The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-09-16
Mexico's Washington

Mexico's Independence Day, which will be celebrated today in that storm tossed nation, perpetuates the mem ory of a revolution that failed. It is not Iturbide, who overthrow the Span ish power and led his victory-flushed troops into the City of Mexico in 1921, who is honored as the Washington of Mexico, but Don Miguel Hidalgo Cos tilla, the patriot who first flung to the Mexican breeze the banner of rebel lion, and who was executed by the Spaniards when his insurrection was suppressed. To the Mexican the name of Hidalgo is spoken with reverent awe, as that of a saint and martyr, who died in the attempt to establish that new dispensation of liberty for which Mexico is still struggling.
 Hidalgo was not a Mexican by birth, but a native of South America. In his youth he entered the priest hood, and in his earlier career in Mex ico he was known simply as q religi- ous leader of great requirements and exceptional purity of life. He con- scientiously fulfilled his ecclesiastical duties, and 1abored to promote lndus- try in the land of his adoption. His
  abled him to win a great influence over the native Indians, who looked upon him as little short of a god.
 While laboring as rector of the church of Dolores, in the province of Guanajuato, he introduced the silk worm into Mexico. and encouraged the culture of the vine. This con- flicted with the policy of the Spanish government, which was to discourage all manufactures or agriculture which could interfere withrthe revenue. The vines which Hidalgo and his associates had planted were destroyed. and the priest was reprimanded by his ecc1esi- astical superiors. who were under the thumb of the government.
 It was probably the wanton destruc- tion of his beloved vines which trans formed Hidalgo from the kindly, con- tented priest into the arch rebel of his time. He used his influence over the Indians to foment a genei al insurrec- tion, which was to take place on No- vember |, 1910. The plot having been disclosed by one of the conspirators Hidalgo was obliged to precipitate his m movements. On the sixteenth of Sep- tember, having been Joined by three officers of the garrison of Guana iuaro he raised the standard of revolt ard issued his famous call to arms, the Grito de Dolores. This declaration of freedom has been solemnly uttered by the President on the balcony of the National Palace every year since or the eve of Independence Day, although tho phrase, Death to the Spaniards,' was dropped some years ago.
 The eloquence of Hidalgo had T re- markable effect on the multitude who heard him, and when after his ora. tion he unfurled rude copy of the picture of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patroness of Mexico, the revolution as. sumed the character of a crusade With an army of 10000 men. mostly Indians, Hidalgo captured Guanaju. ato, his undisciplined soldiery commit ting terrible outrages which the | priestly leader could not stay.
 | After taking Valladolid and severa smaller places, the generalissimo ad vanced on the capital, but the exhaus ton of his ammunition supply com pelled retreat The government srs | pended the ordinary rules of war, ant the insurgents retaliated with the mos horrible atrocities. On one occasion Hidalgo is said to have ordered tho 1 massacre of 700 prisoners because the, were Europeans. After several defeat
 iidalgo went to the United States tc obtain arms and ammunition, but or his way he was captured by a form q friend, and was shot at Chihuahua or July 27, 1911. He was after his deatl regarded as a saint by the people, ant the place of his execution is still re 1 garded as a holy spot.