New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-21


Spaniards. indeed, were having returned 70 them
the scorn they had themselves poured upon the
Indians, and SO there was certain poetical justice
in the punishment 1t must be recognized, never
theless, that the Western way Of regarding for
eigners and particularly natives Of the soil has had
much to do with the prolongation Of those In
dian difficulties which have cost the Republic 30
dearly from first to last.
When the American flag waved over New
Mexico and Arizona there was for some time little
change in the prospect, A good commercial de-
velopment followed, and the Santa re iran
was crowded with trains, which often had 10 De
escorted by Federal troops, or take the chahce Vi
attack by Comahches, Apaches or Navaloes. Inc
Indians cared little, apparently, for the changes
of government. These changes dld not, 1t seemed
to them, affect their mode OF life, which was ue
pursuit of plumber, enlivened by as many Incl
dental murders as possible, the said murders DC
inc noade ENJOYABLE TO the Indians by the careful
application OF ingenious and varied fortunes Inc
Navajoes promptly quieted down, took to peaceful
industry. and ever since have increased and multi
nIied and acquired wealth, though MIR. Bancroft
docs NOT rive them credit for much stamina, ana
considers the future OF the race anything but
promising. While in their unregenerate state the
Nayaioes were not destitute of certain grim
humor as evidenced by the fact that IN 1894
soldier being killed, the Navajo chief gained much
credit by hanging the murderer IN the presence OF
the troops II was known later that they had
hanged a Mexican captive instead Of the real
culprit. This story may be paired with that OF
an American named Glanton When bounty
was offered for Apaches' scalps by the Arizona
authorities he brought in so many as to rouse
suspicion, and it was discovered that the enter
prisng hunter had been raising the hair OF III
~ L. Ind
Yumas subsequently killed Glanton and most OF
the gang of desperadoes he had gathered about
him. Cases Of this kind were not
infreouent, and at times it was hard TO
SAY whether white men or Apaches were the more
ferocious. A Navajo custom, that when man
had trouble with his wife he must kill somebody,
led to unpleasant consequences, on one occasion
a negro servant being thus sacrificed on general
principles Life was evidently exciting enough In
those DAYS not to be dull though its tenure was
uncertain.
In 1851, the Rebellion having broken out, the
Texans prepared an expedition for the invasion OF
New-Mexico in furtherance of the comprehensive
plan by which the South hoped TO open way to tho
Pacific The collapse of their scheme so far as 1t
related to California entailed the defeat OF Its
minor parts New-Mexico was invaded but the
New-Mexicans entertained cordial hatred OF the
Texans and volunteered freely for campaign
against them Il is improbable that they could
have freed their Territory themselves, but fortl-
nately Colorado had plenty Of men to spare, ana
dispatched force to the relief Of their imperilled
neighbors, and the California volunteers subse-
ntly arrived to complete the defeat OF the In
vaders. The fighting in this campaign was done
mainly by the Colorado men, the " Fixes Peafers'
proving more than match for the Texan Rang
ers" in several sharp engagements. After this In
dian wars occupied the military department, ana
for several years New-Mexico and Arizona were
the theatres of various experiments directed
toward the solution Of the Indian question. The
radical differences of policy advocated naturally
produced confusion, and the collisions between
the Federal commanders, the Indian agents and
the commissioners, and the citizens and officials
of the territories, generally ended in encouraging
the hostile Indians and giving them opportunities
for fresh raids.
The story Of these Indian troubles is sad enough
Hundreds of lives and much property were de-
stroyed, and IL was not until Generals Crook an"
Miles were allowed TO push aggressive warfare
Systematically TINT anything like security was
obtained. In later years New-Mexico has suffered
conn,rativeiy Itsle from Indian troubles, but the
Arizona Apaches have been persistent hindranoes
to development until quite recently Arizona in
1867 was the scene-or the reputed scene-oi tho
notorious Diamond swindle, which, though located
there by the press Ut the time really occurred In
Colorado, and, as pointed out by Mr. Bancroft
hundreds of miles from the boundary line OF
Arizona. The sailing Of the alleged diamond
ferrous area with Brazilian gems created an I'M
mense sensation and took in number of capital
lists but the fraud was exposed by Mr.. Clarence
King before the swindlers could realize upon the
| imposture, and probably the rogues lost the
| amount of their investment, together with the
expenses of the sailing Mr. Bancroft gives full
summaries of the legislative, commercial mining
| and agricultural developments Of New-MeXico and
| Arizona, and brings their history down TO last
year The amount of statistical and historical
| information packed into these 800 pages Is very
! great and full and numerous notes contain mass
| of details On all correlated subjects which must
| make the volume indispensable for purposes of
| reference 1t may be said that every volume OF
| this series illustrates afresh the immense adj
vantages possessed by Mr.. Bancroft in the vast
treasury of historical records so lRborlously and
| carefully collected by him. These have enabled
| him repeatedly to solve definitely problems over
which less thoroughly equipped writers have dis
puted uselessly for generations The present work
is well supplied with mars and has an excelen'
| index