Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-09-11
.capulco, found refuge in the United

Acapulco, found refuge in the United
States.
Before sallying forth to defeat the troops
of Iglesias who had made stand at Que
retaro, General DiaZ named Senior Juan
Mendez as Provisional President of the Re
public and second General in command OF
the constitutional army. On his triumph
ant return from this expedition, Mendez-
according to previous agreement-issued
call for Convention to choose a President,
and Of course
THE cUT-AND-DRIED RESULT
Was that Porfirio was declared called to
rule by the voice of the people!' His
claims to the Presidency were not immedl-
ately recognized by the United States; and
that he was not soon deposed and sent into
exile after his numerous predecessors was
due as much to favorable combination of
circumstances as to his own sagacity.
Article XVIII of the amended Consti-
tuition says: 1.-THE President shall enter
upon his duties the 1st of December, and
shall remain in office four years. He shall
not be eligible for reelection for the term
Immediately succeeding, neither shall
he occupy the Presidency for any reason
until four years have passed without his
exercising executive functions" Diaz had
been too ardent a one-termer to so soon go
back on the principles by which he had
driven Lerdo into exile; therefore when
his first four years had expired he resigned
the reins of vernment-outwardly at
least-into the hands of General Gonzalez.
Perhaps his ready obedience to the law was
not less cheerfully rendered because great
and profitable business enterprises were
then on the taps, which he could best work
up in a private capacity; and with his
friend and tool Gonzalez for figure head
to the ship of State, he could still remain
de facto President and
RULE BY PROXY,
So to speak. Upon Diaz' retirement from
the executive chair he was made Minister
of Public Works-not bad position for
man who has railroad subsidies to secure;
and the next year was installed Governor
of Oaxaca, by order of the central Govern
ment Notwithstanding that the people of
each States are supposed to elect their own
rulers), which gave him control of Mexico's
most important fighting forces. Meantime,
while amassing vast estates in the south
and proving himself q model farmer, the
great manipulation was busy in endeayoring
to reconcile all conflicting elements in favor
of his reelection as soon as the law would
allow. First, he etfectually laid " any
lingering ghost of Lerdoist sentiment that
might shake its CORY locks at him in future,
by marrying in the midst of the enemy's
camp. His young and beautiful third wife
is the daughter of Romero Rubio, who
was Lerdo's chief supporter and companion
in exile. Immediately after this alliance
Senior Rubio was appointed President of
the Senate, that official being empowered
by law to call and control new election in
case of vacancy in the Presidential chair
"a not unwise move, considering the dan
ger of assassination to which Mexican rulers
are subject, and the fact that Gonzalez
murder was more than once attempted.
Ever since Senior Rubio became papa-in-
law TO the President he has occupied the
most eligible position in the gift of the Ex-
ecutive, and it is definitely stated by those
who claim to know, that plans are already
laid by which he will be the President dur
ing Diaz off term. If the willy Warwick
can manage this he may be able TO keep
the Office in the family for an unlimited
period by series of judicious alterations.
MRS. DIAz,
Who is not We. 90 years old, is an extremely
well-bred and accomplished lady. There
are not few points of similarity between
Mrs. Cleveland and herself, and if the
young wives of the two middle-aged rulers
of the sister Republics were acquainted,
they would certainly become fast friends.
Mrs. Diaz is q devout Catholic, and that
goes far toward placating another strong
element in Mexico, who hope much from
her influence on the anti Church admins
tration.
But President Diaz' position is by no
means sinecure, nor is life for him bed
of roses. Although he is personally
friendly to the United States, the qitid
n,sncs say that he would welcome war with
us as a means of increasing his own popu-
larity at home-for this restless nation are
born fighters, and the history of the past
has proven that their allegiance cannot long
be commanded except by soldier-heroes.
General Diaz fully realizes that if his peo-
pie become aroused to the point of wanting
war with the United States, war theae must
be; tor any hesitation on his part would be
political ruin, if not the signal for his as
sassination. He well knows that in the
event of such a conflict there could be but
one issue-defeat for the weaker power ;
and then, in all human probability, the
blame of the whole transaction would be
heaped upon his devoted head. But a
boom" he must have pretty soon, and
war talk would give it to him better than
anything else-if only he can make it all
talk, without coming into actual contest
with the stronger republic.
FANNIE B. WARD.