Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-04-10

| son, ana tnen invited us 10 DC seated. Ills
conversation was addressed principally to
Gen. Mosquera, who listened with polite at
tention, though with frequent frank dissent,
stating that he was thorough Democrat in
principle and in practice; and he seemed to
express his sentiments with great frankness.
As I had addressed him in Spanish, and
mentioned the fact of my having met him
in Havana, he probably mistook me for a
Cuban, and I was afterwards informed that
he expressed regret on learning that was
All American, that he had spoken so freely
of the United States As he only expressed
political sentiments which his whole public
career has exhibited to the world, had no
ground for i'll feeling, and believe that am
not infringing upon the rules of geutlemanly
courtesy in giving your readers short
sketch ofhis remarks.
His first inquiry, after the outer bark of
conversation had worn off, was in reference
to the news from Europe, and he expressed
the opinion that the present hopes of peace
were fallacious. He spoke of the contend
ing parties with what seemed to me good
judgment, and remarked that Russia did not
feel the weight of the war to the same ex-
tent as do the allies in thesr resources, al
though the sacrifice of life and treasure had
been immense on both sides. He asked if
the people of the United States continued to
entertain greater sympathy for Russia than
for the allies, and remarked that it was
strange to see democracy and autocracy thus
sympathizing. The conversation soon turned
to Mexico, and he spoke of his own career
at some length. He entered the Spanish
army as a cadet in 1910, at the age of four
teen, and served for ten years, during which
time the republican forces under Guadalupe
Victoria and Guerrero were entirely crushed.
He had risen in rank and attained some dis
tinction, when in 1921 he joined the organi-
zation that proclaimed the Plain tie Lg"ela,
the avowed object of which was to overthrow
the Spanish colonial government and place
some European prince upon the independent
throne of Mexico.
The plan was sworn to on Christmas eve
of 1921, and Iturbide went to the West to
pronounce, and he to the South to give the
echo. The movement was completely sue--
cessful, and in nine months the Spanish for
ces, numbering eighty thousand men, were
annihilated. He stated that he was led to
join this movement by his love for his coun-
try and the persuasion of his friends, who
urged him to it, saying that he would be-
come the Washington of Mexico, and estab-
lish the happiness of his native land. When
Iturbidc crowned himself, to the surprise of
many, if not all of those who had supported
him, he was disappointed and chagrined.-
His friends again came to him, said that he
was the hope Of Mexico, and again insisted
that he was to be her Washington. The
plan of federal Union was formed, and he
determined to lead the forces of the nation
in its support. 81 was young then," said
he, ''and the mistake I made was the error
of my youth, and not of my heart" He
triumphed, and an attempt was made to form
a confederation of States after the manner
of the United States. "But," said he,
"Mexico has been striving to initiate the fed
eral system without knowing what federation
is, and the attempt has always been a vain
one The old Spanish system, which was
species of confederated provinces, forming
the Vice Royalty of New Spain, was aban-
doned, and each State endeavored to become
an independent sovereignty. Everything
was turned into little congresses congress-
tos,) and all wanted place and pay, and mile
age and money"
He went or to say that this had been one
of the great causes of the difficulties and dis
sensions of Mexico. They wanted to initiate
the United States, without rejecting what
the United States had DONE There thirteen
separate colonies had joined in federal Un-
ion to form unity, while the unity of Mcxi-
co was destroyed in order to make many
petty nations. The American colonies ten.
ded toward common centre, and created
strength, for union is strength, while the
several independencies Of Mexico diverged
from the common centre, and this brought
division and weakness The result was that
when foreign enemy invaded Mexico, and
when he had expected that even the old wo-
men and little children would rush to repel
the foe, he found that the national feeling
was dead. The people of some of the States
said they would wait till the Yankees came
to their own doors, and then they would re-
pei him; others would send to the federal
government only a part of their contingent
of men and money, while many Mexicans
were found fighting in the American ranks.
"Thus," said he, "Mexico, country pos
sessing eight millions Of people, and rich in
wealth and material resources, was conquer
ed, to her reproach and shame. Thus has
the negro, Alvarez, come into notoriety."
He stated that when the country was de-
termined to have peace at any price, and re-
fused to contribute to sustain the war, he
determined to leave it, for he would sign to
no peace, nor would he remain to witness
the degradation of Mexico. He was anima-
ted with the same spirit as the Carthagen-
ians of old, who swore their children upon
the altars of their gods to an eternal enemity
to Rome. "The United States is the Rome
of ancient and the Russia of modern days.
They are the enemies of our country, reli-
gion and our race, and will swallow up and
eat out our citizens, as they have in Calfor-
mia and New Mexico. These provinces were