Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-11-15

fate of Toledo without gaining any
vantage ground, except to teach the
people the use of arms. up to 1921, at
which period the masses were ripe
for q change in their condition. In
that year Don Augustin Iturbide was,
through a compromise of parties, APP
pointed president and commander-in-
chief of the reyolutionists. The re-
volt was so general that few oppon-
ents could be found within the prov,
ince, outside of two or three garris-
oned seaport cities. Their old mas
ter, Spain, made but feeble effort to
regain these provinces, and in 1922
the United States congress formally
acknowledge the independence of
Mexico.
Iturbide soon became ambitious,
and on the 18th of March, 1922. his
partisans, backed by the soldiery,
conspired and proclaimed him en-
peror of Mexico, under the title of
Augustin l.. He Immediately proved a
tyrant and attempted to render HIM
self absolute. He dissolved congress
and cast 13 of the members into pris-
on. Thus was a revolution for lib
erty merged into despotism. Those
and other tyrannical acts eXaspera-
ted the people. Among the most bit
ter of his opponents was former adj
herent, Gen. Santa Anna, then. in
command of forces at Vera Cruz, who
declared armed hostility to the usurp-
err who, in March. 1928, was compelled
to relinquish his imperial diadem and
leave Mexico for Leghorn.
The following year Iturbide return
ed to Mexico in disguise, was arrested
and shot July 10. 1924, as traitor to
his country. After the departure of
Iturbide from Mexico, Gen. Guadalupe
Victoria, styled The Washington of
Mexico on account of his arduous
services to his country during her 10
years conflict for independence, was
chosen president, and Gen. Bravo
vice president. a constitution SINH
lar in almost every respect. to that of
the United States was adopted, known
as 1.-The constitution of 1924 In 1926,
under Nictoria's administration. an
act was passed abolishing forever all
titles of nobility in Mexico, and also
decree prohibiting the importation
of slaves under penalty of confisca-
ton of vessels; the captain, owners
and purchaser of slaves to suffer 10
years imprisonment and the slaves
being declared free for the moment
they had landed on Mexican soil.
In 1928 an abortive revolt was at
tempted by Gen. Montana, backed by
Vice President Bravo, both of whom
were banished from the country.
The administration of Victoria was
60 ar
President Victoria's four year term
of office being about to expire, an
election for president, under the con-
situation, was in order, and Gomez
PedraZa and Vincent Guerrero enter
ed the presidential arena. Pedraza
was, without doubt, elected by two
electoral votes and Anstacia Busta-
mente. who ran on the same ticket,
was elected vice president; but Guer-
rero's partisans, one of whom was
Santa Anna, alleged that he had been
defeated through fraud. Santa Anna
threatened to sustain Guerrero by
force of arms and was suspended
from his command. He then secretly
organized a conspiracy, but soon
openly proclaimed his purpose. lie
secured the fealty of his regiment.
and hostilities were soon commenced
against the government troops, who
were commanded by Pedraza in per-
son. Pedraza was defeated within
the City of Mexico after a fearful
combat of three days, in which over
500 Mexicans were slain and over 1000
wounded and an immense amount of
property destroyed.
- l. \,
culinary conflict. but rested quietly
on his estate until made president by
military force and the declaration of
congress in January, 1929. Busta-
mente, who ran on the Pedraza tick
ct, was proclaimed vice president,
and Santa Anna was made secretary
of war. One of the first measures of
Guerrero's administration was a de-
cree expelling from Mexico all ma
tives of Spain. but this decree was
never fully enforced.
In the early part of the Guerrero
administration, Ferdinand VII of
Spain, who had in 1908 surrendered
the crown of his father to Joseph
Bonaparte, fitted out "a large squad
ron and captured Tampico. The
Mexicans, in very limited time rails
ed and equipped an army superior in
numbers, forced their old and most
bitter enemies to surrender, and made
stipulation to lay down their arms
and never more invade Mexican terri
tory. They were permitted to return
to Havana, from whence they had
embarked.
When the intelligence of the inva-
sion by Spain reached the City of
Mexico congress assembled, and un-
der the constitution passed resolu-
ton investing the president with die
tatorial powers. Under this invested
power President Guerrero, on the 18th
of September, 1929, issued decree