Observador Mexicano Archive

The Spanish-language newspaper El Observador Mexicano made its debut in Phoenix, Arizona, in September 1895, published by F.A. Madrid and Carlos M. Foster. In February 1896, Foster announced that he was the sole publisher, but the following month, A. Meza Y Salinas took over the paper. Salinas also remained only a short time, until May 1896, when he sold his interest in the paper to Pedro Bonillas Y Salazar, R. Silva A., and F. Velarde. Silva served as editor of the newspaper in 1896. In August of that year, the Arizona Republican described El Observador Mexicano as "a neatly arranged, nicely printed newspaper" that "circulates a large weekly issue among the 5,000 Spanish speaking people of the Salt River valley." The Republican went on to say of Silva, who was involved in the civic organization, Junta Patriotica: "…while we do not always agree with his ideas political, one of our treats every week is the reading of his leading editorials." By the end of 1896, Silva continued to contribute to the paper, but Salazar had become the sole editor and publisher and continued to lead the paper for the remainder of its run.

The four-page weekly newspaper included a professional directory, advertisements for local businesses, a schedule of Sunday masses, train schedules, poems, reviews of concerts, and announcements of community events. In 1897 and 1898, the newspaper noted on its editorial page that it was "El único periódico en español que se pública en la Capital del Territorrio de Arizona" ["The only newspaper in Spanish published in the Capital of the Territory of Arizona."] A short column on the editorial page also appeared in every issue during that time, calling for the President of Mexico to pardon the poet Salvador Díaz Miron and noting that this statement would permanently appear in the newspaper until that objective was achieved. El Observador Mexicano regularly featured news and editorials about Cuba's fight for independence from Spain and the Spanish-American War and often reprinted commentary and reporting from other Spanish-language newspapers about the conflict.

By the end of 1898, the newspaper's focus turned to local political news and featured information about candidates for upcoming elections. In 1900, the Arizona Republican reported on an accusation of libel against Salazar for columns he printed in El Observador Mexicano claiming the Mexican consul, Leon Navarro, was unsuitable for his duties. Pedro de la Lama and Asuncion Sanchez of the Phoenix paper, El Democrata, were also charged with libel in what the Republican described as "an imbroglio of long standing between the consul and his countrymen," but the charges were dismissed soon after. By 1901, El Observador Mexicano had ceased publication.