The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-02-09
SANTA Anna.

Iron the New Orleans Picayune Jan. 30.l
Among TIE numberless wonderful celebrities that
sister republic has given birth to in her brief but
stirring history heroes of single skirmsh, states
men OF a small diplomacy, immortals whose eternity
Of fame has reached its occultation in from nine
days to year, there has been no one so prominent
so able fortunate as the oneegged hero OF San
Jacinto-that marvel of military science who in his
later conflict az Cerro Gordo stuck to and strength
ened the old maxim
He who fights and runs away
My I've to hight another day.
There nsy exist much latitude oil opinion with re-
gard to the bravery, tic skill the craftsmanship and
the patriotism of Santa Anna. 1t may be doubted
whether he loves Mexico, and it may be doubted
whether Mexico loves him. OF one thing, however
there be doubt and that is that the life he has
had from the time he first embarked in revolution
against lturbi6e to this present, has been remarkably
eventful and FIJI Of incident He has seen all social
positions from the lowest 70 the highest; all political
positions, from insienifcance to practical mperlaty
all military positions, from foot soldier to the COM
handkerchief. He has climbed TO the topmost
heights only to he knocked of and driven ont the
country He hes returned and taken up his old rank
as if it had been resigned by his own volition He
i has made revolutions and crushed revolutions. He
4 has banisLed and been banifhed In his person two
/ great extremes OF fortune have met and struggled.
As yet it is undecided which viii come of victorious;
il is uncertain whether Santa Anna will die at home
or in exile, on the throne on the scaffold.
We said that bis life has been eventfu, and so it
has. There are probably few men living whose his
tories will exhibit web OF 20 strlkingly varied and
contlasted colors aho have been so high and SO low
Is the ex-President. Starting in life with name
wholly obscure and unknown. he has rendered it
familiar in all corners Of the world Commencing as
q royast he has been republican, iederalist and
a ccntfaist, q democrat and an aristocrat, as the
emergencies OF the moment seemed TO require In
1871 he assisted in eypeipg the royasts from Vera
Cruz, ard obtained the command OF the city under
Iturbide. In le22 he was deposed, and began war
against his late superior, and succeeded In over
throwing him. foied in his personal aims by the
4 al N No n
fcment another In 1928 he supported Guerrero
against Pedrazza, and was made commander Of the
army. Ia 1880 he went % the side Of Pedra2za
fought ard conquered his former friends, and in
trigued for the Presidency. Iii 1888 he obtained the
office he sought, and was recognized as President.
Thus far his lie Rad been successtu-hs objects
gained-hs ends secured. Tie changes lie made
Invariably rodoundcd to his benefit. The battles
he fought were always won. The party he
favored were sure OF success. His political ter
giveTsatons we've inexcusabe, bit they were
i gilded BY victory His treaeheries were startling
but few cared 10 talk about them lie was the favor
/ lite Of the army, and the army was sovereign. In
1850 the reform party under the leadership Of Laca
Y tecCs, proclaimed against him. and four provinces
| joined the inslrectlon. Lacatecos was conquered
the reform party annihilatcd b. death exile and
| Santa Anna became Dictator. His star was still in
the ascendant, but II soon waned. The adhesion he
gave in to the central party and the subsequent alb
rogation Of the liberal constitution Of 1924 induced
the American colonists in Texas 70 proclaim theiI
Independence OF the results OF that movement we
need not speak.
The success which had hitherto invariably attended
the military movements Of Santa Anna, failed him In
| the Efforts he made FOR their subjugaton. At san
| Jacinto he was conquered and captured
| Out Of the gloon Of defeat and captvity-mar
Sclously preserved from death he richly merited-
this political changing emerged only 10 recover the
supremacy he had lost aud increase the fame he had
| won. The mutlation he suffered at Vera Cruz re
bounded to his good and has ever since remained
| the incontestable and ncontrovertibIe evidence oil
| patriotism that never existed, and a bravery
that was without being In lsil, after series
| Of incidents that woud be deemed improbable In
Perez Forest or The Romance Of the Cid he arau
reached the Presidency, and ruled imperislly fol
four years. The revolution Of Paroles hurled him
from power and the administration Of Herrera made
him fugitive. The American war recalled him Il
rank and importance. Its close drove him once
more into exile. Another revolution has paved tho
way for another recall, and Santa Anna may 10
morrow sit supreme over the fortunes OF Mexico
Indeed, all the indications tend to give assurance
his speedy recall. From Chihuahua to Yucatan
the sun shines only on - the broken and dishonoret
fragments of Union, on States discovered, discor
dant, beigerent; on a land rent with civil feuds'
and distracted with diverse councils. The demand
Of Guadalajara for diminishing taxation and a re
moval Of prohibitions has been made by State afte
state city after city, regiment after regiment &c
neral uraga, the acknowledged leader aud bead q