Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-04-26
Loyalty Of the Native New Mexicans.

hunlOFS nave Deeu gaining CliCutdtioIl
in this city and elsewhere in the terri
tory for the last few days to the effect
that several prominent men, some of
them government officials, have sent
kilograms to Washington to the presi-
dent and to other officials informing
them that the native people of New
Mexico are openly s.ympathizing with
the cause of Spain and that they are
| disloyal to the government of the Unit
ed States, and requesting that regular
troops be sent here to avoid an open re-
volt. These rumors are not only false
| but are infamous. The native people OF
| New Mexico have repeatedly proved
their loyalty to the American flag and
their patriotism is unquestioned. At
the breaking out of the war of the re-
bellion almost every man, who was old
enough to carry a musket, enlisted in
the Union army and served during the
most trying time of the war. Few peo-
Pile know what temptation the leading
men of this territory had for joining the
southern instead of the northern armies.
In the first place there were few
Americans in New Mexico at that time
and most of them were regular army
officers. General Loring was the com
manding officer of the district and he
and nearly all the other regular army
officers threw up their commissions and
joined the southern army.
These officers had great influence in
the territory. They had formed friend
ships with all the leading natives of the
territory and they used their best efforts
to get them to side with the southern
cause. History has already told what
the people of New Mexico did. Aband'
oning their business and leaving theil
families exposed to be either killed Oh
carried into captivity by the savage In
dams, they entered the federal army ir
which they rendered valuable services
Just as loyal as they were then, they
are today. The fact of being of Spanish
descent is no reason why they should
sympathize with Spain. They know
that their ancestors in Mexico had tc
struggle for Is long years to obtain free
dom from the Spanish yoke. They re
member the names of the noble heroes
put to death by the Spanish despots fol
the simple reason that they wished tc
be independent. They know, in fact
that their ancestors in Mexico had to &C
through the very same ordeals that the
brave Cubans are undergoing today fol
their freedom. Many of the natives
who distinguished themselves during the
late war, have passed away, among
them may be mentioned: Colonel Migue
Z. Pine, Colonel Manuel Chaves, Majo,
Manuel d. Pine, Major Jose d. Sena
Captain Manuel Baca y Torres, Captain
Anastacio Garcia, General Nicolas Pine
Captain Jesus Maria y Baca, Colone
Frank Abreu, Lieutenant Andres Tapia
and many others. Those who yet sur
vive, even in their old age, have tendere,
to the governor their services.
The descendants of these men are a
ready today to volunteer to fight for tn
honor, dignity and unity of this nation
as their fathers were SO and 81 year
ago, in fact much more so. The Cover
nor of the territory has received numer
GUS offers for active service from man,
of the native born citizens of this terri
tory and specially from what are calle'
the strong Mexican counties. If neces
sary New Mexico would furnish toda,
and aye, is anxious to furnish, five time
its quota of volunteers for servic
against Spain or any other foe.
This is the true condition of affair
and the New MEXICAN is greatly graf
fled to be able to publish it and proclail
!, it throughout the land.