The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-09-18
VIII the Peerless One accept ths
challenge?
4 woHpElRPvL sopgRa NAN.

challenge?
a WONDERFUL MODERN MAN.
Pornrio Dias. prssideAk Of AsxtOo.
jAas Just celebrated HE 18th brit
1Ay. Diaa il one Of the most remark
able Asa Of melern timss. 8
Dias y now. . 10 always hns been
Y patriot. WAea Ma1imiHlen over
arey the country. backed 81 the As
mics Of France. With the assistance
OF England and Austria, he allied him
self With President JuereD. and fought
to drive tho pratender from the coun-
try. The Mexican forces were defeated
On al sides. Juares ~retreated until
he reached the banks of the Rio
Grande, and Diaa his Lieutenant was
forced to leave the country. He took
massage on . steamer sailing from
Now Orleans to Vera Cruz. In some
manner the news that he was on the
way to Mexico reached the capital.
and the vessel was searched. Throagh
the assistance Of the purser. he was
concealed. That night he went over
the eide Of the vessel, into the waters
of Q harbor swarming with sharks.
Twice he was compelled to return. On
the third attempt he reached the quay.
and set foot in his native land, where
H. price had been placed on his head.
a few days later he was at the head
Of a few hundred patriots. and COM
menced his march to the ancient city
Of the Montezumas. Success attend
ed his EFFORTS. and thousands nocks6
to his standard.
Through the representation Of the
United States, England and Austria
withheld support, and when Sheridan's
army, 10000 strong, appeared on the
banks Of the Rio Grande in defense Of
the Monroee doctrine, France with
drew its military forces.
Diaz, as general, now had only the
monarchists to fight and he put them
to rout. Macmillan was captured
and executed, and Juarez reorganized
the government. Upon his death
Diaz was elected president.
The country was overrun with bri-
gands. There was no safety in the
republic. Human life was held cheap
tly. The country was without means
Of transportation or communication.
His first act was to stamp out the
|lawlessness, by the institution OF just
laws, copied, in many instances direct
from the statute books Of old Rome.
He constructed, by means OF govern
ment subsidies, thousands of miles Of
railway, and paralleled the roads with
Telegraph lines, which in turned were
duplicated by Independent wires,
Roads we're constructed. Military gov
eminent existed everywhere. This
gradually gave way to 9 civil form.
Local Industries were encouraged
and protected, and as a result the CON
dition Of the Mexican workman was
improved and peonage vas abolished
Finally the government purchased Q
controlling interest in the railway
lines that gridiron the country. 4
wise banking system, increased the
general prosperity Of the people. The
country was plunged into debt, and
bonds sold low. He raised the stand
ard Of the nation to the point where
the bounds now find ready sale.
During this long period Mexico has
had no serious dispute with other ma
lions.
Diaz is the personification Of thu
government of Mexico. He is loved
and revered in his W country. ana
honored and respected all over The
world. He is a wonderful man, with q
mind as keen and alert today as I
was So years ago. when he first too!
the reins Of government in hand. and
commenced the task Of raising tbs
Republic Of Mexico from q lowly, to
high estate.