During the quarter of a century preceding the annexation of New Mexico
to the United States, that distant province of the Mexican Republic,
like all the rest of the country, was the scene of constantly recurring
revolutions. Every discontented captain, colonel, or general who
chanced to be in command of a district, there held sway as a dictator;
so demeaning himself that martial and military rule had become
established as the living law of the land. The civic authorities rarely
possessed more than the semblance of power; and where they did it was
wielded in the most flagitious manner. Arbitrary arts were constantly
committed, under the pretext of patriotism or duty. No man's life was
safe who fell under the displeasure of the ruling military chieftain;
and woman's honour was held in equally slight respect.
In the northern frontier provinces of the republic this irresponsible
power of the soldiery was peculiarly despotic and harassing. There, two
causes contributed to establish and keep it in the ascendency. One of
these was the revolutionary condition of the country, which, as
elsewhere, had become chronic. The contest between the party of the
priests and that of the true patriots, begun in the first days of
Mexico's independence, has been continued ever since; now one, now the
other, in the ascendant. The monstrous usurpation of Maximilian,
supported by Napoleon the Third, and backed by a soldier whom all
Mexicans term the "Bandit Bazaine," was solely due to the hierarchy;
while Mexico owes its existing Republican government to the patriot
party--happily, for the time, triumphant.
The province of New Mexico, notwithstanding its remoteness from the
nation's capital, was always affected by, and followed, its political
fortunes. When the _parti pretre_ was in power at the capital, its
adherents became the rulers in the distant States for the time being;
and when the Patriots, or Liberals, gained the upper hand this _role_
was reversed.
It is but just to say that, whenever the latter were the "ins," things
for the time went well. Corruption, though not cured, was to some
extent checked; and good government would begin to extend itself over
the land. But such could only last for a brief period. The
monarchical, dictatorial, or imperial party--by whatever name it may be
known--was always the party of the Church; and this, owning
three-fourths of the real estate, both in town and country, backed by
ancient ecclesiastical privileges, and armed with another powerful
engine--the gross superstition it had been instrumental in fostering--
was always able to control events; so that no Government, not despotic,
could stand against it for any great length of time. For all, freedom
at intervals triumphed, and the priests became the "outs;" but ever
potent, and always active, they would soon get up a new "grito" to bring
about a revolutionary change in the Government. Sanguinary scenes would
be enacted--hangings, shooting, garrottings--all the horrors of civil
war that accompany the bitterest of all spite, the ecclesiastical.
In such an uncertain state of things it was but natural that the
_militarios_ should feel themselves masters of the situation, and act
accordingly.
In the northern districts they had yet another pretext for their
unrestrained exercise of power--in none more than New Mexico. This
remote province, lying like an oasis in the midst of uninhabited wilds,
was surrounded on all sides by tribes of hostile Indians. There were
the Navajoes and Apaches on its west, the Comanche and other Apache
bands on the south and east, the Utahs on its north, and various smaller
tribes distributed around it. They were all more or less hostile at one
time or another: now on terms of an intermittent peace, secured by a
"palaver" and treaty; this anon to be broken by some act of bad faith,
leaving their "braves" at liberty once more to betake themselves to the
war-path.
Of course this condition of things gave the soldiery a fine opportunity
to maintain their ascendency over the peaceful citizens. Rabble as
these soldiers were, and poltroons as they generally proved themselves
in every encounter with the Indians, they were accustomed to boast of
being the country's protectors, for this "protection" assumed a sort of
right to despoil it at their pleasure.
Some few years preceding the American-Mexican war--which, as well known,
gave New Mexico to the United States--these belligerent swaggerers were
in the zenith of their arbitrary rule. Their special pet and protector,
Santa Anna, was in for a new spell of power, making him absolute
dictator of Mexico and disposer of the destinies of its people. At the
same time, one of his most servile tools and successful imitators was at
the head of the Provincial Government, having Santa Fe for its capital.
This man was Manuel Armijo, whose character may be ascertained, by those
curious to study it, from reading the chronicles of the times,
especially the records of the prairie merchants, known as the "Santa Fe
traders." It will there be learnt that this provincial despot was
guilty of every act that could disgrace humanity; and that not only did
he oppress his fellow-citizens with the soldiery placed at his disposal
to protect them from Indian enemies, but was actually in secret league
with the savages themselves to aid him in his mulcts and murders!
Whatever his eye coveted he was sure to obtain, by fair means or foul--
by open pillage or secret theft--not unfrequently accompanied by
assassination. And as with the despot himself, so with his
subordinates--each in his own town or district wielding irresponsible
power; all leading lives in imitation of the provincial chieftain, as he
of him--the great prototype and patron of all--who held dictatorial sway
in the capital of the country, Don Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna.
A knowledge of this abnormal and changeable condition of Mexican affairs
will, in some measure, explain why Colonel Miranda so suddenly ceased to
be commandant of Albuquerque. Santa Anna's new accession to power
brought in the _Padres_, turning out the _Patriotas_, many of the latter
suffering death for their patriotism, while the adherents of the former
received promotion for their support.
Staunchest among these was the captain of Lancers, Gil Uraga, promoted
to be colonel as also commandant of the district from which its deposed
chief so narrowly escaped with his life.
And now this revolutionary usurper is in full authority, his acts
imitating his master, Armijo, like him in secret league with the
savages, even consorting with the red pirates of the plains, taking part
in their murderous marauds, and sharing their plunder.