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PAPERS OF MIRABEAU BuoNAPARTE LAMAR
object of the revolution. Was it to establish a republic.? Certainly not, since nearly all of the leaders engaged in it were royalists before the revolution, and anti-republicans afterwards. The motives which in- fluenced Santa Anna to commence it are well understood, but it is not lmown to what extent personal considerations impelled Echavarri. Tha~ these two leaders took into account the well being of the country it is impossible to believe. If they had unsheathed the sword against the usurper and despot they would have done well, for Iturbide was both one and the other; but it was not for this reason that they made war upon him. They were his corrupt instruments when he seized the scepter, and afterwards flattered and supported him in all of his aspirations to obtain unlimited power. Iturbide deserved his fortune, but those traitorous friends who conspired against him had all of his wickedness, and, like him, cared little for the liberty and happiness of the people. What were their charges against him? One was that he had stolen a million dollars of the public funds at Perote. Did he not do the same thing in Iguala? And who thought anything of that? Another charge against him was the appropriation of the public funds to his own use. And what was the cause of this but the un- necessary and enormous army, which drained the resources of the nation and the reduction of which these innovators opposed despite the fact that it constantly depleted the public treasury. The third and gravest charge was the dissolution of Congress by his order, .a measure in which the principal. conspirators of the revolution were implicated. Speaking of Santa Anna, Mr. Zavala says in poor Span- ish: "He had encouraged the dissolution of Congress and the proc- lamation for establfshing the· Empire." Cortazar was the instrument who read to that body the imperial decree dissolving its sessions a_nd who afterwards boasted of having had the honor to be employed in that way. And Echavarri, as the confidential friend and adviser of the emperor and active defender of his usurpations, was necessarily an accomplice in all of Iturbide's hideous crimes. Such were the villains who unsheathed the sword, not for the good of the country, but for the purpose of destroying a friend from whom they had obtained all their honors and prestige. Was there ever a coalition of men more depraved and corrupt than these? How could a people governed by such monsters entertain any hope of gaining and preserving its lib- erty? And were all of the leaders of the same character.? Were there none who were uncontaminated? Yes, there was one, the immortal Guadalupe Victoria, who was the Bayard of his country-a man with- out fear and without stain. Bravo, who was _an anti-republican, had requested in the Council of State that the death penalty be imposed upon those who conspired against the throne; and even Guerrero, one of the most honorable leaders, flattered the usurper by personally as- sisting at his coronation, but Victoria was always faithful to his prin- ciples; he did not flatter any tyrant, he did not ask any favors, and he never betrayed his country. Congress, having decided the matter concerning Iturbide, on the 8th ·of April proceeded to establish a provisional government, placip.g at its head Victoria, Bravo and Negrete, who were to exercise the executive power until a new government should be formed, the pur- pose of which should be to make a law calling a new Congress. While
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