Las Vegas optic., 1912-08-05


made thorough investigation Of the
Indian question. indian Affairs Re
port, Joint Special Commission, 1867.
there is a great wealth Of material.
The reports Of the governors Of New
Mexico, the military commanders and
indian agents, are filled win informa-
| ton Of great interest to the student
Of conditions existing in the south
west at that time,
It is unfortunate that SO few books
were written by those peculiarly quail
ified. The Spaniard. during his more
than two centuries Of control. wrote
few books, but he preserved many
records which are invaluable, This
| is peculiarly true Of the records made
by the Franciscans. Present day
New Mexicans, cognized Of important
events, should profit by the example
Of their Spanish predecessors.
Alvar Nunez Cabeza de vaca was
no greater than any one Of his COM
panions. All would have passed into
oblivion had It not been that he wrote
his Relacion."
Francisco vasquez Coronado was a
great figure in the days following the
Spanish Conquest Of Mexico. Only his
name would have come down to us
had it not been that an humble sol
dier in his expedition preserved to us
the narrative Of those early explora-
tions. Coronado lives because Casta-
media wrote his "Relacion.'
More than two hundred Franciscans
labored for the conversion Of the In
dians in New Mexico. Frayles Marcos
de Mia and Alonzo de Benavides are
remembered because they made re-
ports in writing.
General Zubelon Montgomery Pike
will live forever as the American Of
ficer whose publication Of the account
his travels first attracted American
attention to the Spanish provinces.
Others have been leaders Of great
armies, have conquered great nations,
the crimson glories of great battles
have come to military men in every
age, Xenophon and his Ten Thou
sand are among the immortals, Keno
phon wrote the "Anabasis."
Alexander w. Doniphan was as
great as xenophon. and yet the story
exploits and the deeds of his
One Thousand Missourians would
scarce be known had it not been that
John T Hughes, a soldier in his regi-
ment, wrote "Doniphan's Exedition.' .
In the nineteenth century New Mex
leo produced abler men than Don
Pedro Bauptista Pine. He lives where
greater men are forgotten He wrote
| the sExposicion.
Pattie was only trapper and
mountaineer, no better qualified than
hundreds Of others who pursued the
same calling He will live while 9th
ers are not mentioned. He wrote a
Personal Narrative
Captain William Becknell, William
Bent, Ceran ST. vrain. DR.. David
Waldo, and DR.. Josiah Gregg were
early traders over the Santa Fe Trail
Gregg wrote the Commerce Of the
Prairies" and achieved immortality.
General Christopher Carson was no
more courageous than dozens Of his
type upon the frontier; and yet he
lives when Bent, Bridger and Wootten
are only memories. He is the idol Of
the romance magazine writer.
General w. H. H. Davis was zone
Of them literary Fellows" who will
live when even the names oi
abler secretaries Of New Mexico can.
not be recalled. He wrote "El Grin
go" and the Spanish Conquest Of
New Mexico
These have been many governors
Of New Mexico. General Lew wallace
soldier, governor, would have been
forgotten. but SO long as the English
language is spoken the Fair Cod
and ben 4ur1 win be read by the
children of men.
In the military history of the great
southwest we find the names Of sol
diers whose exploits in the service ol
their country entitle them to everlast
ing fame. Only one or two have fol
lowed the example of General Keno
phon, General Nelson A Miles will
live where countless capable captains
who gave their lives to civilization are
forgotten. General Miles has writer
several books.
| New Mexico owes something to tht
memory Of those who have contribut
ed to the productive scholarship 0,
the state. TO the living, to Bandelier
Prince, Lummins, Hewett and Read, !
grateful people should render ac
acknowledgement. Men who accomp
1iah fhinoa fhn cn,,ntru aluarre ,,rn