Page:Vol 4 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/466

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450
AMERICAN AFFAIRS IN SPAIN.

marks of the Comanche in his face; a mixture of candor and malice, of energy and suspiciousness. His nose was small, round, and flat, hardly affording prominence enough to hold his spectacles, which, when not concealing a pair of small flashing eyes, were suspended on his heavy black eyebrows. His round face became exceedingly animated when his mind was occupied with public or social affairs. His small, thick, muscular form went well with the face; when he spoke his movements were those of an athlete rather than of an orator. Careless of dress, prodigal in his habits, generous with his friends, relentless as an enemy, knowing little of European politics, but understanding well men and human nature, speaking seldom in public, but carrying his measures by skill and cunning, he was far in advance of the average American representative in Europe. And Arizpe was not only the most prominent American deputy in Spain, but in later times, in republican Mexico he became one of her most distinguished statesmen.

The American deputies made quite free use of the press for the support of their principles. Cisneros, Iturrigaray's lawyer, replied over the signature of Don Facundo Lizarza, to the pamphlet of Juan Lopez Cancelada,[1] former editor of the Gazeta de Mexico, entitled Verdad sabida y buena Fé guardada, giving a narrative of Iturrigaray's arrest, together with the causes that led to it. Cancelada was at the same time publishing a newspaper called El Telegrafo Americano, which though issued in Cádiz was supported by Spaniards residing in Mexico, and had been established for the express purpose of upholding the views and interests of the 'partido español.' In opposition to that journal, the deputy from Tlascala, Doctor Guride y Alcocer, established another, under the name of El Censor, which was a Spanish American organ, and had a number of prominent Americans residing in Cádiz

  1. One of Iturrigaray's bitterest enemies; he was sent away to Spain 'bajo partida de registro,' by Viceroy Archbishop Lizana.