Recently Fidel Rivera wrote VDARE.com a letter saying he is a descendant of Spanish colonists who came in 1598, in which he claims Americans have to pay for what they did to Indians! Apparently Rivera is ignorant of the atrocities committed by the Spanish and Mexicans. Millions of Indians in Latin America died due to Spanish conquest. In New Mexico in 1599, just one year after Mr. Rivera’s ancestors arrived, Spanish troops attacked the Acoma Pueblo, and after victory: “Don Oñate ordered that every male above the age of twenty-five would have his right foot cut off and be enslaved for a period of twenty years. However, only twenty-four men actually received amputations. Males between the age of twelve and twenty-five were also enslaved for twenty years along with all of the females above the age of twelve. Many of these natives were dispersed among the residences of government officials or at Jesuit missions. Sixty of the youngest women were deemed not guilty and sent to Mexico City where they were “parceled out among Catholic convents”. Two Hopi men were taken prisoner at the pueblo; after each had one of his hands cut off, they were released to spread the word of Spain’s resolve.” It was common practice for the Spanish, Mexicans, and New Mexicans to raid Indian tribes and capture slaves. These slaves were set to work in Mexican mines and on farms and in Haciendas. Of course the Indian women were raped—which is why so many Hispanic New Mexicans who claim to be pure descendants of the Conquistadors, are actually part Indian—a race many of them despise.
Although Mexico passed a law outlawing slavery, if you read New #Mexican history, you will find that many Hispanics retained their Navajo slaves as late as 1900—not surprising seeing how laws are commonly ignored by these people. While peonage was abolished by law in New Mexico by an Act Of 1867, there was a case reported as recently as 1967.
In spite of the Spanish history of cruelty against relatively peaceful Indians such as the Pueblo, the more warlike tribes such as the Navajo, Comanche, and Apache were too much for the Hispanic colonists. - AMREN