Page:Mexico under Carranza.djvu/228

212 That the character of the Latin leadership did not improve is shown by the fact that within less than two years after Mexico became independent, the leader who had contributed most to that result, General Iturbide, attempted to destroy all elements of democracy in the government and, for a short period, made himself emperor. Upon his removal by a revolutionary movement, still headed by the Latin element, General Victoria was made President. Of the administration of the first regularly installed head of the Mexican government as a democracy, the historian says:

 "During the administration of Guadalupe Victoria little was done to bring Mexico to that state of quiet and security so indispensable for the happiness and advancement of a country. The finances were badly administered and peculation was openly practiced in every direction."

We have seen how one revolutionary leader after another achieved power and was in his turn displaced by a succeeding revolution, so that a historian writing of the condition of the country a few years after it had achieved its independence said:

 "We have now to trace a sad descent. We are to see the people gradually becoming corrupt, until