The times., 1901-04-28
THE WRONGS OF THE MAYAO
A Threatened Uprising of the Race
in Yucatan.
PrOwess of Once Powerful Band OF
Indians I'm Mexico-LoSinG Ground
i'm Long Struggle for Independ-
ence-A Last stand for Freedom.

indt0us In MextcO-LoStuG around
i'm n Long Struggle for Independ-
ence-A Last stand for Freedom.
According to recent reports Yucatan has
been threatened with another uprising of
Indians, owing to the active measures
now being taken by the Mexican Govern
ment for the purpose of bringing the in
dependent natives to acknowledge its au-
thority
In olden times the peninsula Of Yucatan
was the home of a great nation whose
ruined cities are today admired 10y ali
who see them. Nations. though longer
lived than individuals. are similar In their
growth. maturity, and decay. The Maya
nation reached it's zenith. held an impor-
tant place for centuries. and declined; II
had ceased to be great long before the ar
rival of the Spanish invaders. but the ma
tives. being of heroic mold. resisted the
white mans firearms during quarter OF
a century, they themselves possessing
none; and the people of pure Maya stock
were vanquished only when the many
aliens inhabiting the peninsula had be-
come allies of the Europeans
Centuries Of slavery under Spain. and
oppression after they were granted the
title of free Mexican citizens. failed 70
a power in ages gone by. Their first up
rising in the nineteenth century was In
1siS. and after two years of constant
fighting a few thousand declared them
selves independent. and built their city,
Chan-Santa- Cruz little Holy Cross), in
the southeastern part of the peninsula
Ever since that time there has been more
or less war between these and the other
inhabitants OF the land, until about ten
years ago. when the Indians ceased to
trouble the Mexican settlements These,
meanwhile, have been enjoying an era OF
prosperity. due to the cultivation of hemp,
and a spirit CT enterprise having taken
possession Of wealthy landowners, it was
decided to build a railroad across the
PENINSULA, through the territory held by
the Indians Therefore, IN order to force
these to recognize the Mexican Govern
nent and keep the peace. a few thousand
federals, commanded by General Bravo,
started out some time ago. 1t was short
sighted policy which dictated this step;
the writer has had abundant opportunity
TO study the Mayas and is convinced that
friendly advances on the part of the au-
thorities would have brought about salts
factory results
The first consequence Of the aggressive
endeavOred to win over to their side some
of those who had hitherto lived and toiled
on the haciendas OF the white men. They
succeeded because many Of these pacific
Indians were smarting under petty acts
of injustice and needed but a slight in
centive to prepare for a second uprising.
Such were the exactions placed upon
those of certain districts that they had
not even time to attend TO their corn
fields, corn being their staff Of life Be
cause of this many deserted their villages.
retiring into the forests in their endeavor
TO get beyond the reach of Government
officials. But the authorities followed
them up promising better conditions. and
induced the the families to return to their
former dOmiciles. One small community
in leaving their village. had set 1t on IRE,
and these would not return Meanwhile
the white people in the disturbed districts
also deserted their places OF residence 70
take refuge in more denSely populated
centres, fearing the machetes OF the IN
dams in case OF a successful uprlslns. SO
paufc-strfcken were some families that
they left their houses open and abandoned
everything therein, even their infants
say the Merida papers-and these are not
given to exaggeration-
some Indians who were captured oy -deA-
lean soldiers were induced 10 reNedt tuS
fact that the IndldnS hdd pidtLtg,A ~ - -
in great numbers upon NalladoHd, IN the
east at the time of the full moor, enter
ing the city on all sides at once Many
arrests were made and a massacre was
thus prevented, Mexico sending several
thousand additional federals to make any
IInrisiue impossible. It is, therefore, sale
10 saw that the day is not far of when the
Mayas viii have 10 take their last stand,
fight to the death CT surrender Fapefs
lust received from Merida make II pam
that the natives are losing ground, the
federals slowly but surely advancing upon
their stronghold. Chan-Santa-C Cruz, Where
resistance. Notwithstanding their superior
armament and discipline.-Allce D. Le
/ Plongeon in the New York Commerclal
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