New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-07-21

Unsuitable and an example OF wanton oppressioh'
while the massacre of the COmanches was an act
of cowardly brutality deserving inc sc.e'es'
reprehension, and resulting in troubles wn'ch en-,
tended over many years. during 'his peii"'
several futile and costly attempts were maoe ~
srvade New-Mexico None of them mad the
least prospect Of success, anu "'ey
rr;no;nallv serve 10 show how reckless ana
.os,,oss were the adventurous spirits that rushed
into sucb hair-brained expeditions fropaoV 'ie
nrox,aIent habit of despising the Mexcans On"
undertaking their military capacity had Hucn "
do with the inception of the Santa fe anu si,',l
raids, but distance and the desert came lorinu"Dp
in aid of the Mexicans on these OCCASIONS, anu VI"
Taxans were discounted without the ch'noo "
fighting in most instances. HoustohS 'eOo"
odm,pistration rectifed some OF Lamar miso"heH,
though the financial problem was hopeiess' "''u
annexation came seasonably to end a si'uauo"
',.hioh was rapidly becoming insupportable That
the Texans perceived this Is shown py t,ie raOi0",
ohanae Of public opinion indicated by the almost
.a,;n,ous vote for the change: though five years
previously the general sentiment was do ou'"eS
In favor Of independence
The destinies of the new State were not peaceful
tor many wears. Absorption in the Union meant
for one. thing close alliance with the South In the
nendino conflict over the extension of slavery
The Mexican war, too, made severe demands upon
the manhood of the State, and Texan prowesS
was signally exhibited during that contest The
State fell easily and early into the hands OF the
Confederacy. and Union sentiment suffered stern
repression throughout the struggle. In treating
the reconstruction period, Mr.. Bancroft appears
to us to sympathize rather unduly with the repei
element which then for the first time had 10
submit and take ground to the rear AS thlnss
were after the collapse of the Confederacy there
would have been no living in Texas Tor Union
men had not Congress taken strong meas
ures for their protection. Military rule
i'm State can never be other IMAM
onerous In this there was good grouhu lor
believing that the sole alternative was ut'er
lawlessness and the North had not expended so
much blood and treasure only to surrender thc
results when the enemy had been defeated. ke-
construction in Texas was no doubt bitter Tor
the rebels and their sympathizers, but 1t was nee
essary to convince them thoroughly that Jhey
were beaten and must accept the consequences
and the fact that anarchy and crime were RANK
in the outlying settlements in spite of the mil
itary occupation certainly cannot be used TO prove
that the occupation was unnecessary. The splendid
progress made by Texas since the close OF the
Rebellion and the frank and general acquiesccnce
in its results are exhibited by Mr.. Bancroft with
his usual careful detail and fulness of statement.
It. was long before the consequences Of the inlqul-
tous Indian and the confused land policy were
outgrown, but the State, once set on tie nghC
road, has proceeded steadily and rapidly
The concluding chapters of the present volume
are concerned with the history of the northern
Mexican States, Chihuahua and Durango Sonora
and Sinaloa, and Lower California. Entering
upon these records the reader finds himself re-
turning to the chaotic and anarchic conditions
which characterize the evolution of the Latin races
ON this continent. The chronicle deals with SHIT.
ing SUGGESTIONS of equally incapable, treacherous
and venal adventurous; revolutions upon ana With
in revolutions; chronic brigandage and not less
chronic Indian troubles, in which the difference
between Mexican and American is most distinctly
exhibited In such contests the Americans have
always become the victors eventually. Not SO
the Mexicans. Again and amin these have been so
bested by the savages that even in territory occu-
pied by them for generations they could claim
possession of little more than the ground they
stood upon. The Indians could cope with them
upon equal terms in fact and make life miserable
TO them while their authorities busted themselves
with intrigue and let the nomads harry the land
with impunity, drive off the stock, and murder
the settlers by hundreds. There are many in
cidents of adventure interviewer with the later
history of the northern Mexican States, such as
Walkers filibustering expeditions and the tragic
attempt of Raousset de Boulbon. The French oc-
cupation makes passing ripple in the record,
and all through there is to be noted persistent
effort from outside to procure the mineral de-
veopment of the country. Bad government has
made progress slow and prosperity has been re-
tarded, nor can much better times be counted
upon until there has been radical reform in this
respect Mr.. Bancroft has brought together all
the information to be gathered about the Mexican
States Of the North and he has done what is
possible to make their history interesting The
Texan chronicle, however, necessarily occupies
the front rank in importance and interest, and its
chapters should be read by every American who
not only takes pride in the growth of his country.
but desires 10 comprehend the processes by which.
in the wilder regions, that growth has been ac-
plished.