Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-12-29

AWARNING KxANPLE.


Mexico was enjoying three Presidents at
last accounts. Il IS interesting TO look back
and see how easily and naturally Mexico
was brought down to this condition. The
political lines IN that Republic are drawn
between the liberals and the reactionIsts.
or the church party, but these have not
been SO strictly drawn as when the person
al ambition of certain chiefs has dictated a
vigorous effort for "a change" The pres
cnt difficulty may be said to have had its
ri~e ia ISL At the election tor President
that year three candidates were IN the held, &,
General PorifriO Disz, representing the
church party, JuRrez the administration,
and LortO &c Tejada the liberals. Juarez
was elected, having a small majority OF the
Congress, which Is also the Electoral Col
lege. ami was duly inaugurated. Diaz and
has party refused to abide by the result,
and ever since have maintained a sort OF fit
ful and movable rebellion with the form of
a government Lerdo submitted, and when =,
a few months subsequently. Jusrez died !,
Lerdo was chosen to hi the vacancy. which
expired on the first of this month In Oc-
tober last he was again elected for the new
term. His administration has been so sue
css>tul and peaceful, compared to any
which has ruled in Mexico for the last twen-
-y-fve Years, that all appeared to promise
well % 10 the time Of the late election.
When Lerdo was first elected. his inau-
auration was opposed not only by Dlss bet
by lglesias, another leader Of the church
party. and Chief Judge of the Supreme
Court Bg virtue of his office. lngleslas
became provisional President until another
election could be held. he proposed TO
hold the q tce indefinitely, protesting against
the election and Installation OF Lerdo. lie
iOund NJ c0untenance, however, from the
Congress, the army or even the court over
which he presided, and seems to nave CON
confined his efforts to Vaccinations with u
view 10 the future. When in October Coz
gress declared the reelection Of LerdO, igle-
sias formally assumed to be President. on
the ground that since JdareE's death, the
electoral forms have been 50 generally VIOLA
ted that there j. legally no elected President,
and the Chief Judge Of the Supreme Court
becomes SO by virtue of that fact. Ia order
to strengthen himself, and IN accordance
with q pre-arrangement, he appointed Gen-
eral Diez Geueral-ln-Ch Chief of the army. Zen
eral Dlaz Immediately mustered bis forces
and marched toward the capital. lt Il
easy enough to raise an army for almost
any purpose IN Mexico, and this force grew
apace under the inspiration of the two
leaders. Lerdo had not sufficiently weigh
ed the elements of strength against him,
and was not prepared for 80 bold a move
ment - isleslas and DiaE proposed. a
few DAYS ago Diaz gained decided victory
ataplace about loo miles from the City OF
Mexico. Thence Lerdo packed up the goods
of state, and left the capital before the IN
>urgents were within reach.
Now comes one Of the most STRIKING
characteristics of Mexican politics. Diai
having succeeded thus as general-in-ch
OF the insurgent army, ignores lgleslas' snc
proclams himself President Of course h'
will have two parties against him, ana M
party viii be composed almost entirely o
the small army Immediately at bis com
mgud 1t Is not likely that be eau hold the
capital long, or even his power over tht
army. Lerdo has started his government
anew in Morella. and perhaps has removed
II once OF twice more since the last advice,
received and Will OF course draw around
him respectable force. HIS government
represents the better class of the people
lsiesias, it Is supposed, will not remain
IDLE. lie will have two objects of revenge
instead Of one, as before, and /. is suppos
cd that his hopes may be raised very high
from the fact that the government has
proved 10 be 50 weak before the advance oi
Diaz
Mexico is il deplorable condition once
more. Business is suspended, law Is al
most unknown, DO ono knows his friend'
from his enemies until his life and his tor
tune are actually threatened boston 1rdr
eiler.