The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-02-16

tneE nave an army WITH winch ne could
DEFY an attack upon Mexico II threatened
by the United States.
General Reyes is short of stature. a typ
teal spanish-American in appearance. quick
of action and rapid in speech. He has a
magnetic personality, which especially ap-
peals TO the young men Of his country. and
ne has long been their idol. AS president
of the Society OF Students in the City OF
Mexico he has presided at many turbulent
meetings, where 20OO voices united in hail
ing him as the next President OF the re-
public. Had he so willed ne could have
turned his power to serious account in dis
turbing the present peaceful condition of
his country but with all his self-esteem
of which it is said he has considerable, his
head has never been 50 turned as to lead
him into such deplorable folly
PLEASED WITH HIMSELF.
A few years ago, Immediately following
the occasion above referred to, where he
boosted of the splendid army under his
command. a Mexican paper, opposed to him
IN politics. printed a cartoon which may be
described as indicating the estimate of the
man held by some of his fellow-citizens
He was represented as standing in front OF
row Of busts of distinguished generals
Napoleon was at the head, then came Gen
Diaz. then General Grant and one or two
others. At the foot of the line was bust
OF General Reyes himself. Standing before
these representations of military genius
General Reyes was supposed to be fixing
the degrees of their importance in his own
mind by rearranging the order in which
they were placed. His first move was to
change his own position from the foot by
placing two or three of the others below
him. After several moments of supposed
hesitation he again moved his bust until
It stood next to that of General Diaz. In a
moment more he had placed himself be-
tween General DiaZ and Napoleon, and
then again after a few moments of intense
reflection he moved Napoleon to the second
place and put his own bust at the top Of
the line.
1t is said that President Diaz kept him
self well informed as 10 the doings of this
Governor Of Nueva Leon. and that the real
reason for General Reyes being made min
lister of war and being brought to the City
OF Mexico was 10 give him a better sense
OF perspective and to show him that there
were others as strong or stronger than
himself within the government circle He
has proved apt pupil, however, and it
IS believed that his association with Gen.
Diaz and others OF great ability, like Lii
monteur. the minister Of finance has
brought wisdom to this fiery general and
cUrbed his sentimental appreciation of his
own merits.
RE is not the same character of man,
however, as President Didz, and it is an
extremely interesting possibility of the fu-
ture that 1t may be found Mexicos stabil-
ity has rested largely in the stability of the
character and genius of the President who
rules to-day.
President Diaz tried the experiment once
of putting another man in his place, one
Gonzales, but the Mexican people would
have none of him, and 70 save the country
from weak administration General Diaz
was compelled once more to take I'D the
rens of government. General Reyes is not
a weak man by any means. The only fear
which the future contains for Mexico i'm
his accession 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 elaboration
WILL BE SOME FRICTION
y,
always possible with a man of seventy-five
years, the Mexican Congress would meet
and elect General Reyes, for he has a
united and enthusiastic army at his back,
In addition to the support of the young men
of Mexico. The army is the basis of all
power in Mexico even to-day, and General
Reyes as candidate for President is in
vincible with his present following The
absence of the restraining hand of Diaz,
however, would lead to a disintegration of
political forces which would unquestionably
result in more or less disorder in Mexico
capital, and in some of the other cities OF
sufficient size TO support formidable poIiti-
cal factions. More or less disorder is ex-
pected. no matter how peaceful the coming
change of administration may be. Exag-
gerated reports of this disorder will go to
the outside world and undue Importance
Will be attached thereto. 1t will be impos-
sible to get accurate news, owing to the
close censorship Of all means Of communi-
eating with the outside world and there
will be a serious disturbance in Mexico's
Industrial and commercial standing abroad.
Unless the unexpected happens, however,
this will be merely temporary. If President
Diaz resigns and instructs his Congress to
vote for the successor whom he has chosen
General 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 peace will be re-
stored, and probably without serious dam
age having resulted to any foreign inter-
ests or any legitimate industry in the re-
public
There can be no halt in the progress of
MexicO's Industrial development. Her 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 foreigner the people of Mexico
have beer. benefited tenfold.
The Diaz administration cannot last for
ever. and is certain TO end within a COM