St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-08-20
DIAz. AND THE REPUBLIC.

DIAZ- AND THE REPUBLIC.
The republic of Mexico presents a
strong contrast to the United States
in one particular. Since the founda-7
ton of our government there has
been great jealousy on the part of
the people lest it's executive officer
should at some time attempt to per-
petuate his power. What was a real
fear in the earlier days of her history
has now passed into a condition of
such continuous and settled deter
mination that no man has ever been
able, however great his ability or
however strong his hold on the peo-
pie, to secure a nomination for a
third term in the presidency. The
Liberal party in Mexico, on the con-
trary, is now prepared to offer to
President Diaz the nomination for
his fourth consecutive term in office.
construed as a virtual dictatorship,
and the future of republican gov
eminent would be in danger. 1t is,
in all probability, the part Of wis
dom for the Mexican people.
1t has happened almost uniformly
in the smaller republics on the Amer
lean continent that republican gov
eminent was only a, name for arbi-
trary rule under the forms of liberty.
One president has succeeded in over
throwing another not infrequently
by armed force, and the popular will
has had very little influence in the
choice of chief magistrates. The rea-
son for this is that there is so little
educated and patriotic opinion to be
consulted. The mass Of the people
in those countries is unintelligent,
unprogressive and Indifferent to the
form of rule under which it lives. The
greatest blessing for such a COM
munity is stable government, pre-
sided over by a man of energy and
integrity. Under his sway the peo-
pie who enjoy the blessings of a
rule nominally republican grow
gradually into a larger appreciation
of the meaning and value of popu-
lar liberty. This is what has been
happening in Mexico.
President Diaz is a ruler of great
strength and sagacity. During most
Of his long-continued presidency,
peace and prosperity have prevailed
throughout the country. Revolution,
the curse of the American republics,
has not been able to make head
way against him. With far-sighted
policy he has offered all possible en-
couragement to the development of
Mexico's resources, to the attraction
of foreign capital, and to the intro
duction of new industries and the eX-
pansion of old. The result is that
Mexico, Notwithstanding the quality
Of a large part of her people, her
antiquated financial system, and her
many disadvantages in competition
with the more highly developed bust
ness system of other countries, has
made enormous strides forward
within the last few years.
If Diaz were to step down and
out, there is no man in the public
eye who could fill his place. The
probability is that this event would
be a signal for an immediate up
rising of a dozen mediocre candi-
dates, who would probably settle
their claims eventually by appeal to
arms, after the old, bad fashion. OBJ
jectionable as the continuance in the
Office of chief executive of a single
individual for a long period Of years
| unquestionably is, there are mitigat-
ing circumstances in the case Of
Mexico which do not exist in a re-
| public whose institutions are firmly
established by age, and whose peo-
pie have been educated in the true
republican spirit. At the rate at
which Mexico has been advancing of
late, her people will probably soon
| develop a larger aptitude and a
larger capacity for self-government.
In this period of incubation, it is
| probably best for her material prog
| ress, and best for the republic itself,
that the presidential chair should con-
tinue to hold an occupant SO strong,
| patriotic and really statesmanlike as
| President Diaz.