Page:Vol 4 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/134

118 and down-trodden of this little Indian town proclaim the future independence of a great nation! Enthusiasm rises to religious height, and unarmed as they are, they will follow no matter where, and fight and die no matter how.

It is somewhat strange that independence should be born in such a quarter and of such parentage; yet perhaps not more wonderful here and thus than else where and in some other way. Its days were now fully come, and it must be brought forth. We know after what manner religions have come to man; we have seen great spasms of enlightenment fall at various epochs on the race; we have seen the intellect awaken as from a dream, and re-awaken again and again—but what it all is, or how, or why, no man can tell, howsoever hard our teachers may try.

In the evolution of human affairs two elements are essential to progress, the opportunity and the agent. There may be and often is one condition without the other. Opportunity may be ripe and no one at hand to act; or the individual may be present and lack opportunity; or the agent may be before his time, act prematurely, and so spoil all. Under such conditions there can be no great bririging-forth.

It was a question how far such auxiliaries could be of service in the coming crusade. Hidalgo maintained that the display of numbers would be beneficial to their cause. Allende, however, entertained grave doubts, but he finally acquiesced. To provide their followers with arms was the great difficulty. The houses of the Spaniards were ransacked; lances which Hidalgo had already provided were brought forth; the Indian seized his machete and those who could obtain no better weapon supplied themselves with clubs, slings, and bows and arrows. Fire-arms they had few; but San Miguel would furnish them some