The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-08-18
HISTORY OF MEXICO.
BY Eber Cole Byam.
Part XVI.

leo that Mr.. Roosevelt had started
revolution and was marching on
Washington with an army of ten
thousand men, nobody there thought
1t at all strange. To the average
Mexican the electoral contest was
really between Mr.. Roosevelt and Mr..
Wilson, and few Mexican politicians
can understand the peculiar Anglo
Saxon viewpoint that accepts electoral
defeat without fight. AS matter of
fact, they consider the candidate who
has not the courage to start a revolu-
tion when defeated in an election, as
not worthy of support.
1t readily may be seen from the fore
going that, with the defeated Office
seekers always in the field, an end
less condition of disorder is bound to
persist. The "outs" are always fight
ing the 'ins," and any lull in fighting
is but a truce due to the temporary
exhaustion of the "outs."
Another factor of prime Importance
and one that has been a great con-
tributing cause of nearly all the revo-
lutions in Mexico, is that, as each
revolutionary party gains the power,
it becomes more or less moderate,
and, as a consequence, the more
radical elements never fail to declare
their erstwhile companions to be
traitors, and proceed to drive them
out. Any resort to armed resistance
is sure to attract the lawless element
to the banner of revolt, and, as this
,1c Il, III
vicious, the results are obvious.
The Murderous HidaIgo.
The first Mexican revolution was an
echo of the Napoleonic wars of
Europe. Spain found itself invaded
and it's King deposed. With this
breakdown of authority came an ebul-
lition of political excitement in Mex
leo with a consequent weakening of
respect for authority. In 1910 con-
spiracy was formed to seize the
wealth of the Spanish residents, and
kill or drive them from the country
This conspiracy was headed by a
priest named Hidalgo, whose insub-
ordination previously had compelled
the ecclesiastical authorities to dis
cipline him. Hidalgos forces con-
sisted of some few Creoles and Span
iards, leading a host of undisciplined
Indians, variously armed, who were
excited to disorder by Hidalgo with
promise of pillage, and the state
ment that they were going to defend
the King.
Hidalgo's first measure was to open
ioil in Dn1nrpC rn1no CinO
seventy criminals (not political prison
ers), and next he incarcerated in
their stead the respectable members
of the community whose valuables he
appropriated. Followed by the mob.
hungry for pillage, Hidalgo proceeded
to San Miguel, where he released
more prisoners from the Jail and shut
up the Spanish residents, while the
mob sacked their homes.
This sudden burst of anarchica
fury found the viceregal government
utterly unprepared, and on the 28tf
day of September Hidalgo appeared
in Guanajuato at the head of mol
of about twenty thousand-mostly
Indians Here Hidalgo demanded the
unconditional surrender of the Span
iards and their properties. AS sur
render meant mutilation and butcher!
the Spaniards naturally refused. Thu
small military force in Guanajuatt
could do no more than fortify itsel
in a large warehouse, where numbe
of civilians also took refuge. Hidalg'
attacked with his Indians and thu
place was stormed and the inmates
butchered at his orders. The city wa
then delivered over to the mob VIII
only ceased sacking it when there wa
nothing left to steal or destroy. Her
the criminals were also released, and
with the town loafers, joined in tn
pillage. From here the Indians begal
to desert and return to their home
laden with booty, their places bein
filled by new accessions.
The government forces we're SINAI
and scattered and without the neces
sary equipment. This permitted tn
fires of revolt to spread, and, wit
the encouragement to pillage, tn
baser elements fiocked to the standar
of any rascal possessing the forcefu
ness necessary to be leader. Ha
f11QdlSO u0p0Iu0u 1OI SuppOIL Ou III
more respectable elements of tn
population, and prohibited pillage, h
never would have mustered CO
porals guard.
Butchery and MutiIation Mark
revolution"
Having butchered and mutilate
over three hundred Spaniards
Guanajuato, Hidalgo moved to Vail;
dolid (now Morelia) where the usu;
proceeding of freeing the criminal
and sacking the city took place.
From Valladolid Hildalgo set OF
for Mexico City, and, although he d.
feated force sent against him, seem
not to have dared to complete h
project. Returning to Valladolid b
ordered some eighty-nine Spaniard
beheaded.
Hidalgo was now frankly in retref
with murderous mob at his heels, fes
of the Kings vengeance giving wing
to their feet. In Guanajuato som
two hundred and forty-seven Spal
;ardc had hean held prisoner. and. o