Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-11-28
MEXICO.
Accession of Don Porfirio Diaz Once
More TO the Presidency.
New Orleans Times Democrat November l.,

Accession OF Don Porfirio Diaz Once
More TO the Presidency.
New Orleans Times Democrat, November l..
With the end of the present month
the term of Office of General Manuel
Gonzalez. the actual President of
Mexico, expires, and he will be sue
ceeded by the great reformer, Don
Porfirio Diaz, the deciple OF Juarez,
and chieftan of the Liberal party OF
the republic. Eight years ago Mexico
under the rule of the exclusive and
taciturn Lerdo, was one of the most
unfortunate of the members of the
grand sisterhood of Latin American
nations. The President seemed to re-
gard the republic as his private estate
and the people as his hereditary vas,
sails. He was as absolute as the Shah
of Persia or the autocrat of all the
Russias. He lived in an almost regal
state, and was as difficult of access as
any of the absolute sovereigns of
ASIA.
But the people, who looked back
with regret to the benign and republi-
can rule of Juarez, in the month of
March, 1876, revolted against his au-
thority, and choose General Diaz as
the standard bearer of this just rebel
lion. Assisted by Gonzalez, Riva
Palacios, Mirafuentes, Tolentlne,
Mendez, and host OF other patriots,
Diaz defeated the Government forces,
under Alatorre, or the historic field of
Texcoac, and the sullen absolutist,
Lerdo, fled from the country, follow
ed by the execrations of his fellow
citizens.
During the four ensuing years Por-
frio DiaZ, as constitutional President,
controlled the destinies of the repub-
lic The English faction of European
lied Mexicans that swayed the coun-
ellis of ais predecessors was stripped of
its political power and influence, and,
instead of trucking to European ira
ditions and sentiments, Diaz and his
followers boldly claimed the friend
ship of the people and the material
assistance OF the great Republic of the
North.
After he had crushed his domestic
enemies the great soldier initiated the
work of reform he had long contem-
plated. He governed within the Con-
stltution and by the Constitution, and
Mexico became once more, IN fact, as
in appearance, 8 veritabie republic.
An enlightened statesman, Gen. Riva
Palacies, as Minister of Public
Works, carried out the Presidents
l.lans of material progress, and gave
liberia! concessions to several Amerl-
can companies to construct railroads
in different localities of the country.
When Gonzales succeeded Diaz in
the Executive chair the republic en-
ioyed profound traquillity at home
and influence and consideration
abroad. Twenty-Five thousand we'll
disciplined and admirably differed and
equipped regular troops repressed the
savage Indians in the north and guar
ranteed a continuance of peace
throughout the republic. The con
struction of railroads and work of
material progress had proceeded with
remarkable rapldity, and the chief
problem presented to the new Admin
istration was simply to carry out the
measures inaugurated by the late
Government.
How we'll and faithfully General
Gonzalez achieved this result has be-
come a matter of history But one
important circumstance that neither
he nor his predecessors had provided
against eventually brought about va
rious financial embarrassments and
cast a partial gloom over the last days
of his otherwise brilliant administra-
ton. The railroad companies, con
trary to all expectations, carried out
their contracts more expeditiously
than either the government or these
same corporations had ever deemed
possible. AS natural consequence
the government was temporarll Y un-
able to pay the heavy cash subsidies
due said railroad companies as fast as
they become due, Notwithstanding the
Federal revenues had constantly aug
mented at greater ratio even than
could have been nationally expected
This debt to the railroad corporations,
which now amounts to a considerable
sum, the new administration will be
compelled to provide for. Thus a
serious financial problem encounters
General Diaz upon the very threshold
OF his new administration. That he
will find ways and means to solve this
problem none who have studied the
history of his career can doubt, but it
may take some time and the most
delicate management of the Federal
revenues before the desired end can
be attained.