El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1898-09-14


celebration is the appearance OF the
mounted rurales. the trough riders
of Mexico. They go swinging by on
nettled 'horses,i cinchedsunder silver
trimmed saddles, and the men wear
their snowy ''Charro" leather uni
forms becomingly. This is the great
annual roundup of the nervy fellows
who for all the rest of the year will
pull a trigger. on any outlaw who
| train robbery is not at present pro-
fitable occupation south of the Rio
Grsnde, the law providing that
bandits may be shot on capture, as the
preliminary step of the investigation
into the affair. Numbers of the rurales
were once famous outlaws, to whom
the president offered pardon for past
offerses if they would enter the mill
tary service. and they now do their
work we'll for law and order.
TO SUCCEED DIAZ.
In 1900 Gen. Diaz will complete his
twentieth year in the presidential Of
| fee, when it ia his desire to permanent
| ly retire to private place, as he said he
would do in a recent interview given
me at the national palace. When the
correspondent asked who would be his
successor as chief executive, he
promptly expressed preference for
Senior Jose Ives Limantour, present
secretary of the treasury, with Gen.
Bernardo Reyes as his second
choice The president is great
believer in young men, Senior Liman-
| tour being little more than forty years
of age. Gen. Diaz is practical dictator
in Mexico. and makes no secret of the
fact that with him rests the choice of
his successor in Office, he to continue
for time as the power behind the
throne. 1t is held by many that a mi
litary ruler is still needed in the csc-
tus republic to hold in check the re-
volutiOnary spirit so natural in the
southern races, but Gen. Diaz believes
| that a civilian can now be safely in
trusted with executive power: other
wise he would name Gen. Reyes as his
first presidential choice.
Senior Limantour has rendered such
signal service at the head of the trea-
sury department that he has gained
the confidence of all classes. Largely
by his splendid financiering ability
Mexican credit has been completely
sustained, despite the heavy deprecia-
ton in Mexican silver money. and the
national budget now shows credit
balance at the end of each year.
The Limantour family is among the
oldest and wealthiest in the country.
and Don Jose is one of several influen-
tisl brothers. being q graduate at law.
During an extended acquaintance, SEN
or Limantour has frequently expressed
to me his frank admiration for Ameri-
cans aud the social and political
institutions of the United States.
He has made discriminating study of
the United States system of govern
ment, and credits it with being in most
respects the best the world has ever
known, saying that he wishes Mexico
to grow to the same general standard.
He speaks English, and has several
times visited the United States, the
last occasion being in the summer of
1896, when he took notes on the silver
campaign.
A change in the present policy of Ii
beral friendliness or the part of the
Mexican government to Americans and
American interests would seriously af-
feet the D ofitablepess of their heavy
lnvestE ents in this country: but no
fear need be felt 90 that account if
either Senior Ljmantour or Gen. Reyes
comes to power. The latter has in
duced so many manufacturers from the
United States to locate at Monterey.
the capital of the state of Nuevo Leon,
ericau colony there is nearly as large
as that of the City of Mexico, and num-
bers about 1000 people.
Two older men often mentioned for
the presidency are Senior Ignacio Mar
iscal. secretary of foreign relations in
the Mexican cabinet, and former min
lister to the United States: and Don
Matias Romero, present Mexican en-
vOy to Washington. Both of these di-
plomatists are equally friendly to the
United States, and are counted among
the strongest men in the Mexican SER
vice.