, 1876-05-10
THE MEXICAN ANARCHY.
from Tie SPECTATOR

(FT0m ne SPectat0r)
IL an article on the condition Of Mexico
last autumn, we pointed out that the
progress of anarchical revolution was so
general at that date, that the strong hand
of a Dictator could alone be expected
to supply any remedy of even tempo
Tary efficiency, Six months later we
6Bd that the same anarchy prevails over
much the same area, and the only sensi.
bic alteration of the situation consists
IN the appearance Of Q military leader Of
acknowledged ability, at the head Of one
Of the most numerous factions of the
3%naIeontents. Beyond the possession Of
considerable military talents, however,
it does not appear that General Porlirjo
Diaz, who has just captured Uatamogas,
is distinguished By many Of the qaaIifca-
tions OF a saviour OF society, In the first
place, there is G record of " former CON
yictions" against him III tbs matter Of
conspiracy and overt rebellion. If Lordo
de Tejada, the present President, be q
weak and incompetent ruler, Juarez was
2ssurediy a man Of high administrative
abilities. lie was none the more agreeable
TO General Poriirio Dj0z on that account,
and Oh two different occasions General
Diaz rose IN arms against his authority.
It may, however, be said for tins l4bitual
mutineer that if he did all ia his power to
reduce his country to the depth Of lawIess-
ness and disorder which tempted the i'm
perialising expedition Of Napoleon III, he
proved himsolf during the period Of tho
French occupation almost as terrible o foe
10 the foreign invaders as ho had previous
ly been to his own Government, Owing
TO lis bravery aud skill as q leader Of the
patriot forces, General Diaz btcamo
widely popular in Mexico, and on the
death Of President Juarez can forward,
with considerable chances of success, as a
competitor for the succession. VanQuished
by the amiable reputation which Lerdo de
Tejdda had come to enjoy, as a man cal
Culated to c0nciliate all parties by a policy
Of moderation, Porlirio Diaz entered the
Congress, but, as might have been ex-
pected, showed less aptitude for ParliG-
melftary procedure tha0 for the tactics Of
a free-lance. at the same time, he might
have rested content-with his former share
in the public disturbances, if the increasing
impotence Of Lerdo de Tejada's admins
tration had not afforded an opportunity
which an imprudent and insulting provo
: cation on the part Of the officials further
goaded him to seize,
In effect, the total inability or reluctance
Of the ruling Cabinet to perform the most
elementary duties Of a Government can
hardly be described in adequate terms.
1t is the Turkish administration Of Bosnia
and the Herzegovina, with none Of the
excuses which may be drawn from the
distinctions between ~conquerors and con-
querea, Moslems and Christians. Like the
official Press Of Constantinople, the DjQYi0
QfciQI of Mexico regularly records the
triumphs of an invincible army, and
the steady paci6cation of distant pro-
%vinces; but, in fact, there are neither
victories nor pacifcation. In the far
thest districts, as in the nearest to the
capital, an aimless and destructive revo-
luton, with no policy beyond plumber.
holds its own, with hardly a p~retence of
opposition from the soldiers of the Repub-
lie. Not only in Sonora, but in Mechoa-
can andthe State of Mexico itself, towns
are looted in open day without a shot from
the official garrison. Indeed, within a few