TEXAS STATE LIBRARY
who had arrested the Viceroy,-all showed very clearly how little the latter nation considered the rights, safety, and welfare of Mexico. For the purpose of assisting the Peninsula out of the chaos in which it found itself, and of establishing something similar to order and gov- ernment, several of the provinces had formed administrative Juntas; but when the same thing was attempted in Mexico under similar cir- cumstances, it was denounced and punished as a rebellion. That which was patriotism in Spain was treason in the Colonies. The absolute disregard of justice and humanity, which this malignant distinction manifested, engendered the first thought of revolution and convinced the }Iexicans of the necessity of resorting to force in order to protect themselves and vindicate their rights. The generous sentiments which had been entertained for the king and his cause were suddenly con- ,·ertec1 into mortal hatred, and the desire to protect their rights and avenge their wrongs took deep root in the heart of the nation. In a short time their vengeance broke out into open warfare. Such was the immediate cause of the revolution. There can be no doubt that }Iexico would have declared her independence in a few _1·ears, if the events of 1808 had not taken place, because it was not possible for Spain to maintain her dominion in a country which was growing so rapidly in strength, knowledge, and resources. That which would haYe arriYed "'ith the practice of prudence and justice was accelerated in the manner which we have just indicated. The first cry of alarm was given on the night of the 16th of Sep- tember 1810, in the town of Dolores, by the priest, Don :Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a man of superior intellect and irrepr_oachable character, who possessed many noble qualities and who was loved by all who knew him. He bad formed an extensive conspiracy to shake off the yoke of Spain, but on the eve of its execution a canon of Valladolid named Iturriaga betrayed him revealing the plan on his death bed to a priest named Gil who lived at Queretaro. This hastened Hidalgo's morn- ments and compelled him to enter the field ahead of time. Allende, Aldama, and Abasolo, who were captains in the Spanish army and natives of the town of Miguel el Grande, where Allende had a small force at bis command, all united. These conspirators would have fallen into the hands of the Government, had it not been for the secret ,rnrning given them by the wife of the mayor, Dominguez, who had been appointed to arrest them. There was no time then to spare. The standard of independence was immedi_ately raised, bearing the device "death to the Spaniards," and in a short time it was surrounded by hordes of ignorant unrestrained Indians who rejoiced in the opportu- nity of haYing revenge upon a people who for three hirndred years had trampled upon their unfortunate race. At the head of this disor- ganized multitude of almost twenty thousand men, armed with picks, sticks, clubs, knives, and other mining and farming implements, Hi- dalgo marched against Guanajuato, a rich and populous city. He arrayed his tumultuous troops in the front of the city, and demanded its surrender, promising that the Spaniards' lives would be spared on condition that they should offer no opposition. This proposal having been rejected hy the Governor Hiana, Hidalgo took the place by assault on the 28th of September, and in its capture he obtained gr~at sums of money which he lavished upon his barbarous followers, paymg them
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