his command, steadily undermined his position. Apart from the
faults of Iturbide himself, the popular sentiment of a country
bordering immediately upon the United States could not fail to be
colored by the ideas and institutions of its great neighbor. So,
too, the example of what had been accomplished, in form at least,
by their kinsmen elsewhere in America was bound to wield a potent
influence on the minds of the Mexicans. As a result, their desire
for a republic grew stronger from day to day.

Iturbide, in fact, had not enjoyed his exalted rank five months
when Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, a young officer destined later
to become a conspicuous figure in Mexican history, started a
revolt to replace the "Empire" by a republic. Though he failed in
his object, two of Iturbide's generals joined the insurgents in
demanding a restoration of the Congress--an act which, as the
hapless "Emperor" perceived, would amount to his dethronement.
Realizing his impotence, Iturbide summoned the Congress and
announced his abdication. But instead of recognizing this
procedure, that body declared his accession itself null and void;
it agreed, however, to grant him a pension if he would leave the
country and reside in Italy. With this disposition of his person
Iturbide complied; but he soon wearied of exile and persuaded
himself that he would not lack supporters if he tried to regain
his former control in Mexico. This venture he decided to make in
complete ignorance of a decree ordering his summary execution if
he dared to set foot again on Mexican soil. He had hardly landed
in July, 1824, when he was seized and shot.

Since a constituent assembly had declared itself in favor of
establishing a federal form of republic patterned after that of