The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1892-02-23

ident. Iglesias, however, was in a FOOLS para
disc, for Diaz had no notion of being ignored.
He forced the Iglesias party into the held,
easily defeated them, and his installation as
president followed.
It will be seen that Diaz was consistently
and persistenty a seeker after power and that
his passion was personal advancement. He
was as ambitious and determined, in his degree,
as ever was Napoleon the First. An endeayor
to depose him in 1878 proved abortive, for SO
unrivaled was his acquaintance with the de-
vious ways of revolutionsts that his opponents
were olttanked at every turn.
President Diaz is now i'll his third term or
Office which will expire in November next.
He Is an illustration of the great Napoleon,
aphorsn, that in politics there is wlde gnu
between promises and performances. Hlnse'i
the preacher of the theory that no president
of a republic should ever become his own sue,
ccsSor, he has three times accepted once, ana
there is little indication of his ever vacatlng
the presidency as long as he lives and retains
his present vast influence. Mexico has pros
pered wonderfully under DlaZ, ana "hile MS
absolutism is the handspring OF whatever I'M
popularity he suffers from, II may DC qucS.
TONED as to whether an iron hand IS not
needed in the chief magistrate OF such couh-
try. Yet many of his actions call Tor the Sc
verest criticism. Suppression Oh press lree-
dom is anomalous in n republic, ana the OUT
rageous policy of Diaz in dealing WIN tne
Mexican press cannot be defended. Editors
rash enough to oppose him have actually pcen
executed without even the pretense OF legal
trial.
The laws in force governing the army might
he approprate in Russia, bat in Mexico they
are cut of place, to put it mildly. Under Diaz
a Mexican army officer is literally unable to
call his life his own. His uniform can only DO
considered badge of servitudc; he IS either
an obedient puppet in the hands OF DlaZ or
else candidate for the attentions Of tirlnS
party. Again, the anti-clercal laws, of which
Diaz is tie sponsor, complete the record OF
suppression of the forces of opinion repre-
scented by the press, the army and the church.
The impressng into military service Of con
victS who receive the alternative OF entering
either Jail or the army has naturally done
much to lower the status OF the latter ANA to
destroy that esprit de corps which Is an essen
tial part of every efficient national force. Tho
story OF the colonel who. becoming disaifected
with the policy of the Diaz party, decided
to resign his commission to enter political life,
and who was waylaid by party of soldiers
and shot at the instiyation OF the president,
though often told, has never been disproved.
And yet, to some extent, President Diaz IS
popular. National songs have been dedicated
to him, and when he was assuming office IN
1887 the Archbishop of Mexico advised the
people to welcome his Inauguration. The
archbishop however, may have been guided
by policy in the latter instance.
Diaz, no doubt, has his virtues and redeem
ing features. Malappropriation OF public mon
eyS mas never Dcel CHarStu ~ NE duihi'i.o
ton, and the absence of corruption under q
democratic form OF government is certainly
not the invariable rulo.
In some respects Daz may BIO compared to
DR.. Francia, who founded the Jesuit state OF
Paraguay. They were both strong-willed, IN
scrupulous men, determined to pIoong their
power and were each equally distinguished
for personal integrity.
Tie one softonng feature Of tho long-con-
tinuod supremacy OF Diaz in Mexico is the be-
nign and charming personality of his present
wife. The story of her meeting with and
marriage to her husband is something of ro-
nance. Her father Senior Rubjo, was an ar
dent supporter of ex-presidcnt Lerlo During
the fight between Lerdo and Diaz, Rubio and
the latter were bitterly opposed. They
afterward met at q ball i'll the American le2a-
ton and were brought together by Minister