El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-02-19

and from its mint and armories they
provided themselves with money and
arms.
Church Backs Spain.
SPANS chief weapon of opposition
to the revolution at first was the
church. The priests preached against
Hidalgo and the bishop of Michoacan
communicated him. He took Valla-
dolid the seat of the bishopric, and
compelled the clergy to raise the edict
of communication. Neither prieStly
fulminations nor the futile essays of
the Spanish army served to check the
triumphant progress of Hidalgo and his
forces toward the city of Mexico. In
a few weeks Hidalgo had proceeded as
far as Monte de las Cruces, 25 miles
from the capital. Venegas. the vice
roy, raised an army of 5000 veteran
troops. They gave battle TO Hidalgo
and his army. which by this time had
swelled to 1000 men, The Spaniards
were crushed by force of numbers
''Mueran los Gachupines," or Death
to the Spaniards," was the favorite
rallying cry of the revolutionists- Hi
dalgo was no military genius, and he
could not appreciate the advantage
which would have come to his cause
had he throkn his army directly into
the city of Mexico, which was poorly
defended, after his victory at Monte
de las Cruces. He contented himself
with sending the viceroy a summons
to surrender, which was disregarded.
Then he retreated to the north. That
was the turning point in his fortunes
His army suffered woeful losses in
pitched battle against another Spanish
army of 10000.
GuadaIajara RalIying Point
Hidalgo concentrated his followers
at Guadalajara. Here he organized a
form of government with himself at the
head, and issued DEGREES abolishing
slavery and stamp duties. The final
disaster came on January 16, 1911. when
the patriot army was Overwhelmingly
defeated and finally dispersed at
Puente de Calderon. HidaIgo and AL
lende fled. Their purpose was TO
cross the border into the United States.
The Spaniards pursued them so closely
that they were unable TO gain their
destination. In March they were over
taken in the state of Coahuila- First
they were imprisoned in Monclova, and
later transferred to Chihuahua. Hi
dalgos room, in a building in Chihua-
hua now used as a mint, may be seen
there.
Hidalgo could hope for no mercy from
his captors, and he asked none. The
court martial which condemned him TO
death was. merely a form With AL
lende and two other of his officers he
was shot on the morning of July 80,
1911. 1t was a barbarous proceeding.
Hidalgo, although he fell at the first
discharge, was not instantly killed.
The soldiers placed the muzzles of their
guns TO his breast and head and fired
until life extinct. The priests
head was hacked off and, with those
who died with him, taken to Guiana
juatO. For 10 years ii depended from
an iron hook on the walls of the castle
Granaditis. "as a warning to criminals
who sacrifice themselves for the in
dependence of their country"
Honor to a Head.
When Mexico's independence was
won, Hidalgo's head was transferred
with great pomp to the cathedral in
the city of Mexico. For a time 1T
rested beneath the high altar, but lat
terly the crystal urn containing it was
removed to the chapel of San Jose in
cathedral building.
Spain's hold upon Mexico after Hi
dalgo's death was never so firm as it
had been before he marshalled his
I army. The struggle for independence
continued under Hidalgo's pupil and
friend. Jose Maria Morales. a priest and
| skilfui commander, and other lead
ers who followed Morales. Morales was
captured and executed in 1915. Spain
| in 1921 gave up the struggle TO re-
| tain Mexico.
Next Saturday = Mexican Govern
| ment