The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 56, July 1952 - April, 1953 Page: 575

Book Reviews

of them in the Brazos valley." An error of a similar nature is
found in the statement that the Congress of the United States
gave 18o,ooo acres of land to each state establishing an agricul-
tural and mechanical college. It is something of a shock to read
that Sam Houston served in the United States Senate after he
had served as governor of Texas and that the legislature declared
his Senate seat vacant because of his opposition to secession.
The final section, "Cruising Down the River," is a description
of the Brazos from its source to its mouth. The excellence of the
descriptive passages is marred by statements which defy explana-
tion. The author did something no other Texan can do when he
drove to Washington-on-the-Brazos and saw there "the little old
blacksmith shop where they declared Texas free .. some markers
and monuments an old-fashioned house once 'The White
House' of Texas." More understandable, but equally erroneous,
is the statement that the log cabin in the park at San Felipe de
Austin belonged to Stephen F. Austin.
The book has neither footnotes nor index but is illustrated
with twenty-four interesting drawings by Merritt Mauzey.
RALPH W. STEEN
The University of Texas
Mexican Revolution: Genesis Under Madero. By Charles Curtis
Cumberland. Austin (University of Texas Press), 1952. Pp.
ix + 298. $5.00.
Cumberland's study represents the most thoroughgoing re-
search on Francisco Madero's career yet published in any
language. The author drew upon manuscript materials, news-
papers, and published studies as well as hitherto unknown data
from participants. The book has many surprises. Probably the
most significant is Madero's profound belief in democracy. His
struggle for reform in face of obstacles reminds one of Benito
Juarez' sturdy faith. In strong contrast is Bernardo Reyes who
wished to be another Porfirio Diaz and whose role is clarified
in a way not duplicated elsewhere.
The effectiveness of Madero as a leader will be surprising to
those who have believed him weak. Sometimes it even seems that
the author himself has not freed his thought of the label of vacil-
lation so long attached to Madero. The three chapters, all con-

575