CHAPTER V. 



1824 — 1829. 



REVIEW OF THE CONDITION OF MEXICO AND THE FORMATION OF 



PARTIES. VICEROYAL GOVERNMENT THE PEOPLE THE 



ARMY THE CHURCH. CONSTITUTION OF 1824. ECHAVARI 



REVOLTS. VICTORIA PRESIDENT ESCOCESSES YORKINOS 



REVOLTS CONTINUED. MONTAYNO GUERRERO. GOMEZ 



PEDRAZA PRESIDENT IS OVERTHROWN. FEDERALISTS 



CENTRALISTS GUERRERO PRESIDENT. ABOLITION OF SLAVE- 

 RY IN MEXICO. 



We must pause a moment over the past history of Mexico, 

 for the portion we now approach has few of the elements either 

 of union or patriotism which characterized the early struggles for 

 national independence. The revolutionary war had merited and 

 received the commendation of freemen throughout the world. The 

 prolonged struggle exhibited powers of endurance, an unceasing 

 resolution, and a determination to throw off European thraldom, 

 which won the respect of those northern powers on this continent 

 who were most concerned in securing to themselves a republican 

 neighborhood. But, as soon as the dominion of Spain was 

 crushed, the domestic quarrels of Mexico began, and we have 

 already shown that in the three parties formed in the first congress, 

 were to be found the germs of all the feuds that have since vexed 

 the republic or impeded its successful progress towards national 

 grandeur. After the country had been so long a battle field, it 

 was perhaps difficult immediately to accustom the people to civil 

 rule or to free them from the baleful influence which military glory 

 is apt to throw round individuals who render important services to 

 their country in war. Even in our own union, where the ballot 

 box instead of the bayonet has always controled elections, and 

 where loyalty to the constitution would blast the effort of ambitious 

 men to place a conqueror in power by any other means than that 

 of peaceful election, we constantly find how difficult it is to screen 

 the people's eyes from the bewildering glare of military glory. 

 What then could we expect from a country in which the self-rely- 

 ing, self-ruling, civil idea never existed at any period of its pre- 

 vious history? The revolution of the North American colonies 



