Arizona republican., 1909-10-17
PHoENIX. ARIZ. OCTOBER Il, 1909


The meeting of the American and
Mexican presidents at FL Paso-J uarez
is notable as being the first instance
of visit to a foreign ruler on for
eign soil by a president of the United
States. Indeed, this is the first time,
we believe, that a president of this
nation has gone into a foreign land.
To be sure Mr.. Roosevelt visited the
Panama canal. while president. but
he made the voyage on a warship and
all the time he was aboard was with
in American Jurisdiction; and in the
canal zone he was in American ter
ritory
The meeting of the presidents is not
likely to have any important bearing
on American Mexican relations, for
they could not well be more cordial
and mutually satisfactory than they
are now. +~~
The contrast between the two men
who for the time being represent
the two republics. naturally suggests
itself In their very personality they
typify their respective nations A
democrat, through and through, Will
liam II. Taft would be out of place
in presiding over any government but
a real republic. A soldier and an
autocrat by temperament as well as
training, Porfirio Diaz would, as pres
ident of the United States, be as I'M
comfortable as a cat in a strange
garnet
Throughout his tour of the west Mr.
Taft has been plain ar. Taft-an I'M
assuming American citizen, talking to
other American citizens who feel
themselves as good as he. 1t would
he impossible to imagine General Diaz
talking to a gathering of Mexican
citizens in Tafts off hand way, and
telling them, as Taft did. about Occa-
sionally talking GROSSLY to his wife
on reaching home in the evening be-
cause of fatigue and veXation from
the days affairs; or, saying as Taft
did at Tempe. Il am with you in your
aspirations, but l am not the whole
show The Spanish language is
rich in slang. but it is safe to say
that General Diaz never INDUCES in
i; when addressing a Mexican aud
fence. In fact, the people have ex-
ceedingly few opportunities to see
their president in Mexico. Each in
his way stands for the popular idea
of dignity in his country. No Ameri-
can who knows Mr.. Taft would think
of suggesting that he is lacking in
dignity; but it is a dignity which his
countrymen like-a dignity without
fuss or feathers. Even as a private
citizen, and plain and democratic as
he is, Mr.. Taft would never be in
danger of a slap on the back from
the most presuming.
Porfirio Diaz is first and foremost
a soldier, and he rules with the sword.
He would fail TO impress his country
men properly should he lapse into the
democratic ways of Mr.. Taft. Our
president has been a peacemaker all
his life Diaz also makes peace. but
it is after the fashion formerly por-
trayed in unfriendly cartoons-for-
merly, mark you, for hostile cartoons
are not permitted any more, as more
than one fugitive Mexican editor can
testify These cartoons always pic
tured him in a military uniform, and
carrying in his hand a giants sword
bearing the words: Eel Hacedor de
la Paz" Literally, the maker of the
peace") Having risen and lived by
the sword, Disz has taken good care
not to die by the sword.
Authorities differ as to the age of
the great ruler of Mexico. He is
somewhere between 70 and 81 years
old, as no biography gives the year
He had just begun the study of law
in 1s47, when the war between Mex
leo and the United States started
him on a military career. As pri-
waite in militia regiment he saw his
first service in that war. His apti-
tude for soldering was shown early,
for only seven. years later he COM
manded a battalion in the civil war
against Santa Ana. Until he himself
became the supreme power. he was
always an insurgent. Fighting under