Page:Vol 5 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/642

622 ways, for he possessed no ability whatsoever as statesman, and lacked also the common prudence and integrity for exercising the functions of his office. Moreover, not content with absolutely needful enactnents, he arrogated all the powers and privileges possible, as if to make the most of his brief tenure, and decided important questions with such precipitation as to cause no little additional trouble to the following government, besides loss to the nation, notably in the finance department. As it was, different states and parts adhered to different tariffs, with endless confusion and immense leakage in the revenue. The lease of mints to a foreign house was prolonged for a series of years at a ruinous rate; certain funds held in trust for the aborigines of the capital were squandered in dissipation; and comrades in arms and friends of the president were promoted and favored at the public expense in the most glaring manner, nearly a thousand military commissions alone being issued to a host of officers, retired or dismissed as superfluous or worthless by the late economic administrations. As may be imagined, the army was swelled in due proportion, mostly by ruthless impressment among the unfortunate Indians, on the plea of maintaining order and repelling invaders, but in reality to sustain the victors in their position and aims.

These operations passed comparatively unchallenged, partly from a disregard for Lombardini, who