Page:Pictures of life in Mexico Vol 2.djvu/52

30 outrage. An instance of this kind, consequent upon the declaration of a pronunciamiento in a certain city of the second class, came to my knowledge.

Pronunciamientos are by no means of unfrequent occurrence. When any officer or general—or indeed any person in this disturbed country—thinks he has induced a faction of the people to act under him in opposition to the existing government, he issues a declaration of dissent and grievances addressed to his followers and to the country at large; and his partisans array themselves immediately under his command. This demonstration of opinion is called a pronunciamiento. The next step—and these proceedings have often been taken together—is to draw up a gecto, or plan of future operations. Then follow war, bloodshed, and plunder, and all the horrors of civil conflict, until one of the contending parties is defeated and subdued; then the vanquished dispronounce, and stipulate for as merciful treatment as can possibly be afforded them; while the victors arrange a triumphal procession and organize a demonstrative glorification.

These pronunciamientos have been very