J.T. CANALES: "CORTINA WAS OUR PREDECESSOR IN FIGHTING FOR OUR PEOPLE AND AGAINST RACE DISCRIMINATION"

Original El Rrun-Rrun Graphic

By Juan Montoya

Despite the demonization of Juan Nepomuceno "Cheno" Cortina – who took over Brownsville for three days in September 1859 to protest Anglo abuses of Mexicans – the leading Hispanic voices of Texas saw him as the first man to challenge the new established order's mistreatment of their fellow Mexicans in South Texas.

Canales, who served  in the Texas House of Representatives from 1905 to 1910 and from  1917 to 1920  in the Texas House of Representatives, also worked in irrigation law, education, and judicial and tax reform. He also led the fight in the legislature to reform the Texas Rangers and called attention to their abuse of the rights of Mexican-Americans in the state.

From 1912 to 1914 Canales served as county superintendent of public schools in Cameron County where he stressed the use of the English language, United States patriotism, and rural education. In fact, Canales, a graduate of the University of Michigan, had an elementary school named after him by the Brownsville Independent School District. 

(At the opening of the school in 1949 he talked to students. Notice the barrio children's bare feet.) 

In 1914 he was elected Cameron County judge before returning to Austin as state representative. He, long with San Antonio-based attorney Alonso Perales, who was also an author of "En Defensa de La Raza" and U.S. diplomat, were among a group of Hispanic leaders in Texas who founded the League of United Latin American Citizens. Canales wrote most of its constitution and its members elected him president from 1932 to 1933.

So it was surprising when Dr. Marie Theresa Hernandez, professor at the University of Houston and an author and professor in UH's World Cultures and Literatures Department discovered correspondence between Canales and Perales who viewed Cortina not as Anglo authors painted him as a thief or bandit and the "Rogue of the Rio Grande," but rather as a "predecessor" of Hispanics who defended  Mexican-American rights.

In a letter uncovered by Dr. Hernandez dated February 18, 1950 written by Canales to Perales, Canales tells Perales that he had sent copies of a thesis written by his son-in-law Charles W.  Goldfinch for his Master's degree at the University of Chicago in 1949. The only difference between Cortina and them, he said, was in method rather than in purpose 

"I was happy to receive your letter February 14 and also note the high opinion you have of (Goldfinch's thesis) on General Cortina," Canales wrote. "You are right. Cortina was our predecessor in fighting for our people and against race discrimination. He used a different method to accomplish this from the one you and I have ben using...

"He used force because that was the only means he had at the time," Canales wrote Perales. "We have used education and an appeal to reason, but it is the same fight and we are merely carrying on what he began in 1859."

Canales then goes on to suggest that Goldfinch's thesis be translated into Spanish, but defends its publication in English saying that:

"Since the fight we have is against the prejudice of the Anglo-American, who speak only their own language, it was more important to write it in English."

Canales then tells Perales that he had sent copies of Goldfinch's thesis to "Texas" historians and that their response to it had been "splendid."

J. Frank Dobie, an American folklorist, writer, and newspaper columnist best known for his many books depicting the richness and traditions of life in rural Texas during the days of the open range who had written "A Vaquero of the Brush Country," among other books, responded to the thesis that Cortina had been maligned by Texas historians based on deep-seated prejudices and bias by writing Canales that: 

 "Dear Don Jose, mi amigo estimado: The older I grow the more difficult the comprehension of truth appears to me. I am sure that if I was rewriting the (book) I should revise some things said about (Cortina)."

Likewise, Dr. W.P. Webb, who wrote what is considered the authoritative book "The Texas Rangers," considered the bible on the subject, said he would have reconsidered Cortina's treatment in it if he had had access to Goldfinch's sources.

"It is too bad that I did not also have access to the other side of the story (meaning when he wrote The Texas Rangers). I think it is very fortunate that this has been done by one who has access to Cortina's side of the tale."

Canales said Webb was not considering a revision of his book, but "If it is, I shall take into account the new evidence on Cortina." Canales said that he had run into Webb who told him there was a new book on Texas history being considered, and "if he has anything to do, he would revise the chapter on Cortina."

He then lists other recipients of the Goldfinch thesis ranging from college presidents and historical scholars to justices of the Texas Supreme Court who all sent complimentary letters after reading it.

"The only way to destroy falsehood is with the true facts presented in a logical manner and documented by historians. This is why I believe that (this thesis) will have the effect to change public opinion among our Anglo-Saxon fellow citizens."

In closing, Canales tells Perales that: "I was very happy to receive your letter and as you have been my loyal collaborator in my effort to clean Texas history from its lies and in vindicating the rights of our Latin American fellow citizens in Texas.

"I am writing you this long letter to you showing what results have been received thus far from (the thesis)."