Page:Vol 5 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/647

Rh, and cognate branches. They were intrusted to Diez de Bonilla and Velazquez de Leon, respectively. The latter appointed on April 26th, the other on May 13th. Méx., Co. Ley., Dec. y Órd., 1853, 23, 66, 70-2, etc. Elguero declined the fomento portfolio. The later federal president Lerdo de Tejada joined the department as under-secretary, or [sic]oficial mayor, and Suarez y Navarro retained a similar post under Tornel. See also Universal, Apr. 21, 1853, Español, Siglo XIX., etc., of the same tine. Suarez y Navarro again parades his assumed importance during the formation of this cabinet. Esteva and Ramon Pacheco were first proposed for the departments of treasury and justice, and Bocanegra and Baranda for gobernacion and fomento; but Alaman's selection had greater weight, except in Tornel's case. Suarez y Navarro thereupon casts reflections on Alaman for stooping to accept office from the man he had abused in his Historia de Méjico, and relates that Lares expressed himself honored to accept even the lowest office to 'servir á una persona como V. E.' Bur., 257, 264, 287-8. He himself is proud to serve in an humbler sphere. Yet not long after he tires of the insignificant role to which he is relegated, and turns upon his ei-devant patron at the first safe opportunity, first in the Siglo XIX., from which he reprints articles under the title of El General Santa-Anna Burlándose, Mex., 1856, 1-291. The little volume forms a good specimen of the political pamphlets and treatises which abound in Mexico. They spring generally from disappointed men, who seek in print to repeat the parried thrust and parade in borrowed plumage; men as ready to intone hosannas to the victor as to turn upon him the moment he totters. The text presents, midst its ill-natured purposes, several admirable characteristics of the national literature, such as choice and varied language, and a forensic stamp that not only imparts dignity of tone but impresses the purport. With most of these pamphleteers, however, sentences are evolved with less regard for order and sense than high-sounding declamation. Lack of depth is disguised by empty invocations to liberty and rambling floridity, well calculated to rouse shallow sympathies; while innumerable italics, indices, asterisks, and exclamations direct attention to the points aimed at, and which might otherwise escape notice. Pungent epithets of varied and reiterated form supply the place of satire. Well aware of the little credence accorded to such publications, and perhaps to his own statements, Suarez y Navarro frankly declares that as he does not expect to be believed, on his mere assurance, he will base it wholly on documents appended. He thereupon proceeds to magnify his insignificance and color his attitude, till he becomes aglow with admiration of his own cleverness of verbal manipulation. Opposing facts are either swept away with imperious dashes of shallow sophistry, or made to disappear by the very impetuosity of his glibness. Indeed, before reaching the middle of his several arguments, premises, clew, and conclusions alike are lost to sight, left to stray or to be lost in the jungle of glaring contradictions. But Suarez y Navarro is a soldier: he looks not behind. He keeps bravely onward, evidently deluding himself with the belief that the main point has been gained by mystifying the reader, and impressing him with the idea that midst the haze looms some portentous blot which must entomb the opponents — the tyrant Santa Anna and his crew — and relieve by contrast, at least, the brightness of his own sacrificed zeal and ability.

More dignified is the defence of his fellow-actor, Muñoz Ledo, Esposicion, Mex., 1853, 1-84, and ap. 1-34. Chagrined at being circumvented by more astute jugglers, who snatched the bone of contention, he assumes the attitude of injured innocence and patriotic martyrdom. Unfortunately for himself he does not check his flow at the proper moment, but allows the reader to recover from his bewilderment, and discover in the superfluous ramble this poverty of disguise and weakness of plea. The composition was of the most pronounced