The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-07-15
MEX|CO'SLONC STRUGGLE FOR
 INDEPENDENCE

It will be ninety-four years next Fri day since Augustin de Iturbide was crowned Emperor of Mexico, and thus set up the first of the many indepen- dent governments under which the Mexicans have waged their long and bloody struggle for freedom. The fight for freedom from the Spanish yoke, commenced in 1910, reached its triumphant conclusion when General Iturbide and his ragged army of pa triots entered the City of Mexico. The victors decided in favor of a monarchi- cal form of government, and offered the crown of the kingdom to the royal house of Spain. The latter, enter taining hopes of recovering the coun- try, refused the offer, and Iturbide was elected Emperor, assuming the title of Augustin I.
 It was real empire over which Au- gustin ruled briefly, for it included not only the territory of the Mexico of to-day, but also the states of Cali fornia, Arizona, New Mexico. Texas, Nevada, Utah and part of Colorado, and the whole of Central America as far south as Panama. Iturbide had been on his throne but few months when Santa. Ana, the stormy petrel of Mexico, raised the standard of re- volt and declared the republic. In 1928 the empire fell, Augustin abdi- cated. the Central American states set up independent governments, and provisional government was formed. Iturbide fled from the country he had freed, but in 1924 he returned with the hope of starting counter-revolu- ton ,was captured and shot In 1924 General Guadalupe victo- ria became. the first of the three score or more presidents, ,dictators and ''ehiefs'' who have since ruled over republican Mexico. Victoria's real name was Manuel Felix Fernandez, but he substituted Guadalupe victo- ria" for his legitimate patronymic to commemorate a victory over the Span iards. He was the associate of Itur- mide in the revolution. but was cast into prison when his former chief be- came emperor. He escaped and as- sisted in the overthrow of the em- pire Victoria completed his term of office on April 1, 1929, and then re- tired to private life, and died peace fully in bed in 1S43. His greatest achievement as president was the abo- lition of slavery, but he left his un- happy countrymen the victims of a Rfeudal system of serfdom which in many respects has been worse than slavery.
 Soon after the conclusion of Victo- ria's administration Spain sent an ar my to attempt to retake her lost em- pire. A strong force was landed at Tampico, but the Spaniards were com pletely routed and were forced to sur- render. During the war with Spain President Vicente Guerrero was given supreme powers, but after the victory he was unwilling to relinquish the dic- tatorship, and another revolution was started. /. Bustamente. the vice presi- dent, assumed the government, while Guerrero collected an army and estab- lished a capital at Valladolid. He was captured and shot in 1892. Pres ident Anastasio Bustamente held the office until 1892, when he was succeed ed by Pedraza. General Santa Ana; who had led insurrection after insur- rection, at last gained the presidency in 1888. Three years later the Texans revolted, and Santa Ana led an army against them. After slaughtering the garrison of the Alamo he was defeated and taken prisoner by the Texans. and was deposed from the presidency. He returned to Mexico in 1897 and re- stunned control> of affairs, although the Federalists, of which party he was the leader, was constantly embroiled with the Centralists. During this period oi anarchy Nicholas Bravo was twice president, but Santa Ana was the real
 chief most of the time until 1S44, when L.
 At this as well as later periods there
 were several presidents and leaders
 who cannot be mentioned in so brief a recital of Mexico's turbulent history I Canalizo succeeded Santa Ana for a
 short time, and then came Herrera Iwho was president in 1845. when the difficulties with the United States were
 reaching a critical point. Herrera
 was anxious for peace. but his country.
 men did not share this desire, so he
 was deposed and General Paredas Header of the war party, succeeded Fhim In the meantime Santa Ana who had fled to Cuba, plotted with the United States to betray his country He was sent back to Mexico by con
 nivance of the United States authori Ities, but he had no sooner set foo on his native soil than he placed him self at the head of the army and wa, Iagain made provisional president. De
 feated in battle with the invaders, h' was deposed, and fled to Jamaica.
 Don Mariana Arista became presi dent in 1850, and in 1852 was succeed ed by Don Juan Cebellos. The follow
 ing year Santa Ana returned to Mex
 ico and was received with great popu
 lar enthusiasm and appointed presi d dent for one year. He used his pow CT to have himself declared presiden for life, but a revolution led by Gen
 Alvarez forced his abdication, and il
 1855 he Again became an exile.
 ii Gen. Ygnacio Comonfort then seize,
 the reins of government, Alvarez hay
 ing voluntarily retired, but he sool faced a revolution fomented by tn conservative and church party. Af
 ter a victorious battle he retaliate,
 upon the clergy by coniscating al [ church property. The clergy con
 tinued to foster the spirit of rebellion
 and in 1858 Comonfort again took tn
 field, after appointing Benito Juare
 provisional president, Comonfort foun
 the army as we'll as the church agains him. and left the country, Juarez be } coming the head of the Liberal party } while Gen. Zuloaga was appointed pro : visional president by the clericals. Du ring the long civil war which follow l ed Zuloaga, Miramon and rDegollad } Dheld despotic sway in the City. of Mex l ico, while Juarez, whose governmen l had been recognized by the Unite