The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-12-20
4o4F1Rfe DIAz mnx 6es;Nw7 0ay
BY STEPHEN RoNsAL.

BY STEPHEN BONSAL
WRITTEN FOR THE SUNDAY REpuBI-Ic.
If it be true, as rumor of quite substan
tial sterling ring has it. that Porfirio Diaz
the benevolent despot'' of our Mexican
neishbors, is at last to step down and out
to end his active life and seek seclusior
or change of scene in foreign travel. +
will be distinctly a pity from the poin
OF view Of the picturesque and som.
others
One would regret It the more did no
the political consequences of the steI
promise to be SO interesting.
At last then it appears We are to have
an answer to the question which has puz
zled SO many political critics during thu
last decade.
Are the peace and progress OF the sistel
Republic due to the fear which Diaz's
despotic sway has inspired or are the Mex.
leans really increasing in political wisdom
and stature?
Tho close observers Of current events
those who read the shadows which they
cast before them. say that an answer will
be given to these speculations within three
months. when DiaZ concludes his sixth
presidential term and places the reins OF
power, which he has held SO strongly ever
since the centennial vec-:. Of 1876 in the
hands of another.
1t is not hard TO understand why he
cares no longer to linger on the scene from
which one by ono his contemporaries have
vanished. for Diaz is not of our genera
ton. but belongs to the class of Titans
who have gone, leaving behind them such
spacious vacancies.
He began to make history about the
same time that Bismarck did and Glad
stone and GaribaldL Grant and Pope Leo
We're of his class.
He came into power born Of civil strife
and foreign invasion. He has known what
il was to starve in New Orleans, appar-
entity Il discredited reyolutionist, and to
bexhunted like a wolf through the lonely
sierra by the powers that were.
He mas been saved a score of times by
the mettle Of his horse and by the
strength OF his swimming and by the as
cendancy of his star. in which his coun-
trymen are not without reason for believ-
Ing. for In this way he escaped from a
.filihustering vessel off Vera Cruz. which
shortly afterwards foundered and went
down with all on board.
PERIOD OF QUIET.
Since 1854 however, the life of 1.-The
:amiable dcspot.' has been singularly calm
and uneXciting, though not uneventful.
But the path of unalloyed prosperity may
have begun to pail upon Diaz's active
mind. Many reasons are given for his an
pounce.nent abdication.
Z The one that appeals to me- is the eE
PLANTATION that he is bored and perhaps
consumed by his curiosity 10 know what
will happen in the land which he has re-
constructed after his announced self-ef-
Placement is accomplished.
Some of the practical aspects OF the
political situation in our next door neigh
bor's house, where We have 5000 fellow
citizens. and perhaps a thousand million
dollars out on investment TO look after.
will well repay attention. ard it would
Ire like picking money up in the street to
know without the peradvcnture of 4
doubt who is 10 take up the succession.
whether the course is TO he the same or
new one. which in Mexico is the old.
leading TO civil war and bankruptcy. Two
names alone are mentioned, that of Lii
mantour. the able. up-to-date financicr,
and Bernardo Reyes General of some
what antiquated If not positively reac-
tionary ideas. But for the present l
would have you take a look at Diaz 1t
may be one of parting
If,ycu would see Diaz TO best advantage
r would say 60 TO his Office the little
. room in which all political wires by means
OF which he rules the country converge
Ii is in the somewhat ungainiy. not to
say ugly, building that is known as the
National Palace, and stands in the great
open square of Mexico City. above the
ruins OF an Aztec shrine.
You must be very careful what kind Of
cab you take when you drive to the pal
ace
Pedestrians stand no chance of admis-
= zion. and a blue-colored cab is distin-
guished. n red one is only respectable,
while a yellow one, lowest in the cate
CORY, is apt 10 land you in the small
pox hospital. ard no. in the presence Of
the despot.
There is long stairway Of honor. with
a number of sentIies, who will present
arms II they like the cut of your frock
coat; then a long gallery. musical with
crysta! chandeliers and stuffy with heavy
hansings.
COSMOPOLITAN PLACE.
The place has no individual note; it is
cosmopolitan. You might be in the ante
i, chamber of a Chinese mansion or a Wall
street niasnate. or merely strolling about
the corridor of somewhat fiashy sum-
ner hotel.
This place is called in Mexico THE In
fcrno.'' which ] SHALL not translate be-
cause the word is not admitted in our
composiny-room.
The inferno is crowded. always
crowded. and cosmopolitan. Americans.
MeSicars. Indians and Chinese crowd
there. for the President is an amiable
man and gives more audiences In n day
s than lie can possibly receive in mouth.