Evening star., 1902-02-22
which have guided him in the building O

which have guided him in the building ok
modern Mexico.
| The result Of his policy speaks for itself
In quarter of century he has brought
an undeveloped empire populated In the
majority by h race of Indians and In the
minority by the descendants of old world
aristocrats, into a condition where millions
upon millions Of foreign capital have built
| railroads, mills and factories opened banks,
mines and International lines of communi-
cation. have raised the rate of wages over
100 per cent. and through firm but In the
main kindly administration OF dictatorIal
regime has kept the people at peace with
each other
An Ambitious Minister.
Whether Gen. Reyes. now the Mexican
minister of war. can take up this work
where his great chief lays 1t down. and
carry it on in the same broad spirit of politi-
cal and commercial toleration is a question
which deeply concerns not only the people
of Mexico but the thousands of foreigners
| who have invested their money in Mexican
enterprises. Gen. Reyes Is. as stated, very
familiar with Americans and their ways OF
| doing. 1t must be said, however. that he
does not Hike them In his character are
developed to a high degree the sentiment
tality. the fiery ardor and the impufsive-
ness of the Latins He is romantic. a DASH
ing soldier, dreamer and a poet, man
who has long sought the highest office and
the greatest power within his sight. 1t Is
governor of Nueva Leon inspired by COM
plimentary phrases descriptive of the army
which he commanded. he stated in a mo-
ment Of enthusiasm that If the Mexican
government would give him but FIVE years
more. and place liberal funds at his ds-
| posai, he would then have army with
which he could defy an attack upon Mexico
II threatened by the United States
Gen. Reyes is short of stature, typical
| Spanish-American In appearance. quick OF
action and rapid In speech. He has a mag.
riall
10 the young men of his country. and he
has long been their idol. AS president OF
the Society Of Students In the City of MexA
leo he has presided at many turbulent meets
ings. where two thousand voices united In
mailing him as the next president of the reJ
public. Had he so willed he could have
turned his power to serious account in dis-
| turbing the present peaceful condition Of
his country. but with all his self-esteen.
| OF which 1t is said he has considerable. his
head has never been so turned as 10 lead
| him into such deplorahle folly.
An Apt Pupil.
1t is said that President Diaz kept him.
self well informed as to the doings of this
governor of Nueva Leon, and that the real
reason for Gen. Reyes being made minister
| of war and being brought to the City Of
| Mexico was to give him a better sense Of
perspective and to show him that there
were others as strong stronger than
himself within the government circle. He
has proved an apt pupil. however and 1t
Is believed that his association with Gen.
Diaz and others of great ability, like Liz
monteur the minister of finance. has
brought wisdom to this fiery general and
curbed his sentimental appreciation of his
own merits
He is not the same character of man,
| however, as President Diaz. and it is an
extremely interesting possibility of the fu.
| ture that 1t may be found Mexico's stable
ity has rested largely in the STABILITY of the
character and genius Of the president who
rules today.
President Daz tried the experiment once
of putting another man in his place, one
Gonzales. but the Mexican people would
have none of him. and to save the country
from a weak administration Gen. DiaZ was
compelled once more to take up the retns
of government. Gen. Reyes Is not a weak
man by any means. The only fear which
the future contains for Mexico in his ac-
cession to the presidency is Of his intensely
Latin American characteristics, which,
while more or less present in the mind OF
Diaz have been balanced and toned down
by common sense, prudence and delibera~
ton.
When the Change Comes.
Should President Diaz die suddenly. as II
always possible with man of seventy-five
years. the Mexican congress would meet
and elect General Reyes. for he has unite
ed and enthusiastic army at his back, IN
addition to the support Of the young men
Of Mexico. The army is the basis OF ali
power In Mexico even To-Day, ana SIeneT0y
Reyes as candidate for president is in>
vincible with his present following. Th6
absence Of the restraining hand of Diaz,
however, would lead to a disntegration OF
political forces which would inquest ionablY
result in more or less disorder i'm Mexico'o
capital and in some Of the other cities OF
sufficient size to support formidable polite
cal factions. If President Diaz resigns and
instructs his congress to vote for the
successor whom he has chosen, Gene
eral Reyes. his own strong hand. will
in reality remain at the helm and
the jar will be slight In either case
there will be lively times in the City OF
Mexico for a while, though In the end peacS
will be restored, and probably without serie
GUS damage having resulted to any foreign
interests or any legitimate industry in the
republic.
There can be no halt in the progress OF
Mexico's industrial development. He1
great natural wealth has been discovered
by foreigners and they are taking advan.
tage Of their opportunity to reap the bene~
fits therefrom. Mexico is losing nothing
through the operations of these foreigners
and is gaining everything. The country
has been given all the modern facilities OF
commerce and has taken rank among the
great nations. Where a dollar has been
made by a foreigner. the people of Mexicd
have been benefited tenfold
Dormant Money.
From Chambers Journal