The daily silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1903-1907, 1906-04-12
A "Mexican washington.,,

oA- 1850
At the time Of the birth of Benito
Pablo Juarez, which took place Marcn
81, 1906, there was little IN the political
conditions ia Meyico or in the ideals of
her people to indicate that at the end
of a century the United States would
have a republican n~eighbor on the
south Of her at once peaceful. pros
porous and sufficiently enlightened to
hold in grateful memory a leader who
in some respects was entitled to COM
parison wifi Washington. y hundred
years & Mexico vas III the plight of
Cuba at her worst. She was Il Spanish
colony, ruled from Madrid. Society
temper, tendency and interest. Gov
eminent was exclusively in the hands
of Spaniards of European birth. The
Indians We're lowest in the social scale.
being held in peonage, all but the no
bles. Mexican Spaniards were held in
contempt by their foreign born rulers,
and the people of mixed Spanish and
Indian blood were but little better off
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 u~pheayal did not
subside In Mexico until the land of the
Montezumas took her place in the fam
lily Of nations as a republic. Juarez
sprung from the better class of In
dams and was given a fair education.
At the age of thirty be was of suffi-
cient Importance to be thrown into
prison as a rebel against the govern
ment of Santa Anna. He continued to
fight Santa Anna ard wen acted lGde-
pendently for the defense of his state.
Oajaca, during the war with the Unite |
States. Being finally drivel OFT Of
Mexico by the dictator. Juarez lived Il
New Orleans from 1888 to 1876. when
he returned to Mexico and joined Santa
Annals opponent. Alvarez. After !;
stormy career in the cabinet ana as !,
leader of parties, nov with and noN
against the ruling power. ~sc.aeti.le
issuing manifestoes from a prison ee@
his government was recognized by III,
United States in 1859, ard from thsf
time until his death, in 1872. he vas
the head of the social and political re
form forces of Mexico. The Unite.
States saved Juarez, and Juarez save;
Mexico from reaction and chaos.
Juarez's administration led to for
cign Interference in the affairs of tn,
republic. Driven from the City o.
Mexico by the French in 1869, he wal
hunted from place to place by foreign
arms or the uprisings of his own PEG
pie, but in 1867 he recovered his CAPT
tai and was reelected president. Ii
one crisis he took refuge on the Unit
ed States frontier, having with him bu
twenty-five faithful followers, after
ward known as the 'immaculates."
Notwithstanding the complete ex
haustion of the national treasury
Juarez suppressed by military powe
numerous revolutionary attempts t
overthrow him. lie died suddenly afte
q short illness. Judged differently b.
admirers and enemies, this extraordi
nary nan had at least the quality 0
honesty of purpose and perhaps TO
this alone deserves the name of eth,
Mexican Washington" which some o
his people have bestowed upon him. III
reconciled the Mexican people TO tn
rule OF a civilian. and If not tn
founder of modern Mexico he was Il
least the road breaker for her politica
progress.