Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1930-06-29

which state of affairs lead to another change of
name, the mann it bears today. For this final change
the city is indebted to Jose Maria Carvajal. a Mexi-
can of prominent family, who was educated in the
United States. He returned to his old home in 1851
full of ideas chief among which was the famous LA
Zona Libre.' This vision was that a certain zone bor-
dering the river should be free of all duty on i'm
ported goods. The theory led to arms. Carvajal
succeeded in invading the city and his men sur
rounded the Plaza, then held by General Avalos, of
whom he demanded surrender of the city. General
Avalos refused. His decision appealed to the citizens
and they reinforced federal men and drove the in
vaders, Carvajal and his accomplices, out with great
loss. Carvajal. as many defeated Mexican generals
before and since, took refuge in Brownsville. For
the efforts to preserve their city the State Congress
and City Council conferred upon the city the title
Of Heroic" Likewise had issued a letter of COM
mendation comforting upon it the words "Uncon-
querable, Loyal and Heroic" The city from this time
on was known as Heroic Matamoros. All official
papers bear the initial Oh" before the name. It is
recognized by the government as III. Matamoros.
This gives some insight into the emotional
nature of the people. What other race excepting the
Latin or Spanish could give such a title to a town
for defending itself 1.-THE records reveal a reason not
50 romantic for General Avalos' refusal to give UP
the town; it was because Carvajal's army had many
foreigners and hired gunner within its ranks). From
this year you can picture a very definite national char
acter. 1t is hard to define it accurately. Our school
histories have not been just TO this country; they
have not procured facts; they have been too general
as such a statement as this from one history shows:
The people of Mexico are still warlike. treacherous
and indispensable" This is not true as applied to the
race in general. Their wars are many times not as
serious as our gang wars in the larger cities. They.
as a people, are anything but treacherous. We of thu
States cannot Judge our country by the riffraff so
why do so with Mexico.
What Mexico needs more than anything else is
education. The peon, who is in the great majority,
is too trusting and emotional. A disgruntled politi-
clan can lead them, arouse in them what they think
is patriotism, excite their imagination, then use them.
The only cure is education and more has been done
along this line IN the past 10 years than ever before.
Treacherous or faithful, it all depends on their under
standing. II their faith is once established in a friend
or cause, it j. really beautiful; their devotion is al
most unshakeable. They will endure the most severe
hardship with no thought Of financial reward or even
their life for a friend.
Almost without pause since April Fl, 1919.
when Cortez, the Spanish explorer. landed with an
army as cruel as any band of invading despoilers a.
history records, the native Mexicans have been man
handled and mistreated with about every form of
torture known to civilization. These things along
with certain schemers who have held power a. alb