The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-10-18

gratifed TO learn that his friends in England hove
come forward with such arrangements "a will, In
oil probability, enable him to go on.
The Fnsc OF MexAco-The Course OF SAINTS Anna
the Dictator.
The Mexican revolution, und er the guidance
of Alvarez, lie gradually growing into inpor-
lance. Com ng events are throwing their thick
shadows over Santa. Anna, the present head Of
the government Of Mexico, and over his for
tunes. He is destined to soon 60 on his " ira
wells" again as thefecetious Charles II. was went
to charac, erie the abdications of despots. 1t
much of our news and many of our contcmeo-
raries are TO be believed, not only the prestige
but the power Of Santa Anna is gone. 1t is nov
less than two years since he returned from exile
to resume once more the helm Of State, from
which he had go often been forcibly expelled
That he is an unskilful pilot in State affairs
must be admitted BY ALL for he has never re-
treved the fortunes Of his country, nor his own
popularity when once lost. Although ten times
the supreme executive officer of Mexico, his
tenure of office has in nesrly every instance been
only for q few months, and never for two years
his power has always been ephemeral, his act.
puerile, and his expulsion by hostile violence
Events over which he had no control have al.
ways recalled him from Punishment, aud events
which he was mainly instrumental in producing
have forced him back into. exile. He has been
the creature and sport of fortune, the natural
offspring Of country alternately in revolution
and repose, rising and falling with every polti-
cal billow, drifting into port On some favorable
breeze, or driven to sea by seine storm Of his
own creating
1t might reasonably be supposed that, as the
head Of party, he has been elevated and de-
pressed witk his friends; but the truth is, lie
never had party, and very few personal adj
herents. Joining every party in turn, or
caressing every prominent man as suited his
purpose, he has evinced his indifference to
every principle Or policy. He has been in
and of monarchy; he has been for reforms the
mos. radical. and again for conservative doc
trines the most Castilicn; he has been for the
government of the army, the government Of the
States, the government Of the people, and the
government Of a dictator. He has been
friend Of the church party, TO change agaii
into an advocate for seque.trsting its enormous
wealth-f,deralist, centralist, puro, moderado,
polka, monarchi.t-for every principle, for
every cry, for every man, and nothing long for
anything. With such versatility in his opin.
ions, he ought at least to be liberal in his judg
ment and censure Of others who presume to
differ with him. But, on the contrary, he is
tha MT M Of r,larc and tbo of
acting Of masters. He distrusts all who doubt
the infallbili'y Of his convictions, and, without
any regard for services, however long tried Or
meritorious, he imprisons or exiles by scores
1t cannot, therefore, be surprising that his
friends are few, and his friendship questioned
by all Had there ever been any kind of party
acting in concert, Santa Anna could not go
often have imposed on his countrymen. Party
lines, however, on important principles. have
never been drawn in Mexico; but factions with
various shades Of opinion have always pre-
vailed. In such state Of aft airs, an unpopular
man may often be in the ascendant, but with
out the power, unless by tie aid of great
talents, to retain bis eievation--and such has
been the fortune or misfortune Of Santa Anna
That our estimate of the character Of this
man is not hastily formed, can easily be tested
by referring to all the important events in lis
life. But, as this catalogue would be too long,
and of doubtful interest, the most prominent for
several years past will suffice He was in exile
on the breaking out Of the war with the United
States, where he was forced to remain until
every other general was vanquished by the
American arms. II was then only that Presi-
dent Polk permitted his return to Mexico, for
the purpose of making treaty Of peace. But,
whenever he has rcgained power, his good for
tune always fails him; therefore, disregarding
the hopes he had held out to us, he took the
command ofthe army of San Luis, which others
without his assistance had raised and equipped.
With that army he was defeated at Buena Vista.
Immediately he left II in haste and disgust to
return to the capital Again he refused all pa
cifc oyertures as again the energy of others
had restored the ranks and disc pline Of the army
with which he might defend the heights of Cerro
Gordo. Defeated once more, and deserving, a.
usual, his beaten troops, he fed alone across the
country to Orisava, where he remained In des
pair until another army had been collected for
him with which to protect the city Of Mexico
bcspacity characterised all his acts, both mill
taIy and civil, in the campaign OF the valley,
where once more h. fed. and finally left the
country under an American escort. He might
on entering, have secured peace aud favorable
treaty but he preferred war, aud thereby
sroogcd his country. Grave charges for mis-
conduct were preferred against him, aud he vas