COPPER MINES. 
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friendship, and we trusted them. Why did you take 
our captives from us? 
Commissioner . — What we have said to you is true 
and reliable. We do not tell lies. The greatness and 
dignity of our nation forbids our doing so mean a 
thing. What our great brother has said is true, and 
good also. I will now tell him why we took his cap- 
tives from him. Four years ago, we, too, were at war 
with Mexico. We know that the Apaches make a 
distinction between Chihuahua and Sonora. They are 
at peace with Chihuahua, but always fighting against 
Sonora. We in our war did not make that distinction. 
The Mexicans, whether living in one or the other 
State, are all one nation, and we fought them as a 
nation. Well, when the war was over, in which we 
conquered, we made peace with them. They are now 
our friends, and by the terms of the peace we are bound 
to protect them. We told you this when we came to 
this place, and we requested you to cease your hostili- 
ties against Mexico. Well, time passed, and we grew 
very friendly ; every thing went well. You came in 
here with your captives. Who were these captives? 
Mexicans — the very people we told you we were bound 
to protect. We took them from you and sent them 
to General Garcia Conde, who will set them at libertv 
in their own country. W e mean to show you that we 
cannot lie. We promised protection to the Mexicans, 
and we gave it to them. We promise friendship and 
protection to you, and we will give it to you. If we 
had not done so to Mexico, you could not have 
believed us with regard to yourselves. We cannot 
lie. 
