Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1916-09-19
BY J. w. FOLEY

HeaCnlng tne RlO Grande at Fort
Quitman the road continued up the
stream, until Fort Bliss was reached,
which was garrisoned by two COM
panies of the 5th U. S. infantry. Ell
Paso, on the Mexican side, was then
the seat of the Republican govern
ment of that country; President Juar-
ez was resident, the army of Maxi
million having driven him to that city.
The city was small, the buildings be-.
ing built of sun-dried brick; the popu-
lation was mostly Mexican. The Mix
lean cause at this time looked hope
less, yet in the following summer,
when nearing San Antonio from the
northern frontier, we saw. a Mexican
coming towards US waving his hat
and yelling with a lound voice: MAX.
million dead"
Many Of the French soldiers had de-.
serted and crossed over to the United
States and had Joined our army; the
leader of the band at Bliss was one,
and, while he could not speak Eng.
lish, he taught the band in Spanish,
for about all the American soldiers
could speak that language. 1t was
said to be easy for them to learn be.
cause it was love which taught, and
the Mexican girls were the teachers
The close of our Civil war sounded
the death knell of an Austrian empire
in Mexico, when thousands of we'll
seasoned troops were sent to Texas
and many of them stationed on the
lower Rio Grande, where they were
retained until the summer of 1866
We think it was General Sheridan
who tells, in his life, about the officer
in command of our troops at Browns
Vile giving furloughs to our soldiers
with permission to take their arms
along, and how they fought in the
Mexican army at Matamoras against
the French and Austrians. Whether
Sheridan, or not, the circumstance is
an historical fact. Some historian
has written that the Spaniards de
stroyed higher civilization in Mex
leo than the one he forced upon the
country. Aside from the human sacri
fees, this is only too true. But were
these human sacrifices, where the
heart was torn from the living victim
more cruel than many things done ir
so-called civilized Christian countries
and in the cause of the Christian re
ligion? If anything, civilization ir
Mexico has refrigerated in the eO(
years last past.
What strange thoughts the pool
Mexicans and Peruvians must have
had about the Spaniards who laugh
the love of God for his children while
at the same time they slaughtered
the people, destroyed their cities
robbed them of their gold and burned
the Inca while they rendered the EN-
blem of Salvation to kiss?
Twenty miles before reaching Bliss
we came to the first settlement since
leaving Fort Clark, small Mexican
town called San Elizaro, and shor
distance from there came to Yslets
and Sec0ra. All these towns were
settled by what was said to be de
scendants OF the Pueblo Indians
whose mode of life was most print
tive; grass was cut with the hoe
blowing was done with stick; no.
one dwelling had glass windows
small parcels of land were irrigated
and cultivated, and fences were made
of dried mud Each village had Its
church, but no school: the only teach
ing received was from the village
pastor; not a newspaper was evel
seen or read, nor was book seen ir
any house. OF the outside world and
its people they knew nothing. They
we're childlike in their simplicity
During the 200 years of the civiliza
ton left by the Spaniard, they had
made no advance. From those who
were familiar with the majority of
the people of Mexico, we were inform
ed that these people were, if anything,
in advance in civilization.
Such are the people whom our
Schoolmaster President wants given
the privilege of a free election and to
form a stable government, while he
and a cowardly congress allow mob
to dictate what laws shall be passed
to please four hundred thousand men
out Of over one hundred million. Con-
sistency thou art.
We are apt to think OF all other