CHAPTER XXV.
OVERTHROW OF DICTATORIAL RULE.
1854-1855.
Santa Anna's Despotism and its Consequences — Plan of Ayutla — Juan Álvarez and Ignacio Comonfort — Santa Anna's Campaign in Guerrero — Disturbed Condition of Mexico — Sale of National Territory — A Farcical Plebiscit — Santa Anna Confirmed in Power — His Attempt at a Change of Policy — Conservative Opposition — End of Santa Anna's Public Career — Counter-revolution in Mexico — President Carrera — His Conciliatory Efforts — Reactionary Intrigues Liberal Triumph — Álvarez Chosen Provisional President.
The political situation at the opening of 1854 was insufferable. War had become chronic. Half a century of internal dissension, with occasional foreign invasions, was not enough, it seems; for now it is renewed, or rather continued, the little misunderstanding with the United States not being allowed long to interfere with time-honored customs and current throat-cuttings. Puffed with vanity and blinded by flattery,[1] Santa Anna had come to regard himself a god; he fancied he could regulate thought with bayonets. He had inklings of an intended movement against him in Guerrero, to guard against which he sent Colonel Rafael Espinosa as military commandant to Acapulco. This department, for the liberal ideas
- ↑ Prominent men who contributed to the preparation of a historical work, published in Mexico in 1848, in which Santa Anna s generalship and some of his political acts were reflected upon, received harsh treatment from him. All the copies the government could lay hands on were destroyed, the minister Aguilar pronouncing the work disgraceful, which it was not, and its authors 'malos mexicanos'; several of whom have since held the highest positions.
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