“You should have remembered that at the Alamo, sir,” was responding General Houston.
“I was justified there by the customs of war, general,” answered Santa Anna. “Those men had refused to surrender, and when the place was taken by storm the customs of war authorized that they be killed.”
“So you killed ’em!” rose the indignant growl from the crowd. “Bah! You’re wuss’n a savage Injun!”
“That is not the custom among civilized nations, sir,” accused General Houston. “It is not the custom of humanity.”
“I was acting under the orders of my government,” retorted Santa Anna. “I have orders in my possession commanding me so to act.”
[“Why,” roared the general], beginning to grow angry, himself, “[you are the government, yourself. You are dictator], and a dictator has no superior officers!”
[“WHY,” ROARED THE GENERAL, “YOU ARE THE GOVERNMENT, YOURSELF, YOU ARE DICTATOR”]
That was a corker, and a hum of approval permeated the spectators and listeners. Santa Anna heard, and paled.