the hispanic nations of the new world-第16章
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nisters from among the liberals or conservatives； as one party or the other might possess a majority in the lower house of the Congress。 Though the legislative power of the nation was enjoyed almost entirely by the planters and their associates who formed the dominant social class； individual liberty was fully guaranteed； and even freedom of conscience and of the press was allowed。 Negro slavery； though tolerated； was not expressly recognized。
Thanks to the political discretion and unusual personal qualities of 〃Dom Pedro；〃 his popularity became more and more marked as the years went on。 A patron of science and literature； a scholar rather than a ruler； a placid and somewhat eccentric philosopher； careless of the trappings of state； he devoted himself without stint to the public welfare。 Shrewdly divining that the monarchical system might not survive much longer； he kept his realm pacified by a policy of conciliation。 Pedro II even went so far as to call himself the best republican in the Empire。 He might have said； with justice perhaps； that he was the best republican in the whole of Hispanic America。 What he really accomplished was the successful exercise of a paternal autocracy of kindness and liberality over his subjects。
If more or less permanent dictators and occasional liberators were the order of the day in most of the Spanish American republics； intermittent dictators and liberators dashed across the stage in Mexico from 1829 well beyond the middle of the century。 The other countries could show numerous instances in which the occupant of the chief magistracy held office to the close of his constitutional term； but Mexico could not show a single one！ What Mexico furnished； instead； was a kaleidoscopic spectacle of successive presidents or dictators； an unstable array of self…styled 〃generals〃 without a presidential succession。 There were no fewer than fifty such transient rulers in thirty…two years； with anywhere from one to six a year； with even the same incumbent twice in one year； or； in the case of the repetitious Santa Anna； nine times in twenty yearsin spite of the fact that the constitutional term of office was four years。 This was a record that made the most turbulent South American states seem； by comparison； lands of methodical regularity in the choice of their national executive。 And as if this instability in the chief magistracy were not enough； the form of government in Mexico shifted violently from federal to centralized； and back again to federal。 Mad struggles raged between partisan chieftains and their bands of Escoceses and Yorkinos； crying out upon the 〃President〃 in power because of his undue influence upon the choice of a successor； backing their respective candidates if they lost； and waiting for a chance to oust them if they won。
This tumultuous epoch had scarcely begun when Spain in 1829 made a final attempt to recover her lost dominion in Mexico。 Local quarrels were straightway dropped for two months until the invaders had surrendered。 Thereupon the great landholders； who disliked the prevailing Yorkino regime for its democratic policies and for favoring the abolition of slavery； rallied to the aid of a 〃general〃 who issued a manifesto demanding an observance of the constitution and the laws！ After Santa Anna； who was playing the role of a Mexican Warwick； had disposed of this aspirant； he switched blithely over to the Escoceses； reduced the federal system almost to a nullity； and in 1836 marched away to conquer the revolting Texans。 But； instead； they conquered him and gained their independence； so that his reward was exile。
Now the Escoceses were free to promulgate a new constitution； to abolish the federal arrangement altogether； and to replace it by a strongly centralized government under which the individual States became mere administrative districts。 Hardly had this radical change been effected when in 1838 war broke out with France on account of the injuries which its nationals； among whom were certain pastry cooks； had suffered during the interminable commotions。 Mexico was forced to pay a heavy indemnity； and Santa Anna； who had returned to fight the invader； was unfortunate enough to lose a leg in the struggle。 This physical deprivation； however； did not interfere with that doughty hero's zest for tilting with other unquiet spirits who yearned to assure national regeneration by continuing to elevate and depose 〃presidents。〃
Another swing of the political pendulum had restored the federal system when again everything was overturned by the disastrous war with the United States。 Once more Santa Anna returned； this time； however； to joust in vain with the 〃Yankee despoilers〃 who were destined to dismember Mexico and to annex two…thirds of its territory。 Again Santa Anna was banishedto dream of a more favorable opportunity when he might become the savior of a country which had fallen into bankruptcy and impotence。
His opportunity came in 1853； when conservatives and clericals indulged the fatuous hope that he would both sustain their privileges and lift Mexico out of its sore distress。 Either their memories were short or else distance had cast a halo about his figure。 At all events； he returned from exile and assumed； for the ninth and last time； a presidency which he intended to be something more than a mere dictatorship。 Scorning the formality of a Congress； he had himself entitled 〃Most Serene Highness；〃 as indicative of his ambition to become a monarch in name as well as in fact。
Royal or imperial designs had long since brought one military upstart to grief。 They were now to cut Santa Anna's residence in Mexico similarly short。 Eruptions of discontent broke out all over the country。 Unable to make them subside； Santa Anna fell back upon an expedient which recalls practices elsewhere in Spanish America。 He opened registries in which all citizens might record 〃freely〃 their approval or disapproval of his continuance in power。 Though he obtained the huge majority of affirmative votes to be expected in such cases； he found that these pen…and…ink signatures were no more serviceable than his soldiers。 Accordingly the dictator of many a day； fallen from his former estate of highness； decided to abandon his serenity also； and in 1854 fled the countryfor its good and his own。
CHAPTER VI。 PERIL FROM ABROAD
Apart from the spoliation of Mexico by the United States； the independence of the Hispanic nations had not been menaced for more than thirty years。 Now comes a period in which the plight of their big northern neighbor； rent in twain by civil war and powerless to enforce the spirit of the Monroe Doctrine； caused two of the countries to become subject a while to European control。 One of these was the Dominican Republic。
In 1844 the Spanish…speaking population of the eastern part of the island of Santo Domingo； writhing under the despotic yoke of Haiti； had seized a favorable occasion to regain their freedom。 But the magic word 〃independence〃 could not give stability to the new state any more than it had done in the case of its western foes。 The Haitians had lapsed long since into a condition resembling that of their African forefathers。 They reveled in the barbarities of Voodoo； a sort of snake worship； and they groveled before 〃presidents〃 and 〃emperors〃 who rose and fell on the tide of decaying civilization。 The Dominicans unhappily were not much more progressive。 Revolutions alternated with invasions and counterinvasions and effectually prevented enduring progress。
On several occasions the Dominicans had sought reannexation to Spain or had craved the protection of France as a defense against continual menace from their negro enemies and as a relief from domestic turmoil。 But every move in this direction failed because of a natural reluctance on the part of Spain and France； which was heightened by a refusal of the United States to permit what it regarded as a violation of the Monroe Doctrine。 In 1861； however； the outbreak of civil war in the United States appeared to present a favorable opportunity to obtain protection from abroad。 If the Dominican Republic could not remain independent anyway； reunion with the old mother country seemed altogether preferable to r
