Arizona republican., 1922-04-14


the still beating heart from its moor
ings.
Had "kicl<p for Americans
"He held it up-so-in offering to
the gods" explained Professor Mena.
The scene had its kick. as we ir-
reyerent Americans would say. This
was the very stone upon which un-
known thousands of men and women
died. This was the altar before
which they We're sacrificed. Around
us were the skulls of some of the
victims found in the ruins of the
great temple by modern eXcavators.
The knife itself was one of the
knives of sacrifice. The facts were
known not only by written history
Spanish made, but by tradition
handed down from father and son
through centuries.
"On special occasions" added Pro-
fessor Mena, "the flesh of the VIC
tins was eaten-as was the flesh OF
the so Spaniards."
A young man--also an archaeolo-
gist-burst out in wrath.
Don't write that" he said. Don't
write that about the Indians. 1t is
all true, but they were no worse than
the Spaniards. Do you know why
the flesh of the so Spaniards was
eaten?"
It was an Illuminating glimpse al
a hatred that is still alive and ven-
omous after 400 years of alien rule.
Mr.. Mena smiled.
"Why not write it," he asked.
I'VE are only concerned here with
the facts of history-not with the
comment on those facts"
- l@k
But the younger man would not
be denied. He insisted upon telling
the true story of the death of Mon
tezuma-- -Moctezuma, in the Aztec
tongue-the man who for 400 years
has been told of in history as a
weakling. He surrendered without
protest to the conquerors, according
to history He made Cortez his
friend-Coftez who had put thou :
sands of his subjects to the sword
and Inundated him beyond all COM
prehension and looted his treasury
and burned his city. He was killed
according to history. by a dart that
was thrown by more patriotic Az
tee He died loving Cortez and in
trusting his children to the inva-
der's care.
'Les!" said the young man. "all
lies!"
Moctezuma was a prisoner, true
He had trusted in the good faith OF
the Spaniard. But when the final
trial of strength came between the
Indians and the Spaniards, Mocte-
yuma was true to his blood. He re-
fused to bend to the Spaniards de-
mands.
so they killed him. said the
young man. "They killed him by a
sword thrust that was so directed
as to render his death agonizing be-
yond comprehension and degrading to
"a man of royal blood"
1t is impossible to say more Of that
sword trust. But when the king at
last was dead the conqueror threw
his naked body into the street.
There is your king!" they cried
to his loyal subjects.
Spanish Captives Sacrificed
It was then that the fifty Spanish
captives were sacrificed. Their furi-
Gus comrades saw them led to the
summit of the pyramid that then oc-
cupied the center Of what is now the
plaza in front of the national palace
It was not a towering structure as
we have been tol1. Not more than SO
feet high, according to Professor
Mena. On It's summit was the altar
to the Sun God. The Spaniards, from
the buildings they used as a fort
could see their friends led UP the
steps of the pyramid. They saw their
naked bodies flash white in the sun
One after another they were thrust
down upon the stone of sacrifice
perhaps the very one at our feet, and
watched the priests make the ritual
slashes in their breast and hold the
palpitating hearts up toward the sun
Then the people ate the flesh OF
the Spaniards,' said Professor Mena-
calmly. "They We're not cannibals. II
was a rite of their religion"
The scene became unholily vivid
1t was not 9 story read in a book by
| the comfortable warmth of library
fire, but a relation that had been
| handed down for 400 years, from
] those who saw, to those of their sons
and daughters of today. That brutal
| past almost became the present. Over
us lowered the statue Of Quetzalcoatl
whose stony eyes had been turned
upon those innumerable scenes oi
/ human agony. The younger man
seemed satisfied. He muttered grim
| ~ that the revenge had been justi-
fled.
"The Spaniards were as savage as
| the Aztecs,' said he.
Shall the written history be re-
/ written?