242 MEXICAN 



in the country; the other by having gained, 

 in times past, an influence over men'*s minds, to 

 which, perhaps, there does not now exist a paral- 

 lel in the Christian world. But, although this be 

 true, yet both these parties had been recently 

 made to feel, that their influence, and even ex- 

 istence, depended upon opinion alone, and this 

 they were sufficiently aware they might lose in a 

 moment. To them, therefore, the countenance of 

 power was of the greatest consequence, and it be- 

 came their immediate interest to support the views 

 of a party, which, instead of oppressing them, as 

 had been the case elsewhere, actually condescend- 

 ed to borrow their support, and to provide for 

 their safety. 



Again, by not holding out a vague prospect of 

 a representative government, but beginning at 

 once, by calling the deputies together, and by ap- 

 pointing a deliberative junta and an executive re- 

 gency, doubts and jealousies were dissipated, or 

 put to sleep. 



In the interim, while the above proposition was 

 submitted to Spain, this plan answered Iturbide's 

 purposes fully, as the flame which it had kindled 



