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of his designs that the proposed reforms should be prevented and that that body should be destroyed at any cost. N of-being able to attain this end by just and constitutional means he agreed with some of the officers of the army to start a revolution founded on the principles of the central party to be called a revolution for religion and the law. Perhaps there has never occurred a more stupid, despicable and shame- ful offence in all of its particulars from beginning to end. It was a perfect farce in which the burlesque heroic was displayed in the most ridiculous manner. The contest, which lasted six months, commenced in the following manner. A few .days after occupying the presidential chair some officer§l from Morelia with an unknown subaltern named Escalda. went to Santa Anna imploring his protection against the Governor of the State, who had decreed their dismissal on account of their disorderly cond~ct. Seeing that he could take advantage of this occurrence Santa Anna espoused the cause of the dismissed men, commanded them to return to their posts, and severely admonished the Governor for what he had done. In this way he converted them into his instruments, so that as soon as Escalda reached Morelia he imprisoned Governor Salgado, placed a political chief in his office, and raised the cry of religion, law and dictatorship which was understood to mean that Santa Anna should become dictator in order to save the church and the army from the attacks of Congress. As soon as the news of Escalda's insurrection reached the Capital Santa Anna ordered a search for Duran. The latter appeared, and after being in secret consultation with the President for three hours, immediately returned to his post which was the town of Chalco and on the same night of his arrival declared in favor of Escalda. His division undertook to support the clergy against the reforms of Con- gress and proclaimed the illustrious conqueror of the Spaniards, Gen- eral Don Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, Dictator of the nation. This movement was followed by a similar one on the part of Lieutenant Colonel Unda in Tlalpan where he and Duran joined forces a short time afterwards. These movements, which occurred rapidly, caused the friends of the federation some alarm, but Santa Anna appeared to scorn them and said that it was only a temporary excitation against Congress whose imprudence had made them hated, and that he could extinguish it with- out difficulty. For this purpose Congress granted him extraordinary powers on the 3rd of June. He sent Cortazar against Escalda, and at the head of 1500 men he himself went in pursuit of Duran and Unda taking General Arista with him as second in command-a Cen- tralist leader against whom he had fought under Bustamante's banner. The appointment of this man for so important and responsible a posi- tion caused the Federalists great surprise, and :i\ir. Zavala said to Santa Anna, "How can a virtuous cause be supported by such corrupt agents?" Nevertheless, Santa Anna and his friend Arista moved against the rebels, breathing destruction and death against them until they reached Ameca, where, to the surprise of everyone, Arista pro- claimed Santa Anna Dictator of the nation for life, but Arista, fear- ing that Farfulla's modesty would not permit him to accept such an
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