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TEXAS STATE LIBRARY
short of a full and perfect redress of grievances·; and the mother coun- try, no less confident of her power and resources, and duly alive to the importance of the stake at issue, was equally resolved on her -part not to yield the slightest portion of her former power. The hope of an amicable adjustment of difficulties, being no longer entertained, both parties prepared for war; and in brief time there was a general rush to arms from Buenos Ayres to Mexico-the Colonies contending for absolute Independence; and the mother country for their unconditional .submission. Such are some of the most prominent events and considerations 'Which lead to the l\1exican Revolution. Other causes, however, existed which were hurrying the _country into the same course. Indeed it was impossible that Spain could have retained her domination much longer-at least in its former extent-over a nation which was increas- ing so rapidly in population, resources and knowledge as New Spain. 'The castastropbe which she might have delayed by wisdom and mod- ·eration, was accelerated in the manner already unfolded. There is no ·doubt but that the quarrell between the parties might have been set- tled at the beginning by very reasonable concessions; and if the ten- dency of these concessions were to ultimate emancipation, Spain should bave remembered that other causes, beyond her control, were operating to the same effect; and k;nowing this, it would have been wise in her, instead of forcing the Colonies into immediate revolution, to have made with them some arrangements by which the parties might have abided in friendly alliance and cooperated in the prosecution of reciprocal in- terest. Had she done this, she would not only have saved herself from the odium of stamping the revolution that followed, with the dark atrocities that disfigured her conquest of the country; but she would have still retained her Colonies-if not in a state of abject servitude- at least as tributary friends in peace, and faithful allies in war. But such was not her policy. If she could not hold the Creoles in slavish subjection, she was not willing to know them as friends. And thus ·did a bigoted and foolish nation lose by pride and malignity, the bright- est jewels of her diadem.- If it were admissible to derive pleasure from the misfortunes of those who have deeply wronged us, Mexico and the South American States ·might find some gratification in the reflection, that the very oppressions which they were doomed to experience during their long Colonial bond- : age, was one of the most prominent and efficient causes which lead to the reduction of the Peninsula from its high estate to its present, humble rank among the family of nations. The unbounded quantity ·of the precious metals which flowed into Spain from the New World, raised her to a grandure and magnifisence that admitted of no rival; and to the astonishment of all Europe, the Peninsula was suddenly flooded with gold and silver, inviting to its ports the commerce ~f the ·world, and diffusing individual wealth and luxury, unexampled in modern times. For a while this sudden influx of wealth, imparted vigor and activity to every branch of industry; but in the course. of time, it was discovered to have a pernicious effect upon the Country, by changing the morals and habits of the people. As a thoughtless inheritor of a large estate, just coming into the possession of his prop- erty, plunges into all the destroying vices which indolence and self-
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