Page:The War with Mexico, Vol 2.djvu/21

Rh was free to speak; and in these disorderly gatherings they discussed religious freedom, the seizure of Church property, the reformation of the clergy, the secularization of marriage and education, the necessity of destroying military domination in politics, and the capital punishment of all suspected monarchists. In short, from the conservative point of view, they passed sentence of death on society. Santa Anna did not sympathize with their programme. He wished society to live — for him, and he was conducting now an equivocal correspondence with men hostile to the Puros. But it probably' suited his purpose to have them succeed for a time, and to, have the substantial citizens add to their litany, "From Rejón deliver us, good Lord!" He himself had played the part of: the Lord before now, and was willing to do so again, though he preferred the more terrestrial name of dictator?

Of course property felt the menace, and it had reason to do so. During the latter part of September, 1846, an editorial' in the official journal, commonly attributed to Rejón, intimated that if the rich did not contribute for the war, the people would know where to find their wealth; and even foreign houses' were threatened. The British minister forced a prompt retraction of this language so far, at least, as his fellow-country-' men were concerned; but within two weeks a number of capitalists were invited to loan $200,000 with an intimation that, unless they did so, the money would be taken. Every one understood that the leopard, though now comparatively' silent, had not changed his spots and would not, and hence four élite militia corps, familiarly known as the Polkos, were formed at Mexico to protect life and property. One of these,' called the Victoria battalion, was composed of merchants,' professional men and scions from wealthy families. Another,' which bore the name of Hidalgo, consisted of clerks; and the Bravos and Independencia battalions, made up largely of artisans, represented the industrial interests of the city. The ministry, who desired to exclude such persons from the National Guard, opposed the recognition of these corps; but, supported by Salas, the substantial citizens carried the day

An equally natural reaction caused by radical violence was political. In the hope of welding the Federalists into a harmonious party, the council of government had been revived, and