had what far outweighed it genius—which, when the summons came, transformed the benign cura into the greatest and most successful military leader among the insurgents, at least till Iturbide joined them. He revived an almost extinct cause, found for it a new cradle in the mountains of Mizteca, laying at its feet the whole rich south; he raised it to the greatest height attained ere came the end, crowning his work with the declaration of absolute independence from Spain, and the formation of a true republican government. His task was done. From that moment his star declined, to set within a year.
Even during this gloomy period, that restless energy reverberating in his thunder voice did not fail him; that determined valor and serenity sustained him to the last. Modest as he was astute and reserved, he yielded once only in any marked degree to ambition, in creating himself generalissimo, with a congress to do his bidding; yet it was a justifiable effort, for the cause needed then one firm controlling hand. He yielded also to a prevalent vice around him, in breaking his vows of continence; but in all beside he was most exemplary. During his period of decline he remained true to the self-assumed appellation, 'servant of the nation,' zealously serving a wilful and exacting congress which doomed to comparative inaction its most brilliant soldier.[1] He shines
- ↑ His praise has been spoken and sung time and again on the national feast day, and in articles and books. Among the earliest to offer his tribute is Bustamante, who devotes a special Elogio Historico, Mex. 1822, 1-32, ending with an ode. Pedraza, Oracion, 8, attests his calmness and intrepidity: Pap. Var., civ. pt xi., xlii. pt iii. Lancaster Jones, Oracion, 5, sees a prodigy of genius. Arroniz, Biog. Mex., 244-9, and Gallo, Hombres Ilustres, iv. 7-171, join in according him the second place among revolutionary heroes. See also, besides the main authorities already referred to, Arrangoiz, Mej., i v 284-90; Mendíbil, Resúmen Hist., 237-8; Peña, Areng. Civic., 21-3; Pap. Var., cxlix. pt vi.; Carriedo, Estud. Oaj., ii. 25-6. The only property left by Morelos, a house at Valladolid, was confiscated. In later years the site was bought by his sister, to whom he and his brother, Nicolás, had assigned the maternal patrimony in 1808. He nevertheless managed to set aside something for his unrecognized family of marked Indian blood, of whom Juan Nepomuceno Almonte had already been sent to the United States to be educated, whence he returns to take a prominent place in the republic, rising in 1863-4 to be regent for the chosen emperor Maximilian, thus overthrowing in great measure the plans of his father. Bustamante alludes to him
