The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-02-16
A Fiery soIdier-Poet. He Has Quail
ties which Make Him n Favor
lite with the People.
A MAN OF THE SPANISH TYPE
KNOWS AMERICANS WELL, But
DOES NOT LIKE THEM.
A Change i'm Government VIII Result
I'm Disorder. but It Il Likely TO
Be but Temporary.

! CORRESPONDENCE OF the indianapolis Journal.
CITY OF MEXICO Feb. l0.-If Gen. Por-
| frio Diaz resigns the office Of President OF
| Mexico he will be succeeded by Gen. Ber-
/ nardo Reyes, the present minister OF war.
II President Diaz should die suddenly while
/ in office he would likewise be succeeded by
| General Reyes The accession 10 the pres
/ idency Of Mexico. If accomplished by Cen
/ eral Reyes through the resignation OF his
i chief, would be a comparatively peaceful
event Should he secure the office through
! the sudden death Of the present incumbent
/ he will do so under circumstances which
| will give rise TO some alarms i'm foreign
/ countries whose citizens are interested
] financially in Mexico maintaining her pres
ent political stability.
The story that President Diaz is about TO
resign has again gone the rounds OF the
press Of the United States. 1t is a familiar
story. and, as it is based upon a perfectly
logical outcome Of the present situation I'm
Mexico. il is readily accepted. IL is not
believed by those who know the President
OF Mexico that he is anxious 10 lay down
! the tremendous and autOcratic power which
he has exercised so wisely and so long
He realizes, however, that he is getting 10
be an old man. He also realizes that, owing
to the peculiar character Of his people and
the autocratic form OF government which
prevails in Mexico under the name Of a
republic. that the will Of the people is not
expressed at the ballot box, and that a
new reign cannot be inaugurated as In the
greater and truer republic TO the north.
If President Diaz resigns il will be be-
cause the love of his country, which is
strong within him, is greater than his de-
sire to continue to WELD the scepter. IL
| will be because he wishes TO install young
and vigorous successor who will carry out
the Diaz policy and 20 prevent aspiring
politicians or jealous rivals from making a
| change in the administration the occasion
for noisy demonstrations which would de-
story much of the prestige Mexico now
! holds as the best governed Spanish-Ameri-
can country.
KNOWS AMERICANS WELL.
Gen. Bernardo Reyes first came into po-
liticaI prominence as the Governor of the
Mexican state Of Nueva Leon, OF which
Monterey the most thoroughly American
lied Mexican city, is the prosperous capital
There are over 1900 Americans living I'm
Monterey. or more than are to be found as
permanent residents IN the City Of Mexico,
although the latter is ten times as large
boundary Of Mexico and in the zone OF
operations where American capital has
found its freest outlet, the natives Of Mon
terey are thoroughly familiar with the
character and customs of the people of the
United States. The latter have come TO
Monterey, paved the streets, put in electric
| light plants built factories. planted orange
groves in the suburbs. drained the city upon
scientific principles. built handsome resi-
denoes, extended the railroad facilities and
made a specially of entertaining tourists.
The stores the cafes, the banks. and. in
fact all Of the industries Of Monterey have
found their greatest profit in handling
! American money.
Quite naturally, General Reyes when
/ Governor Of Neuva Leon and resident OF
| Monterey, was thrown in close contact with
the Americans who performed these mod
/ ern miracles. 1T has been stated that he is
| an Americanized Mexican. This is hardly
true for, while he knows more about
Americans and their methods than almost
any prominent Mexican, he is not so much
! in sympathy with them as is the President
of Mexico to-day. President Diaz has a
calm and judicial appreciation Of American
/ character. He has overlooked the eccen-
tricties and, discerning the real good and
energetic purpose behind everything, he
has not expected the impossible. but has
given every encourag cement 10 the natural
bent Of his northern neighbors for enter
prise and profit. All this he has done 10
the advantage Of his own country, and has
willingly allowed a liberal percentage OF
the surplus profits 10 go 10 those who fur
nished the initiative, the brains and the
money 10 develop the native opportunities
In President Diaz there is little Of that
highly developed sentimentality so char
acteristic Of the Spanish man at arms. be
is a soldier and good one, dictator and
a Just one, but he is also a good business
man, and is not swayed by prejudice or
sentiment in carrying out 10 a successful
end the plans which have guided him In
the building OF modern Mexico.
A SUCCESSFUL POLICY.
The result Of his policy speaks for itself.
In a quarter OF a century he has brought
an undeveloped empire populated in the
majority by a 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, minss and international lines OF
communication. have raised the rate OF
wages over 100 per cent. and through
firm but in the main kindly administration
OF a dictatorial regime has kept the people
at peace with each other.
Whether General Reyes. now the Mexi-
f can minister OF war. can take Up this work
where his great chief lays II down, and
carry it on in the same broad spirit OF DO
Htical and commercial federation is ques-
ton which deeply concerns not only the
people OF Mexico, but the thousands OF
foreigners who have invested their money
in Mexican enterprises General Reyes Is.
as stated very familiar with Americans
and their ways OF doing. IL must be said.
however. that he does not like them In
his character are developed 10 high de-
gree the sentimentslity. the fiery ardoT and
the impulsiveness OF the tatins. lie IL ro-
mantle. a dsshing soldier, dreamer and
a poet a man who has long sought the
highest ONCE and the greatest power with
In his sight II is told OF him that once
at a banquet. when Governor Of Nueya