ranza was destined never to reach the desired haven. González had already cut the railroad between Mexico and Vera Cruz, and other revolutionary bands attacked the convoy. Poor management and confusion delayed the expedition at every stage; supposedly loyal garrisons at critical points along the route went over to Obregón. When it became impossible to travel longer by train, Carranza with a few of his closest followers sought to escape to the Puebla Mountains, but fate had other plans. One night as he slept in a miserable mountain hut, the fleeing president was betrayed and killed. The assassination was hurtful to Obregón's cause and certainly contrary to his repeated orders. It may be safely said that he had no hand in it. The New Régime: The country, tired beyond description of ten years of revolution and conditions closely bordering upon anarchy, turned with relief to the new administration. De la Huerta served as provisional president from June 1 to November 30. On December 1, Obregón assumed the reins of office. The character and past performances of the new executive did much to recommend him to the outside world, as well as to his own people. He was generally acclaimed the hope of Mexico, and his early public utterances seemed to assure an earnest attempt, at any rate, to solve the domestic problems of his country in a rational spirit, and to compose its many difficulties with other nations. So far, however, the path of Obregón has not been free from obstacles. The Mexican people, with their lack of education and political training, were not remade by the revolution. Widespread depression, following the stimulus given by the war to Mexican industries, has brought hard times and made the problem of government finance more difficult. National credit has not yet been reestablished in foreign markets; the railroads have not been restored to normal efficiency; the effects of revolution. have not been effaced from many aspects of Mexican life. Widespread corruption in public office, so long the accepted feature of Mexican politics, cannot easily be overcome. Promised reforms will be difficult of execution. The combination which placed Obregón in power has already shown signs of disintegration; and it will require both tact and firmness to hold even his own cabinet in line. The provisions of the Querétaro constitution, to which foreign governments objected when the document was framed, still nominally remain in force, and over these and the question of proper safeguards for American property and citizens in Mexico, the United States and Obregón cannot agree. Following the lead of Wilson's administration, President Harding has refused to accord Obregón recognition until these matters are satisfactorily adjusted. The latter, either on grounds of principle, or because he fears such concessions to the United States would weaken his hold on the Mexican people, has so far refused to comply with the Washington demands. Yet no administration across the border can expect to acquire permanent stability without the formal recognition and moral support of the American government. It is undoubtedly true that Obregón today commands more confidence than any Mexican leader since 1911. This feeling, however, is not one of unmixed optimism. More than a century and a quarter ago a great English statesman voiced a truth which today represents the attitude of thoughtful men toward the existing government in Mexico and the decade of revolution from which it springs. "I should, therefore, suspend my congratulations on the new liberty of France," wrote Edmund Burke in 1790, "until I was informed how it had been combined with government, with public force, with the discipline and obedience of armies, with the collection of an effective and well distributed revenue, with morality and religion, with solidity and property, with peace and order, with civil and social manners. All these things (in t way) are good things, too; and without them, liberty is not a benefit wh it lasts, and is not likely to continue long." If Obregón's administration can meet these tests, no man since the dawn of Mexican history will have deserved greater honor at the hands of his countrymen. If his government fails in these particulars, it will assuredly not prove "a benefit while it lasts, and is not likely to continue long." AUTHORITIES In addition to the general histories of Mexico, both in English and Spanish, the following works will be found especially valuable to American readers for material relating to particular subjects: Bolton and Marshall, Colonization of North America (Expansion of New Spain). Bourne, Spain in America (Colonial Institutions and Policy). Chapman, A History of California: the Spanish Period (Contains much relating to the general colonial history of Mexico. Humboldt, Political Essay on the Kingdom of New Spain (Indispensable for the period prior to Independence). Prescott, The Conquest of Mexico (Not altogether reliable, but widely read and extremely fascinating). Priestley, José Gálvez (Reforms and Institutions under Charles III). Ibid., The Carranza Debâcle (The best account of the Obregón revolution yet published). Rives, The United States and Mexico, 1821-1848 (An authoritative and readable account of international relations). Trowbridge, Mexico Today and Tomorrow (The best of recent short narrative histories). Ward, History of Mexico (Excellent for conditions immediately following Independence). GOVERNMENTS SINCE INDEPENDENCE First Regency. Provisional FIRST PERIOD September 28, 1821, to April 11, 1822. . Proclaimed May 18, 1822; took oath May 21; crowned July 21, 1822; abdicated March 19, 1823. The Marqués of Vivanco, political chief of Mexico, took charge on the abdication of Iturbide. On March 31, 1823, Congress elected a Supreme Executive Council of three, which entered upon its duties on April 2, 1823. President.. President..... UNDER CONSTITUTION OF OCTOBER 4, 1824 . General Guadalupe Victoria, October 10, 1824, to April 1, 1829. General Vicente Guerrero, April 1, 1829, to December 17, 1829. Acting President....Licentiate José Maria de Bocanegra, December 17, 1829, to December 23, 1829. Supreme Executive Council President. . December 23, 1829, to December 31, 1829. . General Anastasio Bustamante, December 31, 1829, to August 14, 1832. Acting President....General Melchor Muzquez, August 14, 1832, to Decem President. President. President... President. President.. ber 24, 1832. . General Manuel Gómez Pedraza, December 24, 1832, to April 1, 1833. . General Antonio López de Santa Anna, April 1, 1833, to January 28, 1835. ...General Miguel Barragan, from January 28, 1835, to .Licentiate José Justo Carro, February 27, 1836, to UNDER CONSTITUTION OF JANUARY 1, 1837 On the latter date Bustamante was replaced by Santa Provisional Substitute President.. Provisional President... DICTATORSHIP . General Antonio López de Santa Anna, October 10, 1841, to October 26, 1842. . General Nicolás Bravo, October 26, 1842, to March 5, 1843. .General Antonio López de Santa Anna, March 5, 1843, to October 4, 1843. Substitute President..... Substitute President.. General Valentin Canalizo, October 4, 1843, to February 1, 1844. General Valentin Canalizo, February 1, 1844, to June 4, 1844. (Canalizo during this period was acting in lieu of Santa Anna, who had been elected Constitutional President, under the law of June 12, 1843.) President... UNDER CONSTITUTION OF JUNE 12, 1843 ...General Antonio López de Santa Anna, June 4, 1844, to September 12, 1844. Acting President... General José Joaquin de Herrera, September 12, 1844, to September 21, 1844. Acting President... General Valentin Canalizo, September 21, 1844, to December 6, 1844. President.. President... President. ..General José Joaquin de Herrera, December 6, 1844, to December 30, 1845. ....General Mariano Paredes y Arrillaga, January 4, 1843. to July 28, 1846. .General Nicolás Bravo, July 28, 1844, to August 4, 1846. Acting President........General José Mariano Salas, August 5, 1846, to December 24, 1846. By decree of August 22, 1846, the Constitution of 1824 was reestablished. Vice-President and UNDER CONSTITUTION OF 1824 Acting President.. Don Valentin Gomez Farías, December 24, 1846, to March 21, 1847. President. Substitute President.. President.. President.... ..General Antonio López de Santa Anna, March 22, 1847, to April 1, 1847. General Pedro M. Anaya, April 1, 1847, to May 20, 1847. .General Antonio López de Santa Anna, May 20, 1847, to September 16, 1847. Licentiate Manuel de la Peña y Peña, September 16, 1847, to November 14, 1847. Acting President....General Pedro M. Anaya, November 14, 1847, to January 8, 1848. President and Acting President.. Don Manuel de la Peña y Peña, January 8, 1848, to President... President.. June 2, 1848. General José Joaquin de Herrera, June 2, 1848, to General Mariano Arista, January 15, 1851, to January Acting President.... Don Juan B. Ceballos, January 5, 1853, to February 7, 1853. President with DICTATORSHIP General Antonio López de Santa Anna, April 20, 1853, Full Powers...... to August 11, 1855. |