Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-20
THE RECORD or D|Az
Beneficial Results of His Pro-
gressive Policy.
ADVANCE I'M THIRTY YEARS
Millions Expended for Internal I'm
provements.
GOVERNMENT CREDIT HIGH
Skillfu1 Pacifcation Of the Opposition
to Him-A Man of Great
Penetration.

BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence of The Star and Chicago
Record Herald
CITY OF MEXICO, April a. 1906.
President Dhz may be a dictator. but
he's good one. A wise man once said
that the best government on earth is
benevolent despotism, and that describes
very nearly the kind of a government he
has given Mexico for the last quarter of a
century. He's an easy" despot He wears
a velvet glove over the grasp of steel lie
has force, nerve and determination, but, at
the same time, is just, fair and diplomatic.
He knows where to use pressure and where
to use moral suasion. He has taught the
people to respect well to fear him.
| EVIL doors have discovered that he is i'm
placable and mereiless. People who have
shown a patriotic disposition and have en-
deavored to serve their country and pro-
mote It's welfare have received his hearty
/ encouragement and, in many cases, sub
st;tntial rewards.
Opposition to Diaz.
Eiaz is not without enemies, however
There Is an undercurrent of opposition ami
even hostility among the old artistocratic
element and among the clergy, who form
the bulk of the conservative party. Next
cans will not talk politics with foreigners,
and 1t is habit of everybody to praise
DiaE all occasions, but those who have
the best opportunities of ascertaining pub
lie opinion tell me that the present gen
era ton of haciendados-the Iand-ownlng
arlstocracy, chiefly of Spanish descent-are
at heart monarchists, and 1t will require
another generation and perhaps two more
to eradicate the hereditary Spanish ideas
and make republicans of them. 1t is con-
ceded that no one but Diaz could have con-
Quoted public affairs in such a way as to
avoid antagonizing this element, which is
a very important one 1t controls the
larger part of the capital of the country
and indirectly the opinions and conduct OF
large part of the population. for the
feudal system still prevails upon the great
estates and the employees and tenants. are
| more or less subject to the will of their
employers. President Diaz has been COM
| PEELED to forego many things that he would
| have liked to have done; he has found IL
| expedient to abandon many pet projects
and to mold the policy of his government
| on more conservative lines than he other
wise would to avoid controversies. He has
succeeded in drawing around him several
of the most influential of the families TO
which / allude; and by fair treatment ana
honorable and straightforward dealing has
gradually softened their hearts and has
leSsened the distance between them and
himself. But this undercurrent of distrust
and hostility still exists and there Is no
way IN winch the government can counter
act the influence of the priests to which
Il is largely due. The women are the
most incorporating. They are implaca-
BILE. They VIII never be reconciled to the
laws of reform to the suppression of the
nunneries and monasteres and the conts-
cation of church property, for which they
hold Diaz in a large measure responsible
Definite Policy of Progress
President Diaz is man of broad views
and during his long and uninterrupted ad-
minstration he has followed a definite pol
icy of progress for the development of the
resources of the country and it's elevation
to the position to which it IS entitled by
territory, population and wealth among the
nations of the world. The success OF his
endeavors can be measured most accurate
ly by comparison of the conditions which
existed in Mexico in 1876 when he first as
sumed control of the government, and in
1906 During these thirty years, with the
exception of an interval, from 1880 to 1884,
he has occupied the executive chair and
by the force OF his character, has domi-
mated every branch of the government of
Mexico. In the 2S3 years following the
conquest there We're only sixty-two vice
roys. From the declaration of independ-
ence in 1910 until Diaz came into power
there were fifty-two presidents dictators
and emperors in sxty-five years Diaz has
reigned for twenty-six years without organ
lied opposition. There has been no other
candidate at most of the presidential cleo
lions and the constitution was amended in
order that he might lawfully continue to
occupy the presidential chair.
When he came into power on December
l. 1876, Aexico was in a state of political,
commercial and industrial chaos life and
property were of comparat lively little value
and had no protection from the courts or
the police. Today country is more
peaceful or safe for strangers we'll as
citizens. When Diaz became president
there were no railroads, telegraplls or tele-
phones; there was no international trade;
the public schools were few and the chill
dren of the country were dependent upon
the priests for education. In the greater
part of the republic there was order. no
respect for law brigandage and violence
prevailed everywhere.
Advance in Agriculture and Trade
Agriculture was at very low state and
-lhe country produced only enough to sup
ply the wants of the people. In 1876 the eX-
ports of all classes of merchandise were
$27. 3is,1S In 1905 the exports were s20S,-
$40, Al. and they Were nearly all the re-
suits of hand labor. The total products of
the country. agricultural mineral and me-
chanical. were valued at S4s4 100000
In 1876 commercial transactions Were OF
limited volume and value, and there
practically no manufacturing except in the
households in the village shops. Today
modern, up-to-date factories are scattered
throughout the country, and they are sup
plemented by village shops containing all
kinds of nlachine-made goods. The In
dividual products are limited. but the total
is enormous Today 13gcities and towns in
the republic are lighted by electricity and
294 manufacturing plants run by cleo
trio power.
In 1876 Mexico had practically no foreign
commerce. The total of her trade with
other nations summed up s36.1i1 ,6S1. In
1905 the total was 1886. 1871, 49, with a bal
ance of trade In favor of Mexico of more
than $31 600 600
In 1876 financial operations were limited
there were only three banks In the country
which did a struggling, uncertain business
and charged 10. IS and 20 per cent interest
on loans. Bankers and merchants were in
constant dread of forced loans by the gov
eminent or by revolutionary leaders
Transactions were limited and local and the
total imports In 1876 were only s1S, 793. 4SS
Last year SIT, GIT 1852 worth of foreign mer-
chandise was imported to meet the demand
of consumers In addition to an output of
1870 900, 900 from the local factories.
Government Credit High.
In 1876 the government Of Mexico had no
cash and no credit Today II has a surplus