The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1904-08-20
Mexican Politics.

cry one had supposed that President |
Diaz constituted both political parties |
as well as the executive, legislative
and judicial departments OF govern |
ment down therein fact, that he
was the whole political works This |
idea seems slightly inaccurate, how
ever. This discovery was made through !
the reluctance OF any one to take the
vice presidency. So at least there is q
vice president The unwillingness OF
the Mexican statesmen to occupy this |
highly ornamental office may arise
from an attempt to initiate Uncle Joe
leaders. or 1t may come from natural
modesty. At any rate. one man declin
ed. and 1t was with difficulty that an.
other was found who would accept the
Job. This is all the more mysterious
owing to the fact that President Dia7
is seventy six years old and will hard
ly live out his six year term.
The new vice president, Don Ramon
Corral, prior to taking his present office
of minister of the interior, was exceed
ingly successful as governor of one OF
the Mexican federal districts. He is
said TO be unassumingly dignlfied In
his manners, combining ambition with
great prudence and with entire loyalty
to President Diaz. Those who opposed
his nomination were chiefly the friends
OF General Bernardo Reyes, formerly
minister of war and now governor of
Nuevo Leon, man OF forcible and bril-.
liant personality, combining this with
an audacity more characteristic per
haps of Mexican leaders of genera.
ton or two ago than of the pres.
ent day. 1t was realized, however by
the Reyes party that to openly bring
his name before the convention would
not only lead to his defeat. but might
impair his strength for future and un'
foreseen occasions. For this reason his
followers selected as their candidate
Don Ignacio Mariscal, the present min.
lister OF foreign relations, who had
made no canvass for the vice presiden.
tlal nomination and did not apparently
care for the place, although as chief OF
the cabinet he will be ex officio vice
president until Senior Corral comes into
Office next December. Senior Marisca
has a large circle OF friends. and these
did what they could for him, while the
united strength of the Reyes party was
ering Of the national convention the
speeches were uncensored, and the gal
leries, In accordance with methods this
side of the border, are said to have
been largely packed by Reyes parti
.sa,fs, who +ouSly -.,plauded the opposi.
ton and denied the statements of the
administration speakers. All this indi-
Gates the existence of sentiments which
may find expression for themselves
when in course of time President Dia2
dies or becomes physically or mentally
incapacitated.
! The present government of our sister
republic is that of benevolent despot.
ism-that is, the political control be
| yond the Rio Grande' is republican
only In name. The president does
what he pleases and arranges that he
shall be sustained In so doing by those
who nominally represent the people In
the legislative branch Of the govern,
ment. Undoubtedly President Diaz has
endeavored in what he has done at the
present time to pick out an under.
study" to prepare some one who would
naturally succeed him IL he should be
removed by death or incapacitating Ill.
ness. Whether such succession Is
peacefully possible has yet to be dem.
onstrated, and it has also yet to be
shown by experience whether Don Ra.
mon Corral Is the man for the occasion.
President Dlaz is certainly doing his
best to perpetuate the benevolent des.
potism he has been so successful in es.
tablishing and maintaining. But In
view Of the vigorous expressions In op
position to his wishes In the matter OF
the vice presidency which the recent
convention evoked he can hardly al
times fail to have borne In upon him
that he may be justified in saying, as
the French sovereign did, "After me
the deluge."
The average annual salary OF Ameri