Omaha daily bee., 1883-03-27
GENERAL DIAZ

The distinguished honors which are
being 80 freely accorded to General
Portfro Dlaz In this country may
seem remarkable and uncalled for to
people unacquainted with the record
of the Mexican hero. General Dlaz
Is not only ex.president of the repub.
lie, but he Is Its greatest soldier, It's
first citizen and Its most influential
leader. Scarcely 30 years of age he
has held every important position
within the gift of the Mexican people,
and to-day has a personal following Ia
the republic which make him arbiter
of Its destiny.
General Dlaz began his career when
only twenty-three years of age. A
young law student he enlisted in the
revolutionary war against Santa Anna
In 1855, and won such distinction that
he was made brlgadier general. When
Napoleon sent the unfortunate Maxi
MILAN to Mexico as Emperor, Diaz
was promptly In the field as o rebel
and fought a number of battles with
the French. He was treacher.
ously captured by Marshal
Bazsine under a flag of truce
sent as a prisoner to Mexico and pend.
ing the decision of his fate escaped.
He at nee organized an army of
5000 men and began the siege of the
city of Mexico, which surrendered on
July 16, 1866, closing the war and
r~einstatiug the republic. Dlaz then
became a candidate for president but
was defeated by Juarez, who forced
him to retire to private life. He at
ouce organized another revolution
which failed Of success. Escaping
with the greatest difficulty he came to
the United states but returned In
1871 to contest once more for the
presidency In the election of that year.
He was again d~efeated'by Yuarez who.
dying the following year, was sue.
decided by the chief Justice, Don erdo.
This was Dlaz's opportunity. Lerdo
lacked all the qualifications of q popu.
lar leader, and the revolt In 1876 war
quickly followed by the seizure of the
reins of government by the popular
favorite. Diaz was promptly declared
president, and at the first election wal
chosen by al overwhelming majority
of the popular vote to fill that office
which he would have held long before
II the army and the voting machinery
had not been In the hands of his enc.
mics.
The accession of General Dlaz
marked the turning point in the his
tory of the Mexican republic. What.
v may be thought Of his irregular
manner of getting into Office, no one
questions that he made an efficient
ruler. Lawlessness was suppressed,
and the raids across the border stopped.
The country at once began to prosper.
Within five years the value of landed
property increased nearly ten fold.
Railroad building at once be-
gan nnd business enterprises -four.
ished AZ they never had be.
fore. Friendly relations with u
country were cultivated, one of the
very frat acts of the new government
being the payment Of a large sum of
money which Mexico owed to the
United States.
Three years ago General Dlaz's
term of Office expired, and, as the
constitution of Mexico does not per.
init q president to serve two full Don.
secutive terms, he turned over the
Office to his intimate personal friend
and companion In arms, Gonzales.
Another election occurs In 1884, when
everybody expects that Dlaz will be
again elected. His visit to the
United States IL for the purpose of
fsmilisrizlng himself with our ways
and with a reciprocal free trade
treaty in view. Dlsz has been
termed the General Grant of Mex.
leo. He possesses the full confidence
of her people and Is destined to play
a very important part yet In the politi-
cal and economical development of