CHAPTER XXXIII.
DETHRONEMENT AND DEATH OF ITURBIDE.
1822-1824.
Inauguration of the Order of Guadalupe — Padre Mier — Short-lived Harmony — Arrest of Deputies — Iturbide Attempts to Reorganize Congress — His Preposterous Claims — He Dissolves the Assembly — A Junta Instituyente Established — Appropriation of Spaniards' Money — Affairs at Vera Cruz — Santa Anna in Disgrace — Iturbide Visits Jalapa — Santa Anna Revolts — Republicanism Proclaimed — Progress of the Insurrection — Reverses — Influence of the Masonic Order — Change of Tactics — Plan of Casa Mata — Iturbide's Conciliatory Action — Congress Reinstalled — The Emperor Abdicates — His Departure from Mexico — His Return and Death.
When the ceremony was over, and the bishop of Puebla had delivered a sermon fulsomely flattering to the new monarch, and directly contradictory to his previous pastorals in eulogy of Fernando, Iturbide was conducted to the palace,[1] where largess was scattered to the assembled crowds. Festivities in celebration of the great event were kept up for three days. But pomp and solemnities, rich banquets and merry-making, could not clothe with majesty the soldier. The high-born looked upon their emperor as an upstart, and the others regarded him in no wise as a royal personage. By all, the high-sounding titles of his family and court were pronounced with a supercilious smile.
The display at the coronation was supplemented on the 13th of August by the pompous inauguration of the order of Guadalupe. This order had been created
- ↑ He had hitherto occupied the house of Moncada as his temporary palace.
