without plans, Mina had moreover to struggle with the diffidence growing out of a comparison between his small party and the imposing armies of a rich government.
He also suffered from lack of discipline among the Mexicans, and from being subjected to a jealousy and distrust, due greatly to his character as a Spaniard. The revolutionists were divided with regard to his true intention; but there is no doubt that, while he may secretly have desired to maintain the connection between the mother country and the colonies, he worked faithfully for the independence.[1] Whether the time was ripe or not, Mina evidently failed to strike the key-note; yet his efforts were by no means in vain, for they served to expose the weakness of the government, and demonstrate what a band of determined men might accomplish. They served also to sustain the revolutionary spirit, and pave the way for emancipation.[2]
All this time the siege of Fort Los Remedios continued without interruption, varied alone by two brilliant
- ↑ His utterances to Spanish soldiers in favor of the constitution of 1812 can be counted only as efforts to promote the cause. When offered the military command in New Spain, before his flight from Spain, he is said to have refused it partly on the ground that it was impossible and inadvisable to subjugate the country, as Mendíbil, Resúmen Hist., 316-17, also points out. His different proclamations are clearly enough for independence, and he lands under the title of a general of the Mexican republic. Liceaga, Adic. y Rectific., 300-2, is ready to accept him, with Alaman, Hist. Méj., iv. 628, as a champion of independence; Torrente, Hist. Rev., ii. 368, 394-5, stamps him as a republican who seeks to 'arrebatar de las manos de su Soberano i Señor los dominios,' etc., and Baz so receives him, Gallo Hombres Ilustres., iv. 283-295; and Robinson never questions his motives. Yet Bustamante assumes him to be a Spaniard at heart, intent only on reëstablishing the constitution of 1812, and is therefore glad that he failed. 'Yo tengo para mí que fué una extraordinaria providencia del cielo que no lograra su empresa.' Cuad. Hist., iv. 455. Ward, Mex., i. 236-7, sides rather with Bustamante. Americans would no doubt accept the enrolment of troops, mainly in the United States, as an argument that Mina aimed at a separate republic. He firmly rejected the tempting offer to begin with freebooter schemes at Pensacola.
- ↑ Despite his prejudices, Bustamante accords glowing tribute to Mina, as rivalling Napoleon in glory. Abispa, i. 77. Alaman, Hist. Méj., iv. 628, refers to this episode as the 'mas brillante' of the revolution; 'as full of lustre as any of the same duration,' adds Robinson, Mem. Mex. Rev., ii. 126-7. If some condemn the undertaking as rash, they must consider that Mina started it while Teran, Victoria, and others still flourished. When he heard of their downfall, it was too late to recede. Torrente, Hist. Rev., ii. 395, estimates the cost of the expedition at over $2,000,000, expended on 14.000 uniforms, 12,000 fire-arms, 30 cannon, etc., but the figures are very doubtful.
