Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1867-01-05
MISCELLANY.
Don AgustIn C. Iturblde.
From the New York World. I


Emperor of Mexico. He arrived from
Paris only about two weeks ago, and
was conveyed to the hotel while suffer
ing accutely from the disease which
finally terminated his hfe-Bright's
disease of the kidneys His remains
were taken to Philadelphia by his
brother, Don Angel Iturbide, and the
funeral took place there on Wednesday.
Don AgustIn WAS slightly defOrmed
IN his person; but, differing from the
majority of those who are afflicted IN
this manner, was genial, Open-hearted
man. He was strongly addicted to
many of the characteristic Mexican
customs. including a free use both OF
''meycal' and of monte. lie was
possessed of q large amount of natural
wit, and was popular fayoIite IN Mex
eco. This is proved by the way III
which speech of his, illustrating the
maxim, I'm vino veritas, was received
by the populace at the opera house IL
the city of Mexico, only year and q
half or two years ago.
MaximiIian had ordered all the the
aires TO be thrown open freely to the
public on the night of the fete day of
the Emperor Iturbide. Late In the
evening Don Agustin and a party OF
friends entered the imperial box at the
opera house. They had all been dining
quite literally, AMI Don Agustin was Ia
a condition to speak his mind reck-
lessly. He was soon recognized by the
people, who cried ont ''Don Agustin
u speech a speech p In spite of the
circumstances of bis friends, Don Agus-
TIL arose and made his way to the front
of the box. Placing himself where he
could see and be seen by all, and silence
being gained, he thus Addressed his
cOuntrymen
''MexiCansl you want a speech from me,
chr We'll, you shall have one. You want
me to speak IS the con Of the hberator OF
Mexico, the immortal ItuTbide. Well he
was your chosen Emperor; be was the only
honest man In Mexico, aud 80 you snOt him!
In doing so you acted like the parcel Of rob-
bsTs and sssassins that YOU always were and
always viii be"
Whether the truth of these fatter-
ing remarks was felt by the audience,
or whether they we've IN too good hG-
NOR to be iTTitated by them, is not
known; but the speech Was received
with storm of applause and Outbursts
OF laughter, under cover of which Don
Augustin was carried of by his friends.
His father, Augustin ltuFbIde, En-
perOr OF Mexico, was born in VailadO-
nd de MicnOacan in 1884, and execut-
ed In Padilla, July IS, 1924, AT an
early age he entered the militia of his
native province, aud in 1910 became a
lieutenant IN the regular army. Iu the
same year, the revolution projected by
Don Miguel HidalgO, curate of Dol
dTes, broke out, and Iturbide was offer
ed the rank of Lieutenant General by
the insurgents, II he would Join them.
He refused the offer, and so exerted
himself in quelling the rebellion that
he was made commander of the prov
Inces of Guanajualo and Valladolid, as
well as the Army of the North. About
this time he was accused by some roy
ahsts of want of fidelity 10 the cause,
and, although he was acquitted OF the
charge by the NicerOys Callela and APP
Odaca, he was so disguised tnat he re-
signed. He subsequently, accepted the
command of an army, and marched
with it to Acapulco in 1910. lie there
matured a plan for emancipating Mex
ic from Spain, securing the independ-
euce OF his country, and extend
ing freedom to all orders of
people. 1t is however known as
the ''Iguala Plan" as it was first pro-
mulgated from place OF that name. It
was eminently and entirely successful.
In the account of his political life by
himself, be says of 1t: ~ ithout blood
shed, coufagratiOn, robbeTies or depre-
dations, say, without even misfortune,
q single Sigh, or tear, my country was
rendered happy. and from a colony
transformed into great, independent
empire" He acted most generously
toward all who did not wish to support
him, and this led many to think he was
acting IN concert with loyal troops. He
then continued his march to Queretaro,
and was Joined by Guadalupe Victoria,
e devoted friend of liberty. Meanwhile
the VIceroy- General, Don Juan O'Don-
oiu. arrived from Spain, and finding
the whole country with Iturbide, con-
cluded a treaty with him at Cordova,
August II, 1921, according to the plan
of Iguala. By this treaty .he gates OF
the capital were opened to Iturblde,
and on the 9th CT September he enter
ed the City of Mexico. On the same
day the iunta spoken Of in the ''plan
was formed, and he entered upon his
official duties. Bat the new govern
ment did not prosper. Iturbide COM
plained that the representation was not
fairly distributed, and the Congress
thought he was taking too much power
into his own hands. Toward April,
1922, symptoms of an approaching an
archy became apparent. On the night
OF Nav 18th, the people and garrison OF
Mexico simultaneously proclaimed ltur'
bide Emperor.
He SAYS "Lorg I'VE Agustin the First
was the universal cry that astonished
and appalled, me-" He drew up a proc
lamatiOn, which was circulated In the
morning, showing what steps should bt
taken and what should be done. The
regency and the army gave in their adj
hesion, and he received seventy-foul
out of ninety-four votes of the Con
eress. On the both of October he dis
solved the Congress and established 1
iunta. After q short time various rev
olutiOns broke ont, and Santa Anna anC
Echavarri formed a union to re-estsb
ltsh the Congress dissolved by Iturbide
Detection now became general among
the officers Of the army and IN tn,
provinces, Iturbide. finding his Gauss
hopeless, called Congress together, ant
on March 20, 1923 rendered his resig
nation, and requested permission T.