The Topeka state journal., 1903-06-06

With a fundamental law declaring that
all government rests in the people, the
people of Mexico have nothing to say
as TO who shall rule them or by what
methods or form the government shall
be carried on. With all the machinery
of an election provided for in the statutes
of the country an election has never
been held in Mexico in which the pOpu-
lar will was actually Registered by bal
lots. The government Of the country
rests primarily on the military power
but of late this power has been strength
ened by a strong community of interests
between its beneficiaries and the power
full representatives of the foreign capital
which owns everything in Mexico per
tanning to the nineteenth or twentieth
centuries.
The government OF Mexico is a strong.
personally conducted. centralized organ
ization. It's power is maintained by an
efficient military force by supremacy N
all political positions and by wise en-
I couragement and friendliness toward the
capital invested in enterprises which
bring employment to the people and
wealth to the investors.
The deNelcpment of the military arm
has kept pace with the increase in the
Industrial army. Education has been
made compulsory among the people.
ana at the same time no politician OPP
posed to the administration N power IS
allowed to draw q political breath The
people, with a suffrage guaranteed them
by those who freed the country from
+ LAAt spanish YOKE. nave no kn0N4ttltaE =
of their political privileges nor do they
attempt to exercise them.
There are but two classes of people
in the cOunty-thOSe who rule and
are rev IN number. but in their hands
lies the wealth of the nation and it's
{ power The traditions Of centuries de-
mand subserviancy of the many TO the
few, and it is granted without ques-
The Mexicans are unable to modef
/ their Dian for the succession TO the
4 presidency upon precisely the safce sye
4 tenn as was adooted in the United
states several years ago for the reason
/ that in the Mexican republic no vice
! president is elected coincidently with
! the president. 1t has been the rule
/ there to regard as virtually vice presi-
I dent the presiding officer Of the con-
gress. but even this official is not afs
absolute -Xture, for the house elects =
/ new speaker, it is understood, once
every month during the continuance OF
/ us session. the presiding officer at tho
close Of its session continuing to be re-
garced as speaker until congress recon
Venes
son n the Mexican cabinet would pass
nrst to the secretary of state thence to
/ nc secretary of the treasury and from
LIN lo the secretary OF the interior. as
that has always been regarded as the next
trloSt important post in the cabinet after
the two named.
This method of succession would brine
yet another candidate for the presidency
into the field in case of the retirement or
demise Of President Porhrio Diaz. The
/ present secretary of state is .. T. Mart
aenal- who might in case of a political
/ coup be forced by the conflicting elements
into the position of supreme executive
power
Mrs. Diaz has long been the leader OF
seciety M the republic and a popular idol
among the pcor on account Of her deva-
ZION to their interests. She is high
( ly educated. charming and cultured wo-
man. and her popularity among her osvn
/ class has been Of great service In reconcfi-
ing differences among members Of the cah-
met and others holding important posi-
/ Chapultepec. the favorite summer resi-.
dence Of the Mexican president and Mrs