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158 the avowed wish of the citizens. What had interfered with the proclamation of the Constitution of 1826 but the hostility of Ibarra, Lopez, Bustos, Quiroga, Ortiz, and the Aldaos, each of whom ruled a province, and some of whom influenced the others? Now, what would appear so reasonable at that time, and to those men who reasoned a priori, as to get rid of what they considered the only obstacle to the desired organization the Republic?

These political errors which belonged to the time rather than to the men, are yet worthy of consideration, for upon them depend the explanation of many social phenomena. Lavalle in shooting Dorrego, just as he would have shot Bustos, Lopez, Facundo, and others of that class, only fulfilled the requirements of his time and party. Even in 1834 there were still men in France who believed that if they could get rid of Louis Philippe, the French Republic would revive in all the greatness and glory of the past! Perhaps also the death of Dorrego was one of those fated events which form the nucleus of history, without which it would be incomplete and unmeaning. Civil war had been long threatening the Republic. Rivadavia had foreseen it with all its horrors; Facundo had unconsciously kept his hordes on the slopes of the Andes in waiting for this event; and Rosas' private life had been a ten years' preparation towards the same end. Dorrego was in the way of all parties: of the Unitarios, for they despised him; of the provincial leaders, for he had proved useless to them; and in that of Rosas, because he was impatient of keeping under the shadow of the city parties, and eager to obtain the government,