The new viceroy was no better than the old one. Had Spain specially desired to throw away Mexico, the appointment of Archbishop Lizana was the very thing to do. Old, sickly, as feeble in mind as in body, he was fitter for a hospital than for the viceregal palace. [1] In one sense he was too good for the place. Spain wanted there a mean man, a hypocritical, lying trickster; one who could be false to all the world except Spain—particularly one who would be false to Mexico. Now Lizana was none of these. He was passably honest. He had a good heart, and a benign disposition; he lacked altogether the force of will to hold down insubordination, or regulate contending factions. Yet it was a lucky choice for the cause of independence. The policy of such a ruler must necessarily be timid, and his purpose vacillating.[2] Episcopal pastorals were employed where viceregal orders should have been presented on the point of the sword. Frank and sincere, he had no insight into human character, [3] and he allowed himself to be entirely swayed by the oidor Manuel de la Bodega and his cousin, the inquisitor Alfaro, to whose charge he committed the administration of his archiepiscopal government. Alfaro, spurred by ambition but blinded by his vanity, soon fell into the toils of the racionales caballeros; and Lizana, under his guidance, adopted administrative measures which, while they excited the spirit of re-
- ↑ His state of health frequently compelled him to transact the public business in bed. Alaman, Hist. Mej., i. 303.
- ↑ As already related, the archbishop was at first favorably disposed to the convocation of a general congress; but alarmed at the angry disputes on the question, he suddenly changed his opinions, and took part with the deposers of Iturrigaray. He as quickly, however, repented of his action, 'confesó á la Junta Central que habia sido engañado en la separacion de Iturrigaray, y que estaba arrepentido de haber cooperado á la ejecucion de tan horrenda maldad.' Bustamante, in Cavo, Tres Siglos, iii. 265, also 244. Henceforth he favored the party which had advocated the convocation of a general congress.
- ↑ Bustamante describes him as 'candoroso como uno niño,' and Abad y Queipo says: 'Este virtuoso prelado era un hombre muy sencillo, que no conocia el corazon humano, ni tenia luces en materias políticas ni de gobierno.' Informe dirig. al rey., in Zamacois, ix. 863,
time. Alaman, Hist. Mej., i. 286. Negrete makes no mention of the $2,000,000 contributed by private subscriptions. Mex. Siglo XIX., i. 156.
