Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-04-03
1.-THE COUNTRY OF FISH"
ALSO THE LAND OF f0NSPTRA.
TORS AND RULERS.
Uneasy Is the Mexican Head that
Bears Political Honors, and
Shor: Its Life.

Especial Correspondence of the REcoRD-UNIoN.l
MEXICO, March &c, 1886.
The word Michoacan, in the language of
the Tarascians, who once occupied all this
portion of Mexico, means " the country of
fish The ancient Kingdom of Michoa-
can was independent of the Aztec kingdom
and hostile to It; but when Cortez, the
" Fair God" came, the territory was vol
UNFAIRLY surrendered to him by its mon
conquisiadores had possessed themselves of
the entire country, Michoacan formed a
province of New Spain, with an AlcaIdi in
charge Of affairs II became a State upon
the founding Of the republic, and to
its ancient name was added THAI
Of the noted reformer, Ocampo-its
name being now, III full Michoacan
de Ocampo Not only is this great State
one Of tie most important in southern
Mexico because of It's coffee-growng and
mining industries, but rejoice5 in the dis
tinction of being the birthplace Of Next
can Independence and. like Ohio, 1.-THE
IutlitI Vi IiCoiNtltS JGFtidl Oi iLc
most prominent revolutionary leaders were
born W lin her borders-Ocampo Men
doz~, the patriot priest; MoreloS, who
seized the torch of liberty when it fell from
the dying HidalgO's hand and kept it burn
ing brightly until he, too, was executed for
his devotion to the cause; and Iturbide,
who carried on the struggle for indepen-
adence to a successful termination, and was
also shot as a traitor by the people whom
he had liberated.
The houses wherein Morelos and Iiur-
bide were born, and where the former
lived for many years, are pointed out with
pride 10 every tourist who comes to Mo-
reia.
THE INDoMITABLE CURE,
To honor whom the name of the old town
was changed from Valladolid to that il
now bears-was born in this city, Of hum
Bile parentage, in 1863. He had consum-
ing thirst for knowledge, but was unable
to crafty it till late in life. He had scarcely
received his degrees, from the same college
where HidalGo was educated, when lin
1879. he assumed the leadership of the
revolutionary army after HidalgO's execu-
ton; and was himself shot in the follow
in, year, at the age of A. Courageous 10
the last, he expressed himself contented to
die since he had founded and left be-
IfAlb INV siiAA8tE-9 VI al 4t-LGEft4ltlEllt
government. When the last moment came
he knelt before his executioners and
prayed, Lord. If ! have done well, Thou
knowest it; if III, 10 Thy infinite mercy
commend my SOUL Then the yolIev was
fired and that great and generous spirit
passed into the Unknown.
The position of Augustine Iturbide in
the history of his country seems somewhat
anomalous. From his youth he had been
- he service Of the Spanish king, and was
Colonel in command of the forces that de-
feated Morales and his little army of uu-
drilled patriots in this same city of Valla-
dolid. About seven years later, when still
in command of the royal troops of the
West, the whole country was astouished
when he announced himself in favor of
Mexican Independence. The acute intelli-
gence of this remarkable man informed
him that Mexico must eventually gain her
freedom, and he resolved to cast his fortunes
with the party of the future, rather than
with the party of the past So. on the oath
of February, 1921, he proclaimed the cele-
brated
Z" PLAN OF IGUALA,"
$50 named from the town in which the
plan was formed), skillfully- woried
document which. while it assured every
man his liberty and declared independence
fessed a conditional loyalty 10 the mother
country, and was calculated to stir every
heart. He joined forces with Guerrero,
then the great revolutionary leader that
chieftain granted liurbide supreme COM
mand, and their combined forces marched
upon the Capital. The whole country re-
sponded men arose everywhere to swell
the ranks of the so called Army of the
Three ranteesp-Religion, Union and
Independence. Sixteen thousand strong
they entered the Capital amidst universal
rejOicings, beneath the tri-colored banner
symbolizing the three important triumphs
of their proclamation
Just at this juncture Senior Don Juan
O'Donoiu, the sixty-fourth and last rep
resentative of royalty sent from Spain
arrived at the City of Mexico as Viceroy
But he was compelled to recognize the
Plan of Igualas and Mexico's virtual indie
pendence. A provisional government was
formed, and regency appointed, consist
ing of lturbies, O'Donoiu and three titled
Spaniards and all went swimmingly, till
the people-not yet ready, it seems, for
republican form of government-upset it
one gusty March evening in 1922, when
drunken sergeant collected a disorderly
mob in the streets of the capital and
PROCLAIMED ITURBIDE EMPEROR.
From that accidental beginning the spark
was kindled, and three months later Iturbide
was solemnly crowned lin the great catbe-
dral where his bones lie now, taking the
title of Augustine |. His brief career
lasted only nine months. All the old rev.
olntionary chiefs, collecting under the ban
ner of Santa Ana, declared against the EN-
peror Augustine, who had already grown
as arbitrary as any of his Spanish prede-
cessors, and sent forth glowing lron,nci,t-
mielit0s in favor of republic. Seeing the
uselessnesS of resistance. Iturbile at once
offered his abdication, and was per
mitted to leave the country. being pro
vided with vessel to Italy, and allowed
an annuity OF SIS, GOO, in consideration of
past distinguished services, on condition
that he would never return. Bnt on the
following year the exiled Emperor impru-
IDENTITY ventured back II Mexico; and la
hardly set his foot upon his native soil
when he was arrested, hastily tried and
shot as traitor Thus fell another in the
long line of martyrs TO Mexican independ-
ence one who had done more than any
ther man toward the final severance from
despoiic Spain thus miserably persisted
the first Emperor since the brave Young
Aztec, GuatimotZin. The next and last
Emperor, MAMMALIAN, was put to death in
similar fashion; Santa Ana managed to
save his head, but died pauper the noble
patriot, Guerrero, was shot rs a traitor .
LeTdo de Teiada was driven INTO exile; in
short the fate of every Mexican ruler from
MonteZuma down, proves indeed that un
easy lies the head that wears n crown in
this uncertain country.
But now the Mexicans have Iturbides
portrait in Il conspicuous place of honor in
the nationa! palace, along wi h pictures of
Hidalgo, Juarez and other popular idols.
His birthplace in Morelia IA modest house
in the Gale de Iturbide a few steps frcm
the rear of the cathedral) bears this letter
ing, in Castiliano, on marble slab:
on THE 9TH OF SEPTEMBER, I7ss,
was born in this house
AUGUSrIN DE ITCRBIDE;
LIBEIAroR OF MENIco.
Several of the Emperors descendants re-
side in Morelia. His youngest daughter
an elderly spinster in the City of Mexico
insists on being called the Princess de
1tur5ide; and his grandson has lately re-
turred from Washington. where for several
seasons he has been favorite among the
bellies of the capital and numerous are the
silly young heads which have been re-
ported turned by the attention of this
so-Cailed Prince"