The position of Santa Anna, so long the leader in
Mexico, is -as dubious and complicated as that country is disordered. At the date of the recent accounts he was playing the last moves in a desperate game, in which checkmate seemed inevitable—stale- Inate, or mere paralyzing of his adversaries without real victory to himself, his best hope. Whole provinces had revolted against him; the Congress had joined his-rival anduccuser Paredes; his ac- tivity in the held alone prevented whoteurmy from moving over to the enemy; whilehe was in the tamp, the constitutional repre- sentatives of the people had appointed another President ; and in theinidst of these substantial difficulties,he had fallen into thetech- nical embarrassment of holding his military command in violation of" the constitution" Which he professed to defend against rebel- lion. His sole trust lay- in a speedy conquest of his own re- public, by main force. If he lost the move, his game was up : yet, where to move? If he left the field, he would lose his army; if he remained, he would not regain the Presidency ; if he were mild, his prestige with the soldiery would evaporate ; if stern, his tyranny would alienate all Mexico ; if he staid away from the capital, he would have no taxes with which to pity his troops ; if he went back, he would have no troops to pay. His familiar imps have deserted him ; and he seems to stand helpless, fit only to fly or sell his life as dearly as he can.
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