Page:Vol 5 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/52

32 Toward the end of September Alaman resigned, his influence being nullified by that of Arizpe, Esteva, Pedraza, and others. His successor in the department of relations was Gomez Pedraza, who was soon after replaced by Sebastian Camacho, and on the latter being sent to London as plenipotentiary, Juan José Espinosa de los Monteros was placed in charge.

Seeds of wild calamities are now sown broadcast. Different writers explain their origin according to their several political tenets. The error seems to lie in attributing to individuals social troubles resulting from the general condition of things. The progressionists and retrogressionists, or conservatives, as the latter prefer to be called, imagine that the symbol of opposition has no importance other than that given it by the character and influence of its supporters. Hence the conservative proneness for blood-letting, and the practice of the progressionists of exiling every political opponent.

There was not now, or for some time after, any well established social or political system. There was little left of the old one, bequeathed by Spain at an early day, for its principles had become vitiated and its interests destroyed. On the other hand, the new order of things widely disseminated its ideas, but failed either to blend them with what remained of the former system, or to cause its entire disappearance. These opposing elements hindered every effort, and the republic could move neither backward nor forward.

About this time a number of political clubs which wielded great influence began to be organized under the name and forms of masonic lodges of the York rite. Their creation has been ascribed to Poinsett, the