The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-06-30
[0IqAZ, AND MEXICO

Fortunately for Mexico the recent
illness of President Diaz was not so
serious as reports led the public to fear
In fact, word is now being passed around
among the well informed in official cir
cles that he wished merely to play
'possum," so as to ascertain how the
nation would accept his absence in case
he went to Europe, which he desires to
do, and what turn government affairs
would take in such event. says the New
York Times One result of his illness
was to prove. if there ever was any
doubt Of the fact, that the Mexican peo-
pie feel nothing but love and sympa-
thetic admiration for the man who has,
without exception, always used the i'm
mense power In his hands simply and
solely for the public veal
The news of the presidents Illness i'm
portant in itself, gave rise in country
like Mexico, where everything bears an
original imprint. to various rumors, 50
that it even became a factional affair.
some affirming that he was dangerously
i'll, and others maintaining that he was
not Ill at all. Even the officials Of his
immediate encourage limited, with every
indication of great reserve and secrecy,
that he was in a serious condition. They
even gave out that even If he should
recover, he could not again take up the
reins Of government, for, they said he
was suffering from a disease of the
brain. AS a result of these conflicting
rumors, which are not Quoted in Mexico
as they would be in Europe, by official
bulletins, the Mexican capital was put
in a state Of exc .tement that was soon
reflected on the stock exchange, where
values at once fell
The fact is that his death would be a
blow from which MS country could only
recover slowly and with difficulty. In a
gained with so much effort would be
lost, and the country would be again
plunged into an era of ''pronunciamen-
tos,' the natural state of the l-..Ie re-
publics further south that have given
that word it's fame.
Anyone not familiar with Mexico would
be inclined to ask how the death of this
man alone could upheave the whole
country. It must be remembered that
it was the hand of this man. the Hero
Of Peace" that lifted the country from
the slough of "pronunciamentoes" and
placed it where it stands today, on
high level CT order and prosperity. He
has been q real dictator, ruling bened-
Gently with an iron hand
There is no other country In the world
in the curious condition of Mexico She
calls herself a republic, but she Is not
that in any sense. The word Of one man
alone is law. The czar of Russia is call
ed an autocrat, but he cannot compete
for a moment with Gen. Daz In that re-
gard. The word of the car is indeed
law within the limits Of the written law,
but for the president Of the Mexican
republic the written law is able to i'm
pose no limits whatsoever His person
atty impresses itself upon the minutest
details Of government; the most tritling
thing cannot take place without his ex-
press permission.
The Germans have a saying that not
a leaf can fall from the tree without the
permission Of God" Of the political
tree of Mexico one can truly say that
not the smallest portion of the political
foliage Of that country dare arrange it
self without the express Intervention of
his will. The president has in fact, for
THE time being. incorporated Mexican
law within himself. He has done this
with the best intentions, and has used
his unlimited power for the public good,
but that which gives cause for appre-
hension to Mexican patriots is the fear
that his successors, who will in a way in
herit this power, may not use it in the
same honest fashion. OF him it can in
deed be said that he is a dictator who
has given the Mexican people a better
government than they could have pro-
vided for themselves, but how often is a
dictator thus honest?
All this explains the unusual interest
taken in Mexico in the health Of the
president, for everyone feels and fears
that, with the death Of Gen. Diaz, an
oninous situation will arise.
President Diaz has succeeded in MAX
ing himself beloved not alone by the
common people, but also by the social
ed aristocracy Of the republic. He has
done this by the fact of his irreproach-
able private character. He is known as
an ideal husband and father, and the
breath Of scandal has never tainted MS
name. He married q young lady MOTEL
for her charitable aims, and by their
mutual interest in the well being Of the
poorest and most helpless in the land,
they have, during the long years Of tneir
public life, won the regard and respect
of all classes. He is equally well thought
of by resident foreigners, and especially
by Americans, for he has always mado
it a point to give foreigners a cordial
reception at all times and in the busl-
ness world has been n bulwark of pro-
lection to foreign interests. 1t is tie
feeling of security that he inspires that
attracts and keeps foreign capital in Mex
ico
The general has always enjoyed the
best Of health, because Of his regular
habits He always rises very early At
o'clock he takes his cold bath, and AZ
is always at work at the palace, where
he then receives the ministers, and IN
til 1:30 he may be found at work Then
he goes home, and in the afternoon IS
either to be found again at the palace
or devotes himself to the reception Of the
public at home. In all these things he IS
exact, to the point of severity, and az
the French say that 'Texactitude C est la
pohtesse des rois," so one can say that
in this as in many other things he has