The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1867-07-18
gelerted Mlisttllanp,
SANTA ANNA.

| nohS autuVlleoo do W tlO IaIO VI Ohutd
Anna. Three days ago report made
him dead as his.ancestors. Doubts are
now expressed as to this, but without
anything definite to found them on. As
far as probabilities go, Santa Anna has
gone the way Of all flesh. IF not, so
much the worse for Mexico.
The career of this noted parsonage
has been as adventurous and romantic
as that of any hero in the entire dime
novel series, though for the last ten
years he has remained comparatively
quiet and secluded. Atomic Lopez de
Santa Anna was born in the Mexican
city of Jalapa, about sixty miles from
Vera Cruz, in 1898, and was consequent
tly sixtysnine years of age at the time of
his execution. His entry into political
life took place when he was barely more
than twenty years Of age. In 1920 he
was appointed Governor Of Vera Cruz,
and the following year became an actor
in the revolution which sprung from
the Spanish troubles, and which was
the occasion of the overthrow of Spanish
rule in Mexico 1turbide, who had been
a prominent leader in the interest of
Spain, revolted in the Spring of 1926,
aud proclaimed Mexico to be an indie.
pendent Government, proposing a new
constitution, in which. The Roman Catho.
lie religion was declared to be the ma
tional creed all distinctions founded on
estate or color were abolished, and the
form of Government declared to be con-
stitutional monarchy. The revolution
was successful, and on the 18th of May,
1922, Iturbide was proclaimed Emperor
under the title of Agustin I. His reign
lasted only ten months, wher Santa
Anna, who had PERSISTED in denying his
authority, and had beer despos,d from
the Governorship of Vera Cruz, made
himself master of the situation, and com.
PEELED Iturbide to abdicate March 20,
1923. The following year, it being
feared that he would make an attempt
to regain the throne, he was seized and
executed. Santa Anna was, or at least
professed to b., in favor of a pure re-
public, and got up a provisional gov
ernment. A Congress assembled, and a
Constitution similar in general FEATURES
to that of the United States was pro-
mulgated the country was divided into
nineteen States and four Territories /;
Gen. Victoria was elected President,
and Bravo was made Vice'President,
each for four years.
All this time Santa Anna remained
at the head of the party in power. In
1928, at new election, he favored the
election of General Guerrero for Presi-
dent instead of Pedrazza, his opponent,
but the latter gaining the election, a
plea of fraud was set up, and bloody
revolution followed, the result of which
was the overthrow of the Pedrazza
government the following year. As a
reward for his services, Santa Anna was
appointed Minister OF War and Com
mander in-Chief Of the Mexican Army
In payment for this confidence Santa
Anna intriguded with Gen. Bustamente
for the government, and in 1880 aus
other revolution took place, and Guer-
rero was desposed, and attempting to re-
gain his position was seized and shot
In 1882, Santa Anna, becoming disaf-
fected with Bustamente, again reyolted,
this time in favor of his old enemy, Pc
drazza. The following year he arrived
at the summit of his ambition in being
made President Of the Republic.
In this new position he found but
little peace. He was looked upon with
suspicion on account of his past record.
1t was thought that he aimed at the
restoration of the Imperial dignity and
functions, and would appropriate the
church property to pay the national
debt. The people disliked him, but the
army favored him. He now began to
develop his controlling idea of centrali,
cation, and used his utmost craft and
power to concentrate authority to the
executive head ofthe government. Rad
ical changes were made in the laws !;
the authority Of the Pope over the Mex
ican Church was abrogated, converts
were suppressed, and the compulsory
payment of tithes was declared illegal.
The disaffection grew, aud finally cul.
minated in two dangerous instructions,
which he succeeded in putting down.
In 1885 he overthrow the old constitu,
ton, converted the States into " Con.
solidated Republic" aud under the
mild title of President became absolute
Dictator. The several State Legisla-
lures were abolished, and their places
supplied by department councils, the
Governors of the States being immedi-
ately dependent upon the central au.
thority. Mexico proper, long harassed
by factious revolts aud exhausted with
fruitless wars, seemed glad of even the
prospect of quiet, though under such a
dictatorship ; but in the Department OF
Texas the tone of public feeling was
quite different A formidable rebellion
took place, and Santa Auna at the head
| OF his army, marched, ia 1886, into that