Page:Vol 5 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/150

130 time acquired a profitable practice, from which he amassed a competency.

Gomez Farías did some service to the cause of independence, and was the signer of a proposition to elect Iturbide emperor, this being apparently the only means at the time to secure peace together with Mexican nationality. But when Iturbide abandoned the constitutional path, Farías became a formidable opponent to him. The elevation of Victoria and Gomez Pedraza to the presidential seat was due in a measure to his influence. The new vice-president was a man of progress, but unfortunately of too impatient a disposition to allow time for progress to become steadily developed. However, with his friends' coöperation, he gave a great impulse to the reforms that were initiated by himself in 1831 and adopted by the government in 1833 and 1834. He liked to undertake difficult feats, possessing as he did a large stock of courage and perseverance. Rigorous measures and bloodshed were not to his liking, nor used by him to effect his purposes. He was a democrat at heart, unambitious of honors or wealth, moderate and unpretentious, ever disposed to serve his country, and only aspiring to merit the good will of his fellow-citizens. His first period at the head of public affairs was of short duration, but pregnant with important events, accompanied by grave perils. Surrounded by men most radical in principles, and being without money and without influence, as his ideas on reform were but little understood, he struggled to save the constitution, which was constantly outraged and repeatedly in danger of stranding on the rocks of partisanship.

The privileged classes received some hard blows at