Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-09-11
HEYICO'S PRESIDENT.
4 REMARKABLE AND ROMANTIC
CAREER.
How the Idol of the People" Was
Chosen for His First Term
Mexican Politics.
Isnecial Correspondenee of the REcoRp.U N1oy.

Especial Correspondence of the REcoRD-UNIoS.l
MEXICO, August 81, 1886.
Now that public attention is more than
ever directed toward Mexico, people may
be interestedin reading something about the
ruler of an alleged republic, whose Consti-
tuition was professedly patterned from that
of Las Estados Unidos del Norte las they
call our country in contradistinction to
their own United States of the South },
but in which each State is a law unto her
self Independent of the Federal power. In
point of fact, nights right here. and who
is strongest rules, whether he be President,
State Governor or revolutionist.
President Porfrio Diaz is somewhat
remarkable man, in a land not prolific of
statesmen. He is just Sc years old-tall,
dark, halfIndian in type, his muscular
figure the very incarnation of health and en-
durance. His military yet nonchalant
bearing is grace itself. his brown eyes meet
yours squarely with the glance of one born
10 command, and his voice is peculiarly
pleasant, as in deep tones he rolls off the
musical dialect of his mother tongue.
Taken all in although trife brigandish
in appearance and with something the air
of lucky adyenturer-he is a man to COM
mand universal admiration, if not respect
His career. like that of all Mexican rulers,
has been full of romantic adventure. He
was born in 1890 in 0axaes-the richest
State of southern Mexico, which was also
the BIRTH place OF Juarez. Mejia, Raves,
Mariscal and others famed in politics, liter
AZURE and war. His parents designed him
for the law, and sent him TO Pueblo to be
educated at the celebrated Colegio Caroline,
which institution has graduated many of
the bright and shining lights in Mexican
history. But Don Porfrio
TOOK TO SOLDERING
AS naturally as duck to water, and at the
age of "a he enlisted as a private in the old
National Guard, against the oppressive
government of Santa Ana. A few years
later, in the War of Reform Q85S 61),
he won more substantial honors than the
straps of an officer, and when the country
was convulsed by the French invasion of e.
Diaz-then risen to the rank of General
took prominent part in the struggle. Many
tales are told of his hair. breadth 'scapes
and moving accidents by flood and field"
as fascinating as those by which 0thello
wen Brabantio's daughter. Once during
the French wars, when prisoner in the
" City of the Angels, with the expectation
OF being shot like dog on the morrow, he
let himself down from the tower in which
he was confined, by means of his blanket
torn into strips, and under the friendly
cover of darkness managed to elude the
guards and reach place of safety Again,
in the course of the bloody struggle by
which he made himself President the first
time, he had
MARROW ESCAPE
At the north. Having captured Matamoras
by daring strategy, he was himself cap
tured, on shipboard, by the Lerdoists, and
only evaded his enemies by leaping into
the shark infested sea. 1T is hardly posi-
bic that he could have come out alive from
this adventure but for the oonnivance of q
French Captain, whom he afterwards re-
warded by the appointment Of Consul at
San Nazaire.
Diaz brilliant conduct in the attack of
Pueblo; his valiant defense during the
siege of that city in 1863; his splendid vic
tories al La Carbonera and Miahuatlan, and
his triumphal entry into the City OF Mexico
as General-in-Chie of the forces that
wrested it from the Imperialists, all COM
bined to render him apopular hero-for his
countrymen, the mixed descendants of
warlike Aztecs and conquering Spaniards,
admire deeds of v&lor in the field more
than the most exalted craftsmanship.
Taking advantage OF this military pres
tige, he offered himself for the Presidency
against Bonito JuareZ, on the no-re-election
platform of 1S7l-the third candidate being
Don Sebastian Lerdo de Tejada. Chief JUS
tice of the Supreme Court. The Electoral
College gave Juarez a large majority, and
that tenacious Indian was duly declared
President. Then, from the safe retirement
of his hacienda de la NOVA" Diaz issued
a manifesto, known as
THE PLAN OF NOVA
Repudiating all existing powers and pro-
posing to retain military command. More
than year of terrible warfare ensued. in
which-after thousands had been slain
the DaZ element was utterly defeated, and
Punishment from Mexico was the Generate
punishment, with number of his fellow
partisans. Meanwhile Juarez died in office
tin 1872, and commission appointed by
Congress to decide upon his successor, de
clared Lerdo the legally elected ruler.
All authorities agree that Sebastian
Lerdo was the most scholarly President
Mexico ever had, and his adherents repre-
scented a conservative element of far better
education and social standing than the
ruder democratic forces. But he had been
sehool-maSter in his youth, and now
made the mistake of endeavOring to rule
the nation in the same pedagogical spirit
making a most dismal failure. One of his
earliest errors was to issue general am
nesty, under which all the rebels could
come back and be forgiven. General Diaz
amnested with the rest returned like the
prodigal son, from his hiding place in the
mountains, and was cordially welcomed to
the Capital by President Lerdo, who as
sured him of the kindness and protection
of the Government With Lerdo the world
had hoped for period of peace in
PATRIOT RIDDEN MEXICO;
But soon rebellions multiplied so rapidly
instigated by Diaz and his adherents-that
the distracted Government did not know
in what direction TO first send its troops
The year that brought to the United States
of the North the happy one-hundredth
anniversary of her independence, found
the headstrong Mexican leaders rushing
again to arms. The inspiring genius Of
the movement was Poriirio Diaz, who
from a place of security on the border
directed revolutionary operations. In the
spring OF 1876 his " Plan" appeared dated
from Palo Blanco State of Tsmaulipas), in
which the President, Congress and all ex-
listing authorities were denounced" The
only pretext for this rebellion was the no
second-term provision ofthe amended Con
stitution; for Lerdo's bitterest enemies
never found more serious fault with hi:
administration than the fact that he re
tanned the old and tried Ministers of Juare.
in his Cabinet, while new "pltriots" wert
hankerigg Tor the loaves ana fishes.
The Presidential election took place il
July, and every district not occupied 10y
" Pertirista forces las Diaz' army Wa:
called) gave Lerdo an overwhelming ma
jority. This popular voice was sanctioned
by the Electoral College. and Lerdo wa.
declared President by a vote of 1913 to 40.
But the scholarly Don Sebastian soor
found that he held no enyiable position
with an empty treasury, 9 country swarm
ing with enemies, and an active foe ad
vancing upon his capital. In September o
the same year his forces were defeated b,
the Porfristas under Don Miguel Gonzales
the recent President of the republic, where
upon Lerdo and his Cabinet evacuated tn
capital. Four days later General Dia
marched in at the head of his troops ant
took possession and this is
HOW THE POPULAR IDOL" BECAME rREsr
DENT.
The so-called constitutional army" wa
mainly composed of ignorant Indians from