The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-12-20

of confidence which the great majority OF
| Mexicans entertain toward him in the
same way that he succeeded in dispelling
| the suspicious Of our banking magnates.
! Even his friends admit that the absence
| OF Indian blood tells heavily against Diaz's
candidate in the scale of popularity.
| He not only wears a coat with apparent
| comfort. but he wears it like foreigner.
| and 1t is hard for the MeXicans OF the low
er class TO forgive him this.
| OF course. every foreigner. whether resi-
dent or merely an investor, Is interested
| in his taking IN the DiaZ succession. an
interest which have often thought is not
helpful to his chances.
| 1t cnn be said that all the Americans
| and English. who are conducting the
| great railway and mining enterprises; the
| Germans and French. with their small
trade which at the end of the year bulks
| SO large. and the thrifty emigrants from
North SPAIN the Galatians and the Basques
are for Limantour to a man.
| And. of course. there are a certain num-
Der of enlightened Meyicans who recognize
that the prosperity of the country during
the last few years is due in a large meas
u-e to the commercial and industrial in
| vasion of foreigners. and that II these lat
| ter have accumulated much wealth they
have also developed immensely the re-
! sources of the country. But it would be
idle TO deny that large-a very large
| majority of the people take a very differ
ent view CT the situation.
JEALOUS OF WEALTH
| They regard the increasing wealth and
the growing number OF the foreigners
with jealous eyes.
And while he has been careful not to
identify himself openly with their plat
form it is quite apparent that General
Reyes is the candidate Of all those who
believe in Il policy of practical exclusion
that is. Mexico for the Mexicans.
Two years ago. when Reyes was appar-
emily in high favor. he was suddenly dis
missed from the Ministry OF War and
practically exiled to the remote State of
NUeva Leon.
The governorship of the place. which
was assigned him. could not well have
been been more unimportant. and 1t was
soon noticed that even here whatever
power there was fell to the subordinate
chiefs who nominaly worked under him.
He was q prisoner on parole rather than
Governor.
There can be no doubt that much popu-
lar sympathy followed Reyes as he went
to his unimportant and isolated place.
1t was generally believed. and he GER
tainly did nothing to discredit the belief.
that he had fallen because he opposed the
further extension of foreign influence in
the country.
There was another story to this effect:
Diaz had offered him the succession pro-
vided be would agree at the end Of one
term I'm Office to step aside in favor of
Porflrio DiaZ, Jr., who by this time
would have reached the eligible age.
Reyes is supposed 10 have answered that
the elections. the ballots of his fellow
countrymen. must decide.
Upon this followed his disgrace and the
elevation. OF Limantour to the position of
heir apparent.
Since that time Limantour only Minister
of Finance in name. has not confined his |
activity to fiscal matters.
More and more he has been taken into |
the confidence of his chief, and one by one |
the benevolent despot has unloaded his |
burdens upon younger shoulders.
To-day. and 1T the instance Of Eiaz |
himself. an amendment to the Constitu- |
ton is being railroaded through the docile |
Legislature providing for Vice Presi- |
dent. who is further permitted to hold |
another Office.
1t does not require the sight which PEN !
etrates millstones to recognize what Dlaz