The Conquest of the Land of War

The Conquest of the Land of War By J. M. Sjodahl The following little bit of American history is, it seems to me, appropriate reading on the eve of the convening of the international congress in Washington, called in the interest of the limitation of armaments and peaceful intercourse of na- tions. It shows that the gospel of peace, when put to the prac- tical test, is more powerful than the sword, in the battle of life. The central figure in the story is Las Casas, a Dominican friar, a Spaniard of noble extraction by birth, and one of the most interesting characters among the pioneer discoverers and explorers of the New World. He came to the island of Hispan- iola with Ovando in 1502, and spent many years there and on the continent then just beginning to emerge out of ob- scurity. He labored incessantly against slavery and the op- pression of the Indians, and succeeded in obtaining laws for their protection. His literary productions are considered the very foundation of American history, and he was in every re- spect a remarkable man. The Spanish conquerors, as is well known, believed in force as the means of "converting" the natives. They held, in fact, that the Americans, as "pagans" had no rights which the "Chris- tians" were under obligation to respect. Many of the Spanish pioneers came from a class of men that thought very little of the value of a human life. To get plunder they mur- dered without compunction, and the cruelties perpetrated in Hispaniola, Mexico, Peru, etc., earned for the perpetrators an evil reputation that spread far and wide. But, aside from this, the spirit of the age was one of violence and cruelty. It was the age of the Inquisition and the mistaken belief that pagans and heretics ought to be tortured and slain for the glory of God, unless they would join the church. Had not the great Augustine said, "Compel them to come"? That was the spirit of the age. There was no regard for the free agency of man. Liberty of conscience was a principle not known, or at least meaningless. In the year 1511, suddenly, a voice, strange but powerful was heard in the wilderness. Father Montesino, in his church at San Domingo, told the Spaniards that they were living in mortal sin because of their greed and cruelty, and that they were no nearer heaven than Moors and Turks. An awful heresy at

THE CONQUEST OF THE LAND OF WAR 9 that time! But he had seen a light and he followed it. He continued to tell his hearers, in words that pierced them like daggers, that eternal torment was awaiting them and that the sacraments would he refused to any man who should engage in the slave trade or maltreat the Indians.- Glory to the mem- ory of Montesino! Las Casas was converted. Ajt first he saw the light but dimly, but he grew rapidly in knowledge and comprehension, and in due time he recognized the brotherhood of man, regardless of color. He then main- tained that to make war upon infidels and pagans merely be- cause of their religion is a sin, and that the only right and law- ful way ©f bringing men to Christ is by reason and persuasion. Las Casas, in advocating this doctrine at that time took his life in his hands, and that he escaped the Inquisition is a marvel. Scoffers were numerous. Let this impractical idealist, they said, try to convert a tribe of Indians and make them keep peace, and he will soon find that something more practical is needed than words of love. Las Casas took them at their word. Just to the north of Guatemala and bordering upon Yuca- tan there is a mountainous, almost inaccessible territory to which had been given the name of "The Land of War." The inhabitants were fierce fighters, savage and inhospitable. Three times the Spaniards had tried to take that country, but each time they had been defeated and driven back. Las Casas de- cided to demonstrate the truth of his doctrine of the power of love in that unpromising field. Having obtained the necessary guarantees of non-inter- ference by the Spanish authorities, Las Casas and his co-laborers began to put their doctrine into verse in the Quiche language. The story of the fall, redemption, the life of Christ, judgment, etc., was told in simple, yet elegant composition, and the verses were set to native music, to be chanted to the accompaniment of Indian primitive instruments. Next, four Indian traders were found. The affection of these young men was gained, and they were taught to recite and sing the poems. When the traders had been thoroughly instructed, they were sent to the principal pueblo, or city, in the Land of War, the Indian name of which was Tuzulutlan. They carried with them ample supplies of mirrors, bells, knives, and such things as they could use for barter. Arrived at their destination, the four Indians traded with the people as usual. In the evenings they gathered them to- gether and, to the accompaniment of drums and timbrels, chanted their sacred couplets. Day after day these entertain-

10 IMPROVEMENT ERA merits were given. The people became interested. The traders were beset with questions. And they explained that they had learned their stories of holy men, who, though white, were dif- ferent from the Spaniards. They drew pictures of the monks. The result was that the chief sent a friend to Guatemala to in- vestigate, and to invite the holy men to visit Tuzulutlan if the investigations ended satisfactorily. In due time the friars were invited to come. Father Luis de Barbastro, who spoke the lan- guage most fluently, was the first to go. In six months the cacique and several chiefs had been converted. A little church had been built, and by vote of the common tribal council human sacrifices had been made unlawful. Then Las Casas arrived. It was a time of excitement among the people. Their priests were furious. They clamored for the death of the strangers. The church was burned down by incendiaries. But the master mind of Las Casas asserted itself, and through his gentle influence, the people voluntarily de- stroyed their idols, and the cacique acknowledged the sov- ereignty of the king of Spain. And thus one of the great vic- tories of history was won without the sword. John Fiske in Discovery of America, Vol. II., p. 472, well says: "So when the stern conqueror and lord of Guatemala, coming forth to greet Las Casas and the Indian king, took off his plumed and jeweled cap, and bent his head in reverence, it seems to me one of the beautiful moments of history, one of the moments that comfort us with the thought of what yet may be done with frail humanity when the Spirit of Christ shall have come to be better understood."