Victoria belonged to a respectable family of Durango. His real name was Juan Felix Fernandez; but during the war of independence he changed it, taking as his first that of Guadalupe, in honor of the virgin patroness of Mexico, and as his surname that of Victoria, to commemorate a victory over the Spaniards. He was tall, and though lame, capable of great endurance.[1] For many years he made only one meal in twenty-four or even thirty-six hours. Later he conformed with the usual hours of his countrymen in regard to meals, but ever continued to be most abstemious. He was an honest, unassuming citizen, amiable and kind-hearted, of undoubted courage, and a true lover of freedom. He has been treated fairly but by few. His virtues have been set down as faults, and his talents ignored.[2] But for his prudence and purity of character, his country's troubles during his administration would probably have been greater; and yet they were attributed to his supposed indolence and apathy. Because he would not uphold the schemes of those who wanted him to be their tool, they said that he lacked decision; those who could not induce him to take part in their resentments called him apathetic. His errors were ascribed to a refined malice. The truth is that base ambition never
- ↑ In campaigning he fared as his men did. It is related that once he was extremely ill with fever, and was conveyed on a bed into the battle-field. As soon as he descried the enemy, he had himself mounted on a horse and rushed into the skirmish. In the heat of it the crisis of the fever took place, and he returned well to his division. Abispa de Chilpancingo, 284-5.
- ↑ He has been credited with only mediocre talents, and accused of indolence, and of relying too much on his own judgment. Bustamante, Voz de la Patria, ii. no. 23, 1. Alaman makes a statement, as received from Iturbide's secretary, Manso, that when Victoria visited that chief at San Juan del Rio he proposed in writing that the plan should be changed, and an unpardoned insurgent — as if suggesting himself — should be called to the throne and married to an Indian female of Guatemala, to make of the two countries a single nation. He claims that the paper in question, as he and Bustamante were told by Manso, was filed in the department of relations. Hist. Méj., v. 220. How is it, I would ask, that Alaman and Bustamante, who had access to that department, and were no friends of Victoria, at least as a ruler, did not produce a copy of the document? The story looks like one of Alaman's exhibitions of spite against his former chief. Of Bustamante I must say, however, that though not friendly to Victoria's administration, he gives him the highest commendation for military services, purity of character, modesty, and generally for civic virtues. Cuad. Hist., iv. 175-6.
