St. Tammany farmer., 1910-10-08


among republics, if measured
by the standard which prevails in the
United States or even in some of the
Latin countries in Central and South
America. We are told that its consti-
tuition is modelled after that of the
United States, that its president Is
elected by universal suffrage, that Its
legislative power is vested in a con-
gress, consisting of two houses like
our own, and that it's people have full
political and civil rights. But study
Of conditions as they are shows that
whatever may be the appearances OF
things Mexico is as much despotlsm
today as Russia; that its ruler, who
is styled it's president, Is as much an
autocrat as Car Nicholas, and that he
holds power little short of unlimited
over the lives and property of Mexi-
cans.
The recent presidential election in
Mexico shows the absurdity of the
claim which that country makes to be-
ing republic and emphasizes the ar
bitrary power exercised by President
Diaz. The latter, with the exception
of the term. 1SS0-1sS4. has been presi-
dent of Mexico since 1875, when he
seized the reins of power as the lead
er of successful revolution and was
subsequently elected chief executive,
If the process of selection could really
be called an election. Diaz from the
beginning held things with firm
hand, and to his ability, which even
his enemies recognize, is due the sta
bility with which the government has
maintained itself since. That his
strong hand checked revolution and
that he was polite enough to foster
the investment of foreign capital are
factors to his credit. But at the same
time the political aspirations of the
people to a fuller share in govern
ment were trampled upon. Freedom
of speech and freedom of the press. in
SO far as they conf1icted with Diaz and
his policies, were empty sounds. Diaz
was not only the president OF the re-
public: he was its dictator, and his
strong arm reached to every corner
Of the land to reward and punish.
A Promise and Its Breaking.
Naturally such a condition produced
some political unrest, and when in
March, 1908, Diaz announced that he
would not be candidate for president
again, but would aid in the establish
ment of a democratic form of govern
ment, for which he said the country
was ripe, there was great rejoicing.
But the exercise of power is sweet,
and soon afterward the word went out
from official sources that Diaz would
be a candidate again. Those striving
for fuller political rights were even
tation favoring Bernardo Reyes, gov
ernor of the state of Neuvo Leon, for
vice-president Reyes was one of the
most popular men in Mexico and his
felt that in the event of
the death of DiaZ, who is now eighty
years old, the government would be
safe in the hands of Reyes, and the
wave of reform would go on un-
checked.
AS soon as the Democrats placed
Reyes in nomination, the followers of
Diaz renominated for the same office
Ramon Corral, the most unpopular
man in Mexico and reactionary And
then began a bitter persecution of
the Democrats and the Reyes support
ars on the part of Diaz, which shat
ters the fiction that there exists polit-
Ical freedom in Mexico.
Army officers friendly to Reyes were
to undesirable posts. Con
gresham Barron, who was chiefly in
strumental in naming Reyes for vice
president, was banished from the
country; several other congressman
we're deposed; students who favored
Reyes were expelled from state
schools; public meetings were sup
pressed by the police or soldiers, and
n various states Reyes supporters
we're thrown into Jail, most of them |
charged with sedition. In every cor
1er of the country the despotic power |
of DiaZ was felt and neither life nor |
liberty was secure. Newspapers on |
Every side were subsidized by the gov
or suppressed and their edi- |
,ors thrown into Jail. No criticism of |
0iaz, or advocacy of the popular move
nent. was allowed and the editor
who INDUCED In either was either |
expelled or jailed.
During this period of political tur- |
noil Bernardo Reyes had kept clear OF |
he entire situation and on several oc- |
oe candidate for vice-president But |
his did not save him from the wrath |
If Diaz. He was treated for a time as
l prisoner by the military governor of |