The San Antonio Light

That poem,
A Letter From Miss Painter in Reply to Her Mexican Critics.

Editor San Antonio Light:
In your edition of June 14, which has just reached me, I see an article quoted from La Revista, of Monterey, which criticises in the severest manner a poem read by me before the Texas Press association, at Dallas, on the 5th of May.
"J. G." the author of said article, says: "Only in her brain could have been realized the act she refers to: only in her demented imagination could have existed such infamy." In another place: "Such absurd falsehoods need no refutation from us."
In the introduction to my poem, I said:
"I will tell to you the story
As 'twas told me."
I was one of a party of tourists to Monterey in January, 1883, and while standing on the Puenta de la Purissima, we were told the story of the massacre by a Mexican gentleman of education. I do not think that I have varied from my Informer in any important detail. So much for its having originated in my "demented imagination." The story must be in common circulation in Monterey, for I have met several travelers from that place who have spoken of it to me. I have read the story several times in letters written from Monterey to American newspapers. The names of these papers I cannot give, for I paid little attention at the time. In March, 1884, there appeared in Frank Leslie's Popular Monthly Magazine, an illustrated article on Monterey, which mentioned the massacre and contained a picture of the bridge. A copy of this magazine is now in my possession. A story in such wide circulation as this, if false, certainly needs refutation.
He also says:
"Let Miss Painter know that the Puenta de la Purissima was constructed 100 years ago, that is to say, at a time when not a single countryman of hers had yet trod our soil, when this Mexico and Monterey were so happy that they were not aware that there existed an American nation, and did not know of such a name." That libels the intelligence of his own countrymen. I believe that every American of 100 years ago knew of Mexico and her grand possibilities.
The writer tells me to remember Buena Vista, Cerro Gordo and Churubusco. I do not forget them, but I have lived too long in the shade of the Alamo to forget that either.
The term "black-hearted race" is used in quotation; there is no word, no sentence, in my poem which means that, none that could be so construed.
In conclusion, I would say that if the story is true, then my poem is none too severe, not because the act was performed by Mexicans, but because of its treachery, and were the same deed to be done by Americans, I should be just as ready to denounce it. If the story is false (and I would be heartily glad that it was) upon my next visit to Monterey, which I hope may be in the near future, I will be glad to receive proof of its falsity from "J. G."
Anna H. K. Painter.
Houston, June 19, 1884.