The daily silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1903-1907, 1906-12-13
A 'sMexican Washtngton.@

at the time Of the birth OF BeAlts
Pablo Juarez, which took place March
81, 1906, there Was little In the political
conditions In Mexico or IN the ideals OF
her people to indicate that at the end
Of a century the United States would
have a republican nelghbor on the
south Of her at once peaceful. pres
porous and sufficiently enlightened &c
hold ID grateful memory a leaaer whS
Ia some respects was entitled to com
garrison with Washington. A hundred
years ago Mexico was In the plight "
Cuba at her worst. She was a Spanish
colony, ruled from Madrid. Society
consisted of four classes of opposite
temper, tendeneg and interest. Gov
eminent was exclusively ia the hands
of Spaniards of European birth. The
Indians were lowest In the social scale,
being held IL peonage, all but the no
bles. Mexican Spanlards were held in
contemps by their foreign born rulers,
and the people Of mixed Spanish and
Indian blood were but little better OF
than the mass Of Indians.
Napoleon Bonaparte's usurpation OF
the Spanish throne upset the whole
realm of Spain, and the excitement
which followed the upheaval did not
subside In Mexico until the land of the
Montezumas took her place In the fam
lily of nations as u republic. Juarez
sprung from the better class Of In
dams and was given a fair education.
At the age of thirty he a of su1n
cient Importance TO be thrown into
prison as a rebel against the govern
fight Santa Anna and even acted indie.
pendently for the defense of his state,
Oajaca. during the war with the United
States. Being finally driven out of
Mexico by the dictator, Juarez nved In
New Orleans from 1853 90 1855, when
he returned to Mexico and Joined Santa
stormy career In the cabinet and as a
leader of parties, now with and now
against the ruling power, sometimes
Issuing manifestoes from a prison cell
bis government was recognized by tie
United States In 1859, ant from that
time until his death, In 1872, he was
the head Of the social and political re-
form forces Of Mexico. The United
States saved Juarez, and yparez saved
Mexico from reaction and chaos.
Juarez's administration led to fof-
eign interference In the affairs Of the
republic. Driven from the City Of
Mexico by the French In 1863, he was
hunted from place to place by foreign
arms or the uprisings of his own pet
pie, but In 1867 he recovered his capi-
tai and vas reelected president In
n crisis he took refuge on the Unit
ed States frontier. having with him but
twenty-five faithful followers, after
ward known as the "immaculates.-
Notwithstanding the complete ex
haustion Of the national treasury.
Juarez suppressed by military power
numerous revolutionary attempts to
overthrow him. he Sled suddenly after
q short illness. Judged differently BY
admirers and enemies, this extraordl
nary man had at sast the quality O.
honesty of purpost and perhaps fu
DTS alone deserves the name OF ''tiA
Mexican Washington" which some a
his people have bestowed upon him. H.
reconciled the Mexican people to tia
rule Of a civilian. and II not tn
founder of modern Mexico be was Q
least the road breaker for uer poIitia4-
progress.