Besides, Montezuma has shown himself unfit to govern.

It is his weakness that has brought things to this pass.
Think you that the white men could ever have advanced beyond the plateau of Tlascala, had all the forces of Mexico barred the way?
Think you that they could ever have entered the capital, had it been defended with resolution?
One moment he flattered the strangers and loaded them with gifts; the next he was ready to send his forces against them.

The Cholulans had good reason for believing that he designed the annihilation of the Whites, if he did not actually order the attack upon them.
"So on the seacoast.

Had the chiefs believed that Montezuma was really friendly to the whites, would they ever have attacked them?
There were two courses open: he might from the first have received the Spaniards frankly, and sent a mission to escort them honorably to the capital; or he might have called upon every man in his dominion to take up arms, and drive them into the sea.

He took neither.