The sun., 1903-08-01
TINE POLITICAL SgTU ALTON IN
MEXICO.

as President Of Mexico is practically the
equivalent of his reelection. His resiection
is practically guarantee of the continuance
Of Mexican progress and prosperity On
Sept Is Diaa will be 10 years OF age. His
appearance in that OF one of little more than
so years His eyes are bright and clear, his
carriage erect and his step that oil an alert
and vigorous man. He would be to-day
safer risk for life insurance company than
many man Of three score years, or oven
loss. AT this particular juncture, this is
well for Mexico.
For a number of years il has been the
honest desire Of Diaz to withdraw from
active life and lay aside the cares and bur
! dens of so responsible a position as tha' OF
Mexico's Chief Executive. For half CEN
tury, AZ lawyer, soldier and President, he
has been "a prominent figure in Mexican
affairs 1t is his hand that has made the
Mexico of to-day. Ii may be that just now
it is his hand alone that holds the nation TO-
getller and wards of domestic strife.
A few years ago, having the idea OF his
own death or retirement in view, Diaz for
mulated plan for the Presidential success
sion and laid the foundation for its eXecu-
lion. II was an open secret that his all
! powerful influence would be exercised In the
interests of Jose Ives Limantour a. his I'M"
mediate successor, with Bernardo Reyes
in training to succeed Limantour. An nh-
fortunate incident wrecked this project,
and Mexican politics Went a good deal into
the air. Only one course seemed open, and
that was the reelection of Dian. He con-
"a ka NJ, l.,, IA
| edly Al he cost Of his personal desires. This
appears to solve the difficulty for the time.
but dscordant note has been struck in
Mexico's national politics, and its iarring
tone gives promise of frequent recurrence,
Should Diaz die or become in any way inca
pacitated both possibilities TO be considered
in the case Of a man of hi- wears, condition
of no little sariousne-ss seems almost inevi-
table. The breach between the Limantour
and Reyes factions is nOw too wide to hope
for any reconciliation unless i, can he ef-
fected by Dia2 during his lif"
The central figures in Mexicos political
entanglement are Limantour and Reyes.
For many years their personal relations
were entirely cordial and their political
relations harmonious. Both were personal
friends of the President and both were
heartily loyal to him, personally and polit-
ically There ia no doubt that both were
fully aware of his plans for the succession,
and there is no doubt that they acquiesced
in them and honestly indorsed them. The
rupture which was precipitated was I'M
doubtpdly caused Dv the overZeaious ac-
tivity of some of their individual partisa,s
and followers As friends acting in con-
cert they could have carried out the plan of
Diaz, continued his policy and perhaps
could have carried Mexico TO point where
her political footing would have been strong
and secure As rivals for the Presidency
their attitude carries with IL a menace even
to the peace OF the country. There is no
other candidate whose claims command any
serious consideration SO far as these two
gentlemen are concerned. personally, there
il perhaps little choice between them Both
are able, both are honest, both are patriotic,
as able and honest patriots are counted
nowadays Between he elements which
they represent the difference is funda-
mental. Lmantour is the man of the
classes Reyes IL the man Of the Masses
Jose Ives I.imantour is of French par
with the Mexican people. He was edu'
Gated In France and trained for the law. TO
which he devoted his time until a few years
ago, when he entered political life. He is
man OF highly cultivated tastes in art and
In letters, a man of wealth and the possessor
Of one of the best appointed homes in the
CITY Of Mexico. He Ia student Of finance,
and his abilities az a 6nancier are recog
nized in other lands than that of his birth.
The Mexican people as mass undoubtedly
respect him; but he is not in touch with them
and is not popular among them. They say
that he is Frenchman and not Mexican.
He is the candidate Of the so-called "Cientifi-
CO.'S" and Of the greater par, Of the prop
ertv-holding classes He is counted safe"
man. but he does not suit the people"
On the other hand Gen Bernardo Reyes
is the idol of the people" His record and
his whole life appeal to them. He is the
hero of many battles fought for Mexican
liberty and independence. He began his
military career, az a boy OF l6 years, In the
Mexican struggle against French domina-
tion, which ended in the tragic death of the
Emperor Maximilian in 1897. His gallant
deeds IN IN" suppression VI 'i'"'N' !" h"''-
erous rebelions and in fighting Indians,
throughout period Of thirty years, are a
part OF Mcxico's history, and he carries a
personal record in the shape Of numerous
scars of battle He has risen from the
lowest to the highest rank in the military
"a reer. and again and again the name Of
Bernardo Reyes has been the war cry Of the
army as they charged TO victory. The
army counts for much in Mexico. and his
hold updn the heart OF the populace is no
cause for wonder.
But Reyes has won the laurels Of an ad-
,rinstrator az we'll as those Of q soldier
In 1885 he was made Go'~rnor Of the Prov
;ncc Of Nuevo Leon, OF which the city of
Monterey is the capital. That position he
has held until the present time, with the
exception of two years spent in Mexico city
as Minister Of War in the Diaz Cabinet
The success Of his administration OF that
nroyjnce is fairly shown by the fact that
Monterey is the home of some 1000 Ameri-
cans. who would not be likely 10 go there
or to stay there If governmental conditions
we're oppressive or offensive. While, from
the standpoint Of the best OF our American
States the conditions Of Nuevo Leon may
not be IDEAL there is no doubt that the Reyes
administration has effected many important
reforms in all branches and departments
in the province The courts are fairly
effective. as courts 20 in Latin America.