Page:Vol 4 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/133

Rh the sanctuary. But it was the matters of this world rather than those of the next that were now to claim their attention. Deliverance was demanded, and from the evil one; but it was from Satan in the flesh, from devils incarnated as temporal masters, inflicting wrongs and injuries and infamies without number—time enough left when men are free from the tyrannies of their fellows to continue the eternal battle with the powers of darkness!

There was no mass that day. The cura entered his pulpit and looked abroad upon the sea of upturned anxious faces with deep and yearning solicitude. "My children," he said, "this day comes to us a new dispensation. Are you ready to receive it? Will you be free? Will you make the effort to recover from the hated Spaniards the lands stolen from your forefathers three hundred years ago?" Thus the great project of independence was laid before them, and they were called upon to prove their devotion to their country. For the last time Hidalgo addressed his flock as cura of Dolores. Henceforth he would be their guide to liberty; they would fight for it; they would die for it; he would lead them himself to battle and to victory! "To-day," he continued, "we must act. The Spaniards are bad enough themselves, but now they are about to surrender us and our country to the French. Danger threatens our religion, and oppression our homes. Will you become Napoleon's slaves? or will you as patriots defend your religion and your rights?" "We will defend them!" shouted the people. "Viva Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, muera el mal gobierno, mueran los gachupines!" "Live, then, and follow your cura, who has ever watched over your welfare," was Hidalgo's answer. The Grito de Dolores has gone forth! The poor and ignorant