Page:Notes of the Mexican war 1846-47-48.djvu/284

Rh fruition of noble instincts; his character was perfect; he was exceptionally moral, without a single defective habit; he was a jovial and a good-hearted man. It is true poor Jacob Banner did not meet his death on the bloody battle-field, and victimized by a Mexican bullet, yet he sacrificed his life for his country's cause; his death is much regretted by his friends—in fact, our whole company is much grieved at his loss, for he was obedient, made friends with all who came within the circle of his acquaintances; enemies he had none in our whole regimental ranks, for such gentle natures give offence to no one, and we shall ever hail with the warmest affection his cherished memory; and make him a hidden, quiet room, in the depth of our spirit's gloom, where, while we live, he may abide, shadowy, silent, sanctified.

I will now, on this anniversary, citar (quote) extracts from different writers on the cause and variation of the revolution in Mexico against Spanish rule, which made an essential difference as to the time required by Mexico to free herself from the miseries of Spanish rule. Here the civil commotions in Spain had so disturbed the rule of the so-called viceroys, that the old native Indian and mixed race element had easily and essentially observed its importance in solving the problem of future government. It was thus easy to incite them to insurrection. Don Miguel Hidalgo, a cura (parson), who is the father of the Mexican independence, moved by public and private wrongs, headed the uprising and organized a force of 110,000 Indians and mixed races. The success of the grand movement depended upon the Creoles—a powerful and fierce tribe—who then formed a large part of the forces of the regular army, and had they sided with the Indians, the revolution would have been successful, and the country freed from the Spanish tyranny. Unfortunately for the Indian cause, the first body of the insurgents fired into the Creole troops and commenced in the towns and villages an indiscriminate massacre