The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-03-26
DIAZ N MEXICO.
Minister Foster Gives Some Interesting
Facts as to Both.

Gath in San Francisco Chronicle.
Our new minister to Spain, General Foster,
speaking to me recently on a variety of mat
tiers, said about Mexican politics as follows:
You ask me whether Diaz's taking the pres
idency was not a usurpation. To answer that
l would have to tell you the nature of a
Mexican election. While Mexico is a re-
public, theoretically based upon the Ameri-
can system. in its practical working it is an
administrative despotlsm. That is to say,
every government once installed into office
by whatever means takes measures to con-
tinue itself, which are final as far as the
choice of the people is concerned. In the
United States the people ale all informed
about the candidate and the issues and they
will vote with confidence that every
vote is going to be taken into
consideration, and therefore the
greatest surprises in American election S
are accepted as conclusive of the public will.
In Mexico an administration sets up the
election for its successor. The people are of
so many kinds and so various in education,
or the want of it, that it is next to impossible
to beat a government resolved on continuing
itself. A certain amount of force is used in
the different States to bring up the vote for
the administration candidate, and the law of
force often prevails in counting the ballots.
This is generally understood III Mexico, and
it was upon that understanding that Diaz
broke through the power of an ~administra-
ton by another kind of force and made him
self President"
What lind of a man was Diaz?'
"Diaz was one of the bravest and best Of
hcers the Mexican republic had against
France and Macmillan. President Juarez,
whom all the Mexicans regard as a kind of
Mexican Washington, transferred the govern
ment to Lerdo. Lerdo was very unwise in
attempting to ~re-elect himself. He was a
good lawyer and a man of ability, but the
popular demand was not sufficient for his re-
election to warrant him in taking those adj
ministrative steps to succeed himself which
are so well understood in Mexico. Probably
he would not have run if it had been left
only to him, but his officeholders and heads
of departments insisted upon his standing
again. Although he was nominally elected,
the means used vitiated the true spirit of a
republican election, and Diaz overturned the
government in accordance with the general
belief that the processes were not republican
which made the reelection. Diaz probably
thought he was an upright Republican, and
when he came to the end of his term he gave
the government over to another man, al
though l presume his personal influence is
paramount with this government"
/ asked Mr.. Foster if the influence of the
priesthood in Mexico was still against the
republic.
There are exceptions, of course" he re-
piled" but the general record of the Mexi-
can priesthood has been a selfish one. The
great mass of people .have long been in
ignorance, and there is naturally much
violence in the country and has been more
violence in the past. When violent men
on.a 70 die fhnu koooo,A z,,llo1 u--.-A
ant, and, for the promise of forgiveness and
heaven, they transferred the most valuable
property in the country to the church.
Hence, nearly all that was productive and
cultivated in Mexico belongs to the priests.
The religious orders had beautiful abodes.
fine orchards, great herds and lived in luxury.
They were not willing to do their part in the
sacrifices required, During our Mexican
war, when the Mexican army was CALAMITY
en- deavoring to beat the North Americans
back, the church, partly for selfish con-
siderations, got up a revolution in the city,
and it remains a great stigma against the
priests as Mexicans. That same interest, in
order to conserve its possessions, brought in
the allies, and after they had obtained an
emperor in Macmillan they vuarreled with
him too"
What do the Mexicans now think of the
North Americans? Does the Mexican war
rankle in their minds%'
"Yes; it was one of the most tremendous
events in their countryside invasion of the
republic from the north and the east, the oc-
cupation of its capital and the sundering of
its rich northern provinces. The Mexicans
fear that similar attempts will be made, and
hence have been very chary about entering
into treaty engagements or giving railroad or
other concessions to Americans. The atti-
tude of Seward, however, during the Maxi
milan troubles. left a good impression on the
country. and that is whY | eftdeayored tn
have a Mexican commission. l thought
l saw that they had formed some conf
dence in the United States. l am sorry
to say, however, that as soon as this com
mission was agreed upon the Arneri-
cans showed an enterprise in concocting
claims against Mexico that | had never
dreamed of, and they rau up claims of onlv
about So, 600, 600 to more than $500. 600, 600.
My own opinion is" said General Foster,
that there is not much to be made by
Americans selling Mexican provinces. l
think it would be better if, under good ar
rangements, Americans could go in there
and make use of the labor and society as they
find it, and develop the country under some
treaty arrangement"
Nv hat is the status of Mexican morals?'
/ asked.
"Well, You find all kinds of morals in
Mexico. Like most of the Latin races, the
men are pretty indifferent about their do
nestle reputation. l knew a distinguished
general in Mexico who was a patriotic man
and had a nice family. but he used to start
out every morning on horseback and ride in
the presence of the city where he lived to
the home of his mistress. by whom he also
had a family, and he would take his coffee
with her every morning, and it did not seem
that anybody reflected upon it at ALL"
Need a Libretto.