El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-03-26
VI "Mexico
In It's
Centennial
Year. ="

force the Mexican government to com
| pensate them Representations on the
| part of Washington may be regarded a:
| one of the elements which finally aroused
| the Mexican government to the urgent
| necessity of mastering the Yaquis.
| Diplomacy Exhausted.
II is undoubtedly true that the Mex
| lean government exhausted every meth
! cd of diplomacy, argument and gener-
osity TO placate the Yaquis. Now and
then the indians, when hard pressed
would consent to accept the allotments
of lands and assistance from the ma
/ tional treasury. and assume friendli-
ness which often lasted no more than
/ a few months. When troops were with
| drawn, fresh outbreaks followed. When
! ever the indians could be induced To
| give battle to the troops, the SOL
diers won.
But the troops lost heavily when the
YaQuis confined themselves to their IA
vorite and most successful tactics, split
ting up into small bands ambushing the
soldiers, and descending in sudden and
impetuous whirlwinds upon camps and
bivouacs. 1t was the boast of the Yaquis
that before they could be subjugated
two Mexican soldiers must be sent to
in command of the troops in this state,
once sent a thousand soldiers caps to
the city of Mexico and demanded of the
minister of war that they be filled with
fighters
From the Yaquis one cannot justly
withhold a sincere tribute of respect
ard admiration for the tenacity with
which they kept up the war. Yaquis,
who were ostensibly peaceful, would de-
vote their earnings as laborers. or con-
tribute from the proceeds of their farms,
to the support of the. warriors in the
field Cajeme's forces were constantly
recruited by fresh detachments Of men
who replaced those of his followers who
were killed wounded, or spent by pri-
walton and hardships of life in the field.
Hundreds of Yaquis crossed the border
and worked in the United States, send
ing their wages to replenish Cajeme's
war chest
Indians Executed.
Death, by the bullet or the halter, was
meted out TO hundreds Of the indians by
various Mexican commanders, who were
provoked to such drastic methods by
much the same sort of outrages as those
which ensanguined the annals of in
dian warfare in the United States.
Hopes of permanent peace were enter
tanned several years ago when, after the
fall of Cajeme, his successor, Tetabiate
made a peace agreement at Ortiz. The
warriors entered the service of the gov
eminent as auxiliary troops. River
lands were distributed to the Yaquis.
Schools were established. municipal adj
ministrations were organized and the
more intelligent of the Yaquis, those
who could read and write. were given
positions of authority. This peace en-
dured for two years. Suddenly, and
without warning, the indians arose
again.
The Deportation Policy.
Then the government inaugurated the
policy of deportation which. more than
anything else, brought about the final
submission of the indians. Love of his
native land is the predominant charac-
teristic of the YaQui- He will brave death
Imprisonment and any other penalty
with stoicism. But exile from his tier
"a" or land. breaks his spirit and in
spires him with terror knowledge of
this trait led to the determine ton of |
the government to essay the experiment |
OF deportation. It was impracticable to !
place them on reservations, for large |
bodies of troops would have been neces- |
sary to guard and prevent them from /
stealing back to Sonora. Labor was |
needed on the hennequin plantations !
Of Yucatan.
The Yaquis are excellent workers. The !;
distance separating Yucatain and So
nora rendered it impossible for the I
faquis to return to this state. The eli /
mate of Yucatan is Identical with that
Of the Yaqui river coast country Not
more than 5000 Yaquis. all told were
sent to Yucatan. Families were not sep
srated. but each married man was allow
I'd to be accompanied by his wife and
children. The government has been
condemned for sending women and chill
iren to Yucatan, but the fact seems to
De that It would have been far more
nhuman to have divided families. hus-
bands from wives and parents from |
children.
Some Yaquis Left.
While it was originally the intention
% deport all of the Yauuis. crrcum-
stances so shaped themselves that the
Effect aimed at by the government was
attained before more than 5000 had been
shipped away. The Yaquis who re-
NAMED in rebellion saw with dismay
IND disquietude the disappearance of
heir fellows desire to avoid exile
speedily brought them to a conciliatorv
rame of mind. The Yaq Jul leaders were
hrewd enough to see that the govern
nent had at last found the joint in their
rmor They issued an address 10 the
.ntire nation. appealing especially to the
ebels in the mountains counselline
ubnission. Promises of good behavior
Fere accepted by the government Ship
rents of Yaquis to Yucatan were halted
after 10 months of negotiation. the
reaty of La Pitahaya was made. and
he Yaqui war over at last
Nothing could be farther from the
ruth than the statements that the I
yaquis were sold into slavery in Yucca
an. and that hundreds of them have
uccumbed to the climate and the cru-
1ty of their tashmasters. While nomin-
lily prisoners Of war, the Yaouis have