The Savannah morning news., 1903-12-20

When Warren Hastings was charged
with using his despotic power in In
dia for private gain, he cynically re-
Piled
''When I think of my chances l am
surprised at my moderation"
There is a despot of to-day who has
had far better chances of graft" than
even Warren Hastings, but never used
them. That man is Porfirio Diaz, for
tventy-eight years the autocrat of
Mexico. His power over the public
treasury during that long period has
been absolute, but even his worst enc
mics do not allege that he ever rob-
bed his country of a cent. And that is
indeed remarkable in a Latin-Ameri-
can country.
When he became President, away
back in 1875, before his principles be-
came known, his relatives and friends
used to go to him for easy Jobs under
the government. They expected to be
allowed to plumber the treasury in the
good. old-fashioned Mexican way, and
they were very much disguised when
Diaz made it plain that he neither in
tended to loot on his own account nor
to allow anybody else to do so.
Since then Diaz has dealt sternly
with many of his family and his tribe,
who, having been placed in public Of
fee. abused their trust. Many years
ago he sent one of his cousins to pris-
on for peculation. The man was an
army officer. The family gathered
around Diaz and pleaded that dis
missal from the army in disgrace
would be sufficient punishment.
Consider" they said, "he is of our
family"
"The very reason he must be Sc
verely punished" Diaz declared. IF
I do not punish my own relatives
when they do wrong how could I pun
ish strangers?"
Another story is told in Mexico of
how Diaz punished a close relative.
The young man became mixed up with
a gang of dissolute gamblers and po-
litical firebrands who held their meet
ings in one of the lowest saloons in
the City of Mexico. At first the gov
eminent treated the gang with con-
tempt, but eventually it became such
a center of mischief that Diaz ordered
the Chief of Police to raid the saloon,
arrest everybody found there, and send
them to the frontier to fight in the
army then campaigning against the
Yaqui Indians.
About midnight Diaz was summon
ed from his bed by the ringing of his
telephone bell. The chief of police was
at the other end of the wire.
Your relative''-naming the man
was at the saloon with the Others"
he said, land he was arrested by my
men. I presume your excellency
wishes us to let him CO."
Certainly not" replied the stern old
President. Send him to the frontier
with the others. He will have chance
to redeem his reputation there"
There is another version of this
story, which says that on the evening
of the raid Diaz sent an aide-de-camp
to bid this particular relative dine
with him.
The man came. After dinner Diaz
detained him to play billiards. Pres
emily the telephone bell rang, and the
President talked over the wire for a
few minutes. AS he hung up the re-
ceiver he turned with smile to his
guest and said:
"You may go home now. The chief
of police has just been telling me that
he has made q most successful raid
upon that saloon you are so fond Of
visiting"
The young mans face turned pale,
for he had no idea that Diaz knew
about his bad habits. lie tried TO
stammer a few words of apology and
explanation, but the President cut
him short.
II wish to hear nothing. Let this
be a lesson to you. All your COM
rades have been arrested, and they
will start at daybreak for the south
ern frontier, where they will enter
the army and probably die Of disease.
II you had not been my guest to-
night you would have been among
them. Good night
The incident happened several years
ago, and Mexicans are divided as TO
which Of these two versions is cor
rect. Anyhow, the relative is re-
formed now, and holds a responsible
position under the Mexican govern
ment.
Although Diaz has been an auto
crat for twenty-eight years, welding
absolute sway over all the Affairs Of
bis country he ia nnspoilsd ~ power.