New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-01
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
NEW-MEXICO.

another. In the remote past before any historic
data are attanablc there are reports of an aborig
lnal civilization which there and more
ground for believing never really existed Whether
the native races inhabiting New-MeXico came Of
the same stock with the mound-builders and the
red Indians of the plains is question which may
be debated indefinitely; but it is now hardly to be
questioned that very high plane of progress had
been reached by any of these races The glitterlng
reports which the Spanish missionaries and adven-
turers so eagerly credited were undoubtedly pure
fable. The story of the Seven Cities shows con-
veniently the way in which such myths originated.
The Intense greed of the Spaniards, and the very
different conditions found in Old Mexico, naturally
prepared them to accept every rumor of native
wealth, and considering what the Spaniards were
and how they behaved, no sympathy need be felt
for the suferings of Coronado and his followers
and successors, in their futile explorations and
difficult iourneyngs The missionaries who ac-
companied the Spanish expeditions were free from
the suspicion of mere carnal greed but their advent
brought little more benefit TO the natives IMAM ala
that of the soldiers In converting the Indians
they sought-as they did later in California-to
reduce them to servitude; and in so doing they
reused the strongest opposition by striking az thaU
passionate love of freedom which was the heritage
of all these races.
In the present volume Mr. Ladd has given
~ -N'
early times of w-Mexco can be followed lie
has. of course been largely indebted TO previous
writers and had he relied more upon ii. H. ban
croft,s great magazine of facts bearing upon MS
subject. he might have made his story fuller' anu
in some particulars more accurate Ills chicl
authority, Professor Baudclier, is, however, as
rule completely trustworthy. and the result Is
consequently satisfactory on the whole. MI Lduu
is especially entitled to credit for the candor anu
holiness of his criticism of the policy oil thlS cou"
fry toward the Indians of New-MeNlcO ana ol 'i'e
causes which have held the Territory back SO loIe'
md have kept it from winning the prize OF STATE
hood even though her population and lnouS'rh''
condition might have seemed TO entltle her 10 It.
The history of New-Mexico was for centuries tha'
of q practically unceasing struggle between t'e
native races and the Spaniards Sometimes one con-
ouered sometimes the other. Naturally 'ie "oi'
civilized combatant gradually drew ahead' Out '"e
Indians were distinguished by lndomi''"i' "i'''
orv and endurance and when overcome couiu HoO
be kept in repression.
II is n suggestive fact that when the great anu
enlightened power of the United States '"'io ,"''
49, so,a in five shirt of territorial aggrandze-
Wv 49, o.bics If its policy differed in no es-
Genital rcspect from those of the Spanish oon-
,o,ors ~ tho sixteenth century. New-McNlco
hoying been seized during the iniqutous McNlc'h
or % 1916 tho moment the people OF the lerii-
,rv tried IN free themselves they were ac'"S'"
bitterly of rebellion" and treated WIN inc ~
most rigor Having stolen the country 'u' i0'
bers fercelv resented any attempt on inc p'I' -
Tho rirhtful owners TO recover their property INV
their freedom. No otherwise did the Spd'i1i'N
reason and act OF course the Indian question:
was mismanaged under American rule. lhat was
70 be expected BY forcibly removing the ApacAeS
war was brought on. and millions OF dollars anu
thousands of lives were sacrificed IN prolonged
endeavor to subdue the most terrible fighters the
continent has produced among the native races
- MI Ladd gives spirited account of the wars
with Victorio Geronimo and other Apache
chiefs of note The story OF VictOrias career
would afford material for an epic, and the episode
of his death is not surpassed in pathos and Dig
nity by that of any hero of antiquity Being only an
Apache. however. of course he had no title TO he
considered anything else than "vermin' and
sympathy for him and his would he mere waste of
sentiment. Yet if simple justice had been ac-
coded 10 Victoro by Congress it would not have
been necessary to extermnate him and his band,
and the horrors which attended his raids upon the
settlements would have been avoided
What the condition Of NewMeXico would have
been by this time but for the skill Of General
Crook and General Miles it is impossible TO con-
lecture. These gallant officers unqucstionably
saved the Territory from state Of affairs which
threatened to depopulate it; and they were both
scanty rewarded for their services. During the
Rebellion the Territory was the scene, for a short
time of active hostitics, General Sterling Prices
raid into it leading to encounters in which the
Texan invaders gained some advantage. but moth
ing to warrant their continuance in that field
They thought that the New-MeXicans would rise at
their appearance. and throw off the Federal rule /;
but they were mistaken The bulk Of the New-NlcX-
cans-those namely Of Spanish and Indian descent
might have been willing TO escape from American
rule altogether, had that been possible. BIT
merely TO pass from one American government 70
another offered no attraction to them and so they
remained passive. and let North and South fight
il out between themselves. All thi. time the
Territory was being slowly developed and as slowly
settled. but its advance WAS delayed by the policy
pursued by the Roman Catholic majority. who,
imprudently counselled by their ecclesiastical adj
visers. opposed an obstinate resistance to the in
PRODUCTION of the free school system. Once the
Territorial Legislature went far as TO pass an
act which would have shut out the American
school system altogether but Congress promptly
annulled the law. and the attempt put fresh
black mark against the political aspirations of the
Territory.
The mistrust to which the attitude Of the domi-
nant church in New-Mexico gave rise has thus far
prevented the elevation Of the Territory to State
hood Whether this situation will remain UNI
altered until the Protestants form majority OF
the voting population remains to be seen. but all
friends Of progress must hope that change may
take place before long. In material prosperity
New-aIexico has for several years been advancing
steadily. The introduction of irrigation in the
Pecos Valley and elsewhere has given the Terri
torv a fresh start as regards agriculture Large
tracts of what pasture has become arabic
land, and the climate rs so benhcent that pro-
duction is singularly abundant. frnit raising
has lately been introduced, and the results are SO
.roouraono that the cxpcrimenters already talk