Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-10-19
TAFT AND DIAZ
By Frederic j. Haskin

away from the capital at any time upon
a flimsy excuse
MT Taft, a man whose election to the
pres Idency is typical Of the peaceful yet
fore eful machinery of American poll
tics, very fittingly represents the
United States upon the occasion OF the
first interchange of international calls.
He is the most widely Travelled man
who has ever occupied the presidential
chair He has met more rulers and emf
1ent men than any other president with
he possible exception of Grant, and
General Grant made his grand tour af-
ter he had left the White House. In
Japan and China, at the Vatican and
me Palace of the Car, in the capitals
f Europe and in Latin-American coun-
ries, Mr. Taft has been we'll drilled in
the amenities Of international inter-
course.
In his person Mr.. Taft represents
the Anglo-Saxon ideal Of freedom
that is he is the head of a nation
which is a government Of laws, not
of men" This is the Anglo-Saxon no.
ton of government, exemplifed in
England, in the self-governing Brit
ish colonies of Canada, Australia and
South Africa, and in the United States.
There have been times in each of these
countries when men, and not laws,
have been supreme, with and without
detriment to the people. But the prin-
ciple exists and devotion to 1t is per-
haps the chief characteristic Of Will
liam Howard Taft.
General Porfirio Diaz is undoubtedly
one Of the greatest of living states
men. His rise to commanding posi-
ton in Mexico was typical of the
stormy and bloody politics of the Lat
in-American states, but mis- long rule
has been remarkable for the peace
which he has given to the people and
the prosperity which he has brought
to the nation. AS a soldier in the
patriotic armies which resisted the
French attempt to establish q mon
archy in Mexico, as a leader of a rev.
dictionary army against the govern
ment of President Juarez, and as the
beneficiary of the revolution which ov-
erthrew President Lerdo de Tejada,
General Diaz served his time at the
Latin-American game of war and rev.
Olution. He came TO the presidency
proclamation in 1876. and in 1877 was
elected to congress a constitutional
president to serve until 1880 He fail
ed of reelection. and quietly handed
over his office to his successor, Gen.
Manuel Gonsalez, who served four
years. Diaz was then reelected presi-
dent and took up his duties on De-
cember /. 1884. He has been in pow
er ever since that time.
Diaz has been skillful in government
and diplomacy. He has brought about
the extinction of brigandage and has
restored peace and confidence to tho
people. He has established the cred
it Of his country on a basis which 1t
never before enjoyed. He has. invited
foreign capital to come to Mexico to
develop the enormous resources of the
country. In all Latin-America the
name of Diaz is honored as one of
the great liberators. At the same time
he has not hesitated to use force, and
every symptom of opposition to his
policies has been met with the stern
est of repressive measures. Just at
this time the condition of the laboring
classes in Mexico is the cause for Il
popular Indictment of the Mexican
government. but on the whole the
world holds with Diaz and admires
him.
Dlaz is the typical product of a re-
publican form Of government where
the government is of men, not Of
Ia ~ - 11AeA 10 a uCopOlp uCuCNOl6ul
and benicent. but nevertheless a
despot. He brooks no opposition and
his will is law throughout Mexico.
One of the distinctive policies of the
Diaz administration has been cordially
toward America and Americans. Gener-
al Diaz is personally a most democratic
man, who is always approachable. He is
especially friendly to American business
men. BY this policy he has induced a
flood of American money to come into
Mexico and begin the development of the
all but untouched resources of that FL
Dorado. At this time there is no less
Il an $7C0,0O00 900 of American capital in
vested in Mexico. Railroads. mines,