Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-02-21
ROCK REVIEW.

of Hubert Howe Bancroft VOL; All. hlstorN
of Mexico. Vol. ". lot-lo2l san ranelsco
A. L. Bancroft & Co.
Returning from our last notice of this
series in which we had to do with the
northwest coast, we come again on Mr.
Bancrofts admirable series to the history
of Mexico, resuming the story of romance,
adventure and conquest, with a glance at
the career of 1.-The Little Man from Cor
sica.' This is necessary that the readers
mind NAV be called to the political con-
d;tions of The world in the early part of the
nineteenth century, with the loss of the
American colonies to England and forever
assured; the imperial triumphs of Napoleon;
the declension of Spain to the lowest level
of importance the rising star of the
new Republic and the influence of
all these upon affairs in Mexico
Beginning next with the admins
tration of Viceroy Iturrigary, who arrived
from Spain in 1903 covered with military
honors. His rule was one of pecuation,
barter of offices and employments, and a
quick and rich lining of the private pocket
Of the Viceroy. The Kings of Spain never
themselves lived in more regal state than
did Iturrigary in Mexico, nor did any ruler
more numerically bleed subjects With
the slipping of the Spanish crown from
Spanish fingers came the deposal of Itur-
rgary, the rise of National Congress and
the appointment of Pedro Garibay to rule
temporarily in the name of Fernando
VII, irrespective of formal recognition of
either of the then contending Spanish
iuntas. HIS reign was brief and he was
but the mouthpiece of the Audiencia. The
pages of the volume before US are rich in
detail of the stormy events that trans
pired during those momentuous times
We may not pause to even refer TO desig
nate the chief But whatsoever peruses the
record preserved by these pages will have
the fancy -quickened and the taste gratified,
for it will be apparent that Mr.. Bancroft
has had no more congenial theme and has
at no time felt more certain of his ground.
1t will be noted too, that there is, with
greater clearneSs, greater finish in his style,
and that these latter pages of his magnifi
cent contribution to history present more
of ornate work than any that have pre-
ceded. The volume leads us on through
the tempeStuouS times from Garibay and
Llama, the incompetentS, and the revolt
tionary agitators of that era and the ro-
mantle claim of an Indian to the throne of
Mexico, up to the removal of Llama and
the organization of its Government by
the Audiencia. Out of the discords
in that body developed revolutionary
schemes, and III 1910 the war of Mexican
Independence opened. No more romantic
ana stirring historic pages relating to the
American continent are to be named, for
not even the story Of our revolution has in
it like clements of romance-it was of more
sober and lofty purpose. In Mexican revo-
lutions we deal with as much, if
not more of personal valor and intrigue
than of state schemes and governmental
throeS. The seventh chapter opens with
H,dalgo's triumphant march toward the
capital against Viceroy Fenegas. After
scenes of the most bloody description, and
deeds of wonderful heroism and daring on
the part of the insurgents, who, let it be re-
corded were the first on the Ameri
can continent to decree in faver of
human freedom for all men and to
make practical the declaration by freeing
the slaves held in Mexico, ami releasing all
persons of all cas:eS from the payment of
tributes. Hidalgo deserves to be remem-
bered in history as the first in power in the
new would to strike the shackles from the
limbs of bondmen. During 1910 and early
III 1911 the revolution rapidly spread,
and sustained in battle but few reverses.
These battles are graphically depicted by
Mr.. Bancroft, and dwelt upon III interest
ing detail Later in 1871 came serious
disasters to the revolutionists, the victories
of Cruz and Calleja and the capture and
death of the brave leader of the insurgents,
Hidalgo, who rose from the station Of an
humble priest to be the leader in high mil
itary enterprise, and whose genteness,
refinement and tenderness would
seem to have been the least of
al ol,
State as Mexico With his fall it was sup
posed died the cause of independence, but
it lived to blossom many time in suisse
quent years and to finally ripen into the
republic of the present. Hidalgo'S place
was filled by Morelos, gallant leader, full
of vigor man of invincible determine
ton and great magnetic influence, varying
success marked his career. The revolution
continued developing such men as Rayon,
and Doctor Cos, the insurgent Journalist
who cultivated the revolutionary spirit
with his pen. The fourteenth chapter
closes an account of that horror, the mas
sacre of Cuautla, which even at this day
men shudder when then mentioned
Chapter fifteen is devoted to further &C
counts of the war measures of the Vice
regal Government, andithe heroic'resistance
of the revolutionary party. In 1872 Rayon
was at the head of the Supreme Junta, and
chapter seventeen is devoted to the military
operations north of the capital and pro-
posals for peace. Chapter eighteen consid-
ers American affairs in Spain. The success
of Morelos in his third campaign opens the
nineteen chapter, the capture of Oajaca and
OriZaba, the superseding of Venegas, the
Viceroy, and the ascendancy OF his enemy,
Calleja From this on the spirited account
continues up to the declaration of national
independence in 1918, the fall of Mo
relos, and the reconquest of Oajaca.
The treatment of the year 1914 re-
lates mainly to constitutional changes.
In 1915 and 1916 W ere the the last cam
paigns of Calleja, graphically depicted in
the twentysixth chapter, and followed by
the ascendancy of Viceroy Apodaca, noted
for his vigorous measures and his successes
against the insurgents, whose cause at this
period was declining. The volume pro-
ceeds with detailed accounts of seiges, and
of disasters to the respective arms of the
contestants, constitutional changes, and
revolutionary programmes, up to the year
1921, at which point in the volume our
reading has progressed. At that period the
pacification of nearly all the territory of
New Spain had been accomplished, with
the revolutionists driven to the corners of
the Cerro de la Goleta and Mescala, and the
vi lltC lldu Dtcl
lost, owing to that unity of pur-
pose and action among its Chiefs
so essential in struggle against
royalty. The later chapters treat
of the first Congress and of the first EN-
peror in 1922 the union, by order of pop
ular vote, of Central America and Mexico
and the representation of the former in the
new Congress and the struggles therein
between the Bourbonists, the Iturbidists,
and the Republicans, resulting in the
isolation of Iturbide to imperial dignities
his dethronement and death, and the revolt
and defeat of Santa Ana. The volume will
be found to be the most exhaustive of any
historical work upon Mexico yet published,
while the fertilization of references and by
citations of authorities in its amplitude,
testifies to the laborious researches of the
interchangeable author.
NEW PITRIJCATIONS. ETC