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TEXAS STATE LIBRARY
The world often attributes luck to talent. :.This, however, is a mis- taken idea, although it has come to be general and prevails almost universally. He who does not care by what means he succeeds in rising to power, in amassing great fortunes or accomplishing any enterprise, will always be considered by the masses as somewhat superior to the ordinary person; and he is indeed, in many instances; but it is not necessa;rily in regard to the mental faculties; because in- genuity is not always indispensable in order to assure a happy encling. This, especially in political affairs, depends more on the moral and physical qualities than on the intellectual. Frequently passion and intellect are confused one with the other; while in reality there are no two things more dissimilar in their nature. A fool may have vehe- ment passions, and on the strength of them can work more effectively in many cases, than the wise without them. Revolutions are born of men's passions, and are not the result of thought or mature reflection, and therefore one does not need to know much to start a revolution; to accomplish this, it is enough to have a strong spirit and great daring, and he who possesses these qualities, however limitecl his knowledge, can always place himself at the head of affairs and direct the tumult. The good or bad ending of a revolution does not depend so much on the wisdom as on the virtue of him who directs it. Talent does not always determine great enterprises, because this gift is nothing but a phosphoric light without heat and incapable of making much of itself; but passion is a volcanic fire whose blaze can devastate and consume cities and spacious plains. It does not ask much help of talent, because of its own energy it can achieve all it aspires to. A man of active and vigorous physique possessing an iron will, unlimited ambition and untiring perseverance, what is there he cannot do with these qualities? And besides these, if he is destitute of all moral prin- ciples in order to keep himself in his course; without conscientious scruples, without shame, cruel, treacherous and sly he cannot con- ceive of any enterprise for personal aggrandizement unattainable for him. Projects, it matters not how great or how impossible they appear, are never beyond the reach of a man endowed with such a character, it matters not how limited is his understanding. Who will dare to com- pare the intellect of Daniel Webster with that of General Jackson? Xeverthelcss, with all his powerful talents he could not elevate himself to the Presidency, while Jackson with only common intellect could by the strength of his violent and dominant passions, raise himself to absolute power and place his foot on the throat of the Nation. Having in mind the destruction that we have tried to outline, you will see at once the real ability [ ?] stimulated and incited by the passions, can never produce any palpable effects in the political business of the world, 11or lead its possessors to power and glory. From his most tender years Santa Anna dedicated himself to mili- tary service, without any other object than to receive the salary of a caclet in order to support himself. At the beginning of the revolution he began his prowess in the service of the King of Spain against Independence, without making himself of note until the year 1813 in the expedition that he made with General Arredondo against the republicans, under the command
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