Hidalgo was carried to Chihuahua, degraded
from the priesthood, treated with every in
dignity which the malice OF his captors
conld conceive, and friendless and appar-
entity deserted by God and man, was shot like
a dog. After his death came revuision of
feeling, and soon he was regarded as a saint
and martyr. and the place OF execution is
to-day pointed out holy spot. When
Hidalgo persisted, the cause of liberty
seemed forever lost; but the feeble fame
was kept alive by one OF his lieu
when he too SUI fered death at the hands of
the Spaniards, ten years later. Augustin
Iturbide seized the Pickering torch, and on
the oath of February 1921 (Washington's
birthday, made the first formal declaration
OF independence. 1t was he who carried the