4.   CROSS CURRENTS OF REVOLUTION

For the story of the cross currents of the Texan Revolution, this is neither the time nor the place. These began at Monclova, Coahuila and Texas capital, before the revolution itself, and continued until after the sacrifice of Fannin and his men. An important group of Texans planned, at Monclova, with Vice President Gomez Farias, of Mexico, and Governor Agustín Viesca, of Coahuila and Texas, a counter revolt against the despotism of Santa Anna, to be fought by American soldiers, whom the Texans presently undertook to find, and armed by the state government of Coahuila and Texas -- that is, a Mexican reaction, rather than a Texan revolution -- to be paid for from the proceeds of an authorized speculation in Texas lands.

This plan was unpopular with a large majority of the Texan settlers, who were strongly opposed both to mixing in the internal affairs of Mexico and to this character of speculation in Texas lands. Other cross currents developed from the personal aims and ambitions of Texas' "Fifty would-be great men," as well. Demagogues urged upon the Texan "army" assembling at Gonzales in October, 1835, that since Texan patriotism and much of Texan virtue was gathered there, the "army" ought to take over the responsibilities of the civil government of Texas, as well as to become its fighting arm.

General Stephen F. Austin and General Sam Houston were the two big men of Texas, in American eyes; and in this estimate, American public opinion was largely right. Austin and Houston, working together, could, and would, have avoided practically all of the costly Texan mistakes. Had General Austin been permitted to attend the Consultation, this doubtless would have been arranged. But it had become a desideratum of both the demagogues and the speculators to keep the two big men of Texas working, and thinking, apart. General Houston was not immune to the influences of personal vanity; General Austin could be persuaded, on occasion, to forego his better judgment to the importunities of his friends. An agreement that General Austin should be the head of Texas' new civil government, and General Houston the new Commander-in-Chief was prevented from being put into effect. General Austin was sent to the United States, as Commissioner -- that is, in honorable exile -- and General Houston, after having been deprived