Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1853-03-26

birth to IN her brief but SURFING nSLory-nefoeS
of single skirmish, statesmen of small dploma-
cy, irnmortals whose eternity of fame has reached
its occultation in from nine days to year-there
has been no one so prominent, so able, or so for
tunate, as the one-legged hero of San Jacinto-
that marvel of military science who, in his later
conflict at Cerro Gerdo, stuck to and strengthened
the old maxim
{" He who fights and away
May 1.-Two to fight another day."
! There may exist much latitude of opinion with
regard to the bravery the skill, the craftsmanship,
and patriotism of Santa Anna. 1t may be doubted
whether he loves Mexico and it may be doubted
whether Mexico loves him. Of one thing, how
ever, there can be no doubt, and that is that the
life he has led from the time he first embarked
in revolution against Iturbide to this present
moment has been remarkably eventful and full Of
incident.
He has seen all social positions, from the lowest
to the highest all political Positions from Insight
ficance to practical imperalty: all military posi-
tons, from foot soldier to the commanderin-chlef
He has climbed to the top-most heig hts only to be
knocked off and driven out the country. He has
returned and taken up his old rank as if 1t had
been resigned by his own volition. He has made
revolutions and crushed revolution. He has ban
ished and been banished, In his person two great
extremes of fortune have met and struggled. AS
yet it is undecided which will come off victorious
it is uncertain whether Santa Anna will die at home
or in exile on the throne or on the scatfold.
We said that his life has been eyentful, and so
it has. There are probably few men living whose
histories will exhibit web of 80 strikingly varied
and contrasted coIors, who have been so high and
so low as the ex-President. Starting in life with a
name wholly obscure and unknown, he has rem
dered it familiar in all corners Of the world. Com
mencing as a royalist, he has been republican a
federist, and centralist, democrat and an aris-
tocrat, as the emergencies of the moment seemed
to require. In 1921 he assisted in expeng the
royalists from Vera Cruz, and obtained the COM
mand of the city under Iturbde. In 1922 he was
deposed, and began war against his late superior,
and succeeded in overthrowing him. Fooled in
his personal aims by the final results of this move
ment, he retired, but only to foment another. In
1928 he supported Guerrero against Pedrazza, and
was made commander of the army. In 1880 he
went over to the side of Pedrazza, fought and
conquered his former friends, and intrigued for the
presidency. In 1888 he obtained the Office he
sought, and was recognised as President Thus
far his life had been successful-his objects gained
Ibis ends secured. The changes he made invari-
ably redounded to his benefit. The battles he
fought were always won. The party he favored
were sure of success. His political tergiversations
were inexcusable, but they gilded by victory.
His treacheries were startling, but few cared to
talk about them. He was the favorite of the army
and the army sovereign. In 1885 the reform
party, under the leadership of Lacatecos proclaim
ed against him, and four provinces joined the in
surrection Lacatecos was conquered, the reform
party annihiated by death exile, and Santa
Anna became dictator. His star still in the
ascendant, but it waned. The adhesion he
gave in to the central party, and the subsequent
abrogation of the liberal constitution of 1924, in
duced the American colonists III Texas to proclaim
their independence OF the results of that move
ment we need not speak.
The success which had hitherto invariably at
tended the military movements of Santa Anna
failed him in the efforts he made for their subju-
: CATION. At San Jacinto he was conquered and
captured.
Out of the gloom of defeat and captivity-ma
ve!ously preserved from death he richly merited
this political changeling emerged only to recov
er the supremacy he had lost and increase the fame
he had won. The mutilation he suffered at Vera
Cruz redounded to his good, and has since
remained the incontestable and incontroVertible
evidence of patriotism that never existed, and a
bravery that without oeing. In 1871, after a
series of incidents that would be deemed improba-
bic in Perez Forest, the Romance of the Cid,
he again reached the presidency and ruled imper-
fectly for four years. The revolution of Parades
hurried him from power, and the administration OF
Herrera made him fugitive. The American war
recalled him to rank and Importance Its close
drove him once more into exile Another revolu-
ton has paved the way for another recall, and
Santa Anna may tomorrow sit supreme over the
: fortunes Of Mexico Indeed, all the indications
tend to give assurance of his speedy recall. From
chihuahua to Yucatan, the sun shines only on the
" broken and dishonored fragments of a union on
States discovered, discordant, belligerent; on a
land rent with civil feuds " and distracted with
diverse counses. The demands of Guadalaare for
diminished taxation and removal of prohibitions
has been made by State after State city after city,
regiment after regiment. Gen. Uraga, the ac-
knowledged leader and head Of the revolution, is
a strong friend of Santa Annals; and Wool, who
commands Vera Cruz, is his known confdant.
But beyond all these things, his return is rendered
probable by the conviction of the Mexicans them
selves, that he is the only man whose hand can
educe order from out such chaos, and restore
public tranquility. That he is loved we do not
, pretend to say. Indeed, he is feared; but the
choice of two evils will reseat him in the Hall of the
: Montezumas.
Upon the whole, we rejoice at it. Santa Anna
man possessed Of some positive traits and quail
tiles, He may be liar, rascal, gambler, an
+ assassin-he may be whatever his enemies pro-
claim him to be-and we are inclined to think
that they are not far from the truth But he al
> lows one else to ROBBIE strings up all other
: murderers and assasssns. He rules by means that
are reprehensbe for ends that selfish, through
tools that are dyed in rascaty; but he maintains
S government, makes and treaties, quells re-
VOLTS and sives to the nation nationality she has
novor 1oOaeoesad undar othar rnlars Our own in