Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-15
Dyec.al Dispatch 10 The Star.
CITY OF MENICO. Mexico,

0lFg4a4 blSiatCh 10 Inc star.
CITY OF MENICO Mexico
September 10 1907.
e~-S ODAY - the sevenly-seventh birth
day Of Gen. Pordrio p!az, Presi-
dent of Mexico. and in every part
Of the southern republic celehra-
lions are being held in honor oE
the man VINO has brought Mexico from a
state of ruin and poverty to the position
which it now orclgies a. the most pro
gressiy, country of Central or South
America At all tn embassies. legat oHs
and consulates Of Mexico scattered through
out the world the triColor is dying ana
al the jamestown exposition a h4g ceiebra-
ton is being held in honor of the event.
Ey a peculiar circumstance the two great
est holidays Of Mexico are celebrated on
adjoining days. Will today is the birth
day of the president. tomorrow Is the
birthday of the nation, for II was on sep
TENDER 10 that the Inflated priest, Hida!go
pronounced the gritO of VI Xican liberty
and took the first steps to overthrow the
power OF the Slaniards who had governed
Mexico since Cortez, and his little band OF
Europeans conquered the dusky hordes OF
the Aztecs under the proud Montezuma
and the fearless Cuauhtemoc.
Tonight at II o'clock as has been his
custom Tor many years 1 -SIN'i-' I''S'% WI
repeat the grito Of IIidalgo from the center
balcony OF the national palace, fronting the
Zocalo or main plaza OF the City Of Mexico.
Over the balcony hangs the liberty bell
taken from the parish church OF Dolores
where HdaIEo was a priest and which he
rang to call his people to arms against
the SpaHiards The president Will ring the
he'll and giy- the CRITIC viva Mexico"
Viva la Republican, And the grt at crowd
which VIII b. Tacied In front OF the palace
Will take up the cry and repeat it until
II Is sounded in every part of the city.
Diaz Had Humble Origin.
President piaz was born Of humble par
eutasa on a hacienda near the city OF
Caxaea In his veins runs the blood of both
spanlard and Indian anc, s;ors, and 1t is
NJ doubt from the latter that Dlaz secured
the rugged independence ana undaGnted
courage which have made him such promi-
ncnt character in the war history OF his
country. His bpyhood days were full of
larIsh.is and Pr!yatious. At an early age
he became lawyer in order that he might
earn money for his widowed mother and
family. But the spirit Of adventure and
daring was In his veins. lie began TO feel
ii longing TO Identify himself with the army
and help to make Mexican history, and soon
the bar lost his service and the army gained
the man who was 10 he its most illustr'ous
member and who was to create for him
sci, a place IN Mexican history which had
not hitherto been attained, and which prob
ably never Will be equa!ed by any other
man.
u.az has always been a brave and I'm
daautaI man, and IN way and peace his
associates have loved him for his integrity,
- devotion and his inspiring courage.
President for Twenty-Five Years
Gen. b!az as he Is called by his init
mate friends and which title he greatly
prefers To that OF president has been the
principal actor on the stage OF Mexican
politics for the past thirty-avc years and
for several years previous to that time his
influence was felt in the affairs OF the
country After years OF political maneuver-
Ing, during which time he fought for and
against the established government and
was compelled on different occasions o
flee from Mexico TO save his life. It was
just thirty years ago that ne drove out
President Lcrdo from the capital and be-
came the constitutional president of the
republic. True to promise that he made
when ne took office. he retired to his home
al the expiration of his term. and in 1880
Gen. Mamie! Gonzalez became his success
sor. But the Gonzalez administration was
no. strong enough TO stand. and IN 1884
Gen. Diaz was called back to the executive
chair by almost unanimous vote From
that time until the present he has served
continuously and with an utter devotion to
his country's interests that has made him
the idol OF his people and has given him a
reputation as a constructive statesman /
all parts of the world. His present term
Will expire in 1910
Building Of Mexico's Prosperity.
When Diaz returned TO power in 1884 tina