Page:Vol 5 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/712

692 on the plainest food. The archbishop's position became difficult, having to guard the interests of the church, and at the same time avoid being converted to any political party. He defended these interests, and even his foes gave him credit for honesty of purpose, acknowledging that he could not do otherwise. He could not conscientiously allow the church to lose its property from any worldly purpose; but he often said that if the people assented he would cheerfully let it go.

What Garza lacked at times was flexibility for arranging difficulties by gentle means. He was not amiable by nature, nor imbued with the spirit of the age. It was painful that one so remarkable for his virtue, and who had done so much for public instruction, should have his last days so imbittered. He was in 1861 banished from Mexico, and took up his residence in Cuba, where he remained till called to Rome by Pius IX. He only reached Barcelona, where he died March 11, 1862. His funeral on the 13th was sumptuous; it was headed by the captain-general, and attended by all the authorities and a large concourse of people.

The radicals, on the other hand, accused Comonfort and his ministers of being at best but lukewarm supporters of democratic reform. The president frequently conferred with the deputies, endeavoring to bring about a reconciliation, all without success, till at last he began to lose patience, and declared that he would make no further effort. But though sorely tempted, he committed no abrupt act. No actual rupture took place between the two powers, because the minsters were in accord with the majority in congress to carry out the purposes of the revolution.

A number of questions of a secondary nature, the solution of which had been put off, had now