The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-13
THE MAYAS' LAST STAND
Great Yucatan Race to Be En-
terminated by Mexico.
Preparations Being Made for
bloody Wnr-Indians Honest, In
dustrious, and Bravc-FouGht First
for Their white Masters - First
Rupture Caused by Bad Faith.

! PRESS deSpatcheS OF the last lew weeks
have referred briefly TO the war of ex-
termination which 40 being waged on the
| Maya Indians by the Mexican Government.
| In The Times of July y appeared a para
| graph stating that the Mexican offic ais
\ were purchasing light-draft vessels TO be
used as gunboats along the rivers of
! Yucat.n. That the Diaz Governms mt real
ICES that it has hard task on its EaAGs
! is shown by the remark of General Bravo,
one of the best soldiers in the army Of
our sister Republic, who admitted that he
would probably serve as cannon food for
the Indians.
Among native Americans, no tribs has
a more heroic history than these same In
| dams, the Mayas, whose ancestors one
| held sway over the land comprised between
the Isthmus of Tehuantepec and that OF
Darien, leaving the ruins of Maya cities
| which make the peninsula of Yu1a.6n
| famous.
IN 1542 the Spanish invaders enslaved he
native population, which suffered cruelty
under that horrible Empire which became
| the curse of America. Mexico won her IN
| dependence in 1922, and YuCatan became a
| part of the Republic. In 1889, however,
| that State revoited: desperate batl.es w-re
fought during nine months. and IN Feb u
airy, 1910, Yucatan proclaimed itself hue
pendent This success was due in great
part TO the IndiaGse 4 no had BEEN induced
10 take hand by ps11Tnise that their taxes
would be reduced These promises We e
not kept. AT the1teglnning of IS4S new
treaties with Mexico were msde, hut N
1916 Yucatan again left the confederacy.
Civil war broke out later between Merida
and Canpeche, hitherto forming one Size.
All through those trouhlous times the In
dians fought ioyaliy by the side Of h=ir
white masters. But they were no. RECON-
pensed, their miserable conditions was N
no way bettered, taxes were not reduce,
wages were not increased, Is ents ben z
their pay for a day of severe toll Ibis
led to a conspiracy against the wn.te peo-
pie. i@t
Before any outbreak occurred the plot
was discovered ana its iEstigators put to
death. This was the least part of ii: the
white soldiers went TO an Indian village
while the men were absent, sacked the
homes, and assaulted the defenceless wo-
men. thus beginning the war of races
which has proved so disastrous. A vol
ume could be written. in fact there are a
few books in the Spanish language on the
horrors OF that war and the barbarities
of both turtles. As far as the justice of
the struggle is concerned, there are people
in Yucatan today who admit that the In
dams had been goaded beyond endurance.
Victory after victory brought the Indians
at last to the very gates of the capital,
and, had all the aborigiHes been united
the white population would have been
wiped cut. great number of natives
however had allowed themselves to- be
terrified into submission. Then followed a
day when the white authorities sued for
peace. sending written proposals to their
adversaries. The reply was penned in the
Maya language. and demanded surrender
of arms, to which the White men would
not agree.
At this point Cuba gave generous assist
arce to Yucatan, sending money and am
munition. Documents were despatched TO
Spain, to the United States. and to Eng
land, asking help. Not obtaining this,
Yucstan was again compelled to enter the
Mexican confederacy. By the month of
May. 1913, more than $50 towns and viii
lagos had been burned. and the Indians had
raised their triumphant banner over two
thirds of the land. Commerce. Industry.
and agriculture were AT standstill The
Bishop and the Governor were ready to
sail for Havana. The abandonment of the
capital was decreed by Church and State.
The leading citizens finally succeeded in
changing this resolution, and, with help
from Mexico the tide was turned Step
by step the Indians were forced back over
the ground they had won so dearly; their
dead and dying marked the awful way,
and the turkey-buzZard Toasted every
where. OF the Indians captured, those
simply put to death were indeed fortu-
nate.
In November, 1850. few thousand un-
captured Indians settled in the south
rr~r- ~ hill
town which they called Chan-santa-c
little Holy Cross. Until a few years
ago this was their headquarters, and from
time 10 time the men made incursions
TO the white settlements, bringing home
booty and prisoners. At home the
Indians are industrious and peaceful.
Their communityriis governed by a gem
eral in chief, and a council of chiefs. TO
whom the general often has to yield. The
Mosaic law Of eye for eye and tooth for
tooth serves them as a code; but cruelty
is by no means one of their characteris-
tics, and they certainly have admirable
qualities In Chan-santa>cruz 1t has been
a rule with them not to kill eaptiyes who
could contribute to the welfare or pleasure
of the community. and as result they
have among them excellent workmen, in
Guiding skillful jewellers. In this way they
have acquired teachers for their public
schools, where girls and boys are taught,
at least TO read. write, and calculate.
The Indians trade with British Hon
duras. and are very willing to pay for
fine wines. ported meats perfumes, and
other Injuries as well as for fine white
stuffs white cotton or linen being their
only raiment Their credit in this colony
is excellent. owing to their unfailing hon
esty Failure TO keep their promises or to
pay just debts Is considered by them con-
fas, hr.x-u n he Cb
wishing to cut logwood on the Indian ter
ritory pays $500 a year for the privilege.
The Indians then consider the woodcutters
under their projection for the time being
and faithfully defend them.
a few years ago the Indians ceased to
use Chan Santa-CruZ as a place of resi-
dence, retiring farther into the forests.
and they gradually have abandoned their
raids en- the white settlements. Now
railroad is to be built through that terri
tory, and the Mexican Government has
undertaken to subdue or kill off" the
independent Indians-the remnant Of the
nation whose ancestors are supposed to
have erected the remarkable structures
now crumbling in the Yucatan forests.
The hemp plant has made Yucatan rich
and all kinds OF enterprises are numer-
Gus; it is. therefore. desirable that the In
dams be restrained from destroying prop
crty but to attain this end slaughter is
quite unnecessary. However, the plan is
to hem them in. aggressiyely, and compel
them TO submit or fight to a finish. 1t
is to be regretted that their character is
so poorly understood. The Mexicans could
secure peace by courteous persuasion and
honorable compliance with their word.
The Noracity of the Earth.
(from the Boston Globe.)