Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1867-08-09

Last week We gave sketch OF the life ofa
noble Irish, American patriot and soldier.
Gen. Thomas Francis Meagher; from the pen
Of member of the bar in Iowa. This week
| We give q short sketch from the Chicago Re.
publican, of Santa Anna, long singularly
unlucky subject Of capricious fortune, and
lately reported, tho falsely it seems, to have
been executed at sisal, Mexico-Ea
Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, was born
| at Jalapa, February %, 1883, and was con.
sequently 50 years Of age at the time Of his
death. He came into public notice at an ear
ly age, taking part in the Mexican war Of in-
dependence in 1871 at the age of 23 years.
Since that time he has filled large and more
prominent place ia Mexican history than any
other individual, having at times been COM
mander-in-chief Of thc Mexican armies, pres
ilcnt of lhe Republic, Dictator, and an exile.
In 1922, having driven tie royalists out Of
Vera Cruz, he was arpoin ed, at the age of "a
to command that city but was soon deposed
by Iurbde, who proclaimed himself Emperor.
Raising the banner OF the republic in Vera
Cruz, he succeeded IN he f lowing year in
securing the downfall Of The empire. In 1923
he engaged in revolt against Pedraza, who
had been elected President hy majority Of
electoral votes, taking the side Of Guerrero,
who finally Obtained control Of The govern
ment, He undoubtedly commanded the Mex
lean forces for longer period than any other
man since the foundation Of The Ropublic.-'.
In 1929 he defeated The SpauiArls under Bar
radas at Tampica and vas then made Minis
ter OF War and co:nmauder-in,c ,chief. Guerre.l
70 continuing to exercise dictatorial powers,
Santa Anna combined with BUstamcnta TO
overthrow him, which was accomplished, and
the Ia ter was made President In 1892, he
headed another insurrection in favor Of his
old enemy Pedraza, which proved successful.
In 1883, he was chosen President FOR the first
time hat soon had TO confront an insurrec-
ton uader Arisia, which was subdued. He
now left the Federal party of wheh he had
been the head, and put himself at the head Of
the Centralists. A new revolt Of four provin-
ces soon broke out, bat in May, 1885, he de-
feated the insurgents near Zacatecas after
growth of dictatorial power was rapid, the
Stale Legislatures having been abolished, but
o revolt broke out in Texas, which resulted in
the independence Of that State. During this
war, the massacres OF the Alomo, at San An
tonic, and of Goliad occurred by his order,
bringing disgrace on.his mama. lie was 6nal-
ly defeated and captured by Houston at San
Jacnto. During his captivity he made q
treaty by which the Independence of Texas
was acknowledged, but this was not recog-
nizod by the Mexicans. In the following
year, having been released, he return.
ed TO Mexico, but was coldly received. !.
and in the Presidential election which follow
ed received only two out Of sixty y-nine elec.
toral votes. After this he retired to private
life, but soon afterwari, the French having
attacked the castle OF San Juan de Ulloa, he
offered his services for its defense, which he
accomplished successfully. Il was during
this battle that he received which rendered
the amputatlon Of one Of his legs necessary.
He soon rose to such favor that from 1s41 to "A
be was virtual dictator, with the title Of Pro.
visional President, and in the latter year was
elected Constitutional President. hut before
the end Of the year he was deposed by g new
revolution, taken prisoner, aud in January,
fSf5 banished for ten years, taking I'd his
residence in Cuba. The difficulties Of the .
country increasing in consequence O. the war
with the United States he was recalled. the
United States Government soon had reason to
perceive its mistake in sEpposing that lie fa- Z
vored the independence OF Texas, which he
had recognized while q prisoner ss he be-
came Generalissimo Of the Mexican army, and
was able 10 carry on war with more vigor
than had before been exhibited. Being at last
defeated however, and the Mexican Capital
captured by Gen. Scott, he finally asked per- 1
mission TO leave the country, which was gram.
ted, and he went 70 Jamaica. The anarchicalb
state Of affairs in Mexico continuing, he was 8
invited to RETURN in 1853, and was received
with much enthusiasm. He was soon appoin-l
ted President again, but soon managed "a
bring about a revolution OF the Government
by which he was made President FOR life, with
a royal title and the right to name his sna-y
cessor. X revolution, uudeI The lead Of Alva-,
rez, followed, and after two years he was.
compelled TO sign an unconditional abdication !,
in 1o55i and LEFT Mexico ior the third time,
going to Havana. He Afterwards spent two a
years st Turbaco, ia Yenzueia, but finally I
settled on the island Of st. Thomas, where he
remained until year ago. when the disturb
ances in Mexico again induced him 10 attempt
to reach that country. lie evidently antici-a
pated the support of the United States Cow !.
ernment, but in this he was disappointed, and,
has spent the last few months in the vicinity
Of New York, preparing for his enterprise
which has come to so sudden and disas.erous
termination. lie was the possessor Of large :
estates at Vera Cruz and elsewhere, which 4
will PROBABLY be taken possession Of BY the
Mexican Government. He was, undoubtedly
the most willy of Mexican politicians, but often
defeated his own ends. Few men of modern
times have suffered 50 many vicissitudes.
a J.