Page:Vol 5 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/675

Rh Another circular of the 20th, said to have been issued by the advice of the government council, embodied the plan of ascertaining on the 1st of December, for the fourth time, the national will, so as to positively know if the president was to continue in power or surrender it. In order to give a coloring of reality to this farce, it was announced that the result in each town would be published. It was, of course, clear to every one's mind that the majority of voters, from fear, would not take advantage of this apparent privilege, and that only the government's supporters, or persons dreading molestation, would express a desire for Santa Anna's continuance in power. Books were opened at each voting-place, and each voter had to express his wish in writing over his signature. The books on which the negative votes were to be inscribed remained almost blank. The result showed upwards of 400,000 ayes, and very few nays, which the government hailed with joy, and the rabble licked the hand that put the collar on their necks. The dictator in a manifesto thanked the people, expressing indifference for power, assuring the nation that the sale of territory was made to avert a war with the United States, and reproached the liberals for the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.

Meanwhile the revolution was making giant strides, which Santa Anna hoped to check with offers of