The Detroit times., 1910-06-23

cratic party of Mexico was formed. II
was a party headed by well-known
men, some of them the brightest,
cleanest and most progressive In
Mexico. II was in no sense party OF
rebellion or revolution. II was moder-
ate in its demands. mild In it's criti-
cisms. II proposed to reflect Diaz
and a vice-president who would be
the peoples choice and who would
succeed DiaA when the latter died.
Story Of Hish-Handed Methods.
But even that. Diaz would not per
nit The Democratic movement was
proceeded against with all the police
powers OF the government. The story
OF the presidential campaign just clos
ing Is story of political imprison-
ments, press suppressions, Danish
ments, assassinations, police riots and
massacres, all planned and perpetrat-
ed by the government for the purpose
of continuing the autocratic power OF
Diaz until his death.
The story OF this campaign l shall
tell in some detail tomorrow.
Forty years ago Mexico was at peace
with the world. She had just over
thrown, after a heroic war, the for
eign prince. Macmillan, who had been
seated as emperor by the armies OF
Napoleon III OF France. Her then
president Juarez, is today recognized
in Mexico as one of the most able as
we'll as unselfish patriots of Mexican
history.
II was at this juncture that Gen.
Porfirio Diaz, wantonly and without
any apparent reason except that OF per-
sonal ambition, stirred up rebellion
after rebellion for the purpose of Sc
curing for himself the supreme power
OF the land. The support that he re-
ceived came chilly from bandits, Grim
mails and professional soldiers.
Repeatedly II was proved that the
Mexican people Of those days did not
want the rebel Diaz for their chief
executive. Three times during his
FIRST five years of plotting he was an
unsuccessful candidate at the polls.
The third time no received only one
fifteenth Of the total vote.
At home and abroad he was looked
upon as a common rebel, and when he
marched into the national capital at
the head Of a victorious army and pro
claimed himselr president, hardly a
European nation would at first recog-
njze the upstart government, while
the United States for time threat
ened complications.
How DIax Became President.
In the latter part Of 1875. nearly "a
years ago, Diaz led his rebel army into
the Mexican capital and proclaimed
himself provisional president. Soon
afterwards he held what he called an
election and announced that the people
had chosen him president-unanimou
ly. Note that-unanimously! In 1880
be turned the government over to a
friend, Manuel Gonzalez, who was also
elected unanimously" In 1884 Con-
zalez rainstalled Diaz after a third
unanimous election. Following 1884
Diaz vas reelected unanimously every
four years for 20 years. until 1904,
when the presidential term was
to six years, and for the
seventh time he was elected unani-
mously. Finally Diaz is to be
elected" again In few days, and II
he does not consider that the joke has
become too ancient, we may be told
that he has been elected unanimously
again.
Can anyone imagine nation of
some 100000 people, with say 3.000.-
900 persons Of voting age, all prefer
ring the same man for their chief ex-
ecutive, not only once. but year after
year, and decade after decade? Could
anybody imagine Mr.. Taft or Mr..
Roosevelt being reelected by a unani-
nous vote? Moreover, could anyone
imagine a country of 100000 souls
in which ambition never stirred the
heart of more than one Individual to
De president?
Never in all that "a years has n
candidate stood against him at the
polls. There have been would-be can
didates. but in each and every case
they have been destroyed before cleo
ton day. Corona, Cadena and Mar
tinez we're assasshated. Magon be-
came a refugee. ami today lies a politi-
cal prisoner I'm an American Jail.
Reyes was banished from the country.
Madero, the most recent candidate, is
In Jail in Mexico.
Eat your sunday Dinner I'm our new
Roman Rose Room. Fish and Chicken