The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-01-09
by ALBERT LOUIS.

So much has been written in late years
about Porflrio Diaz that II seems apropos
to the occasion for a book to be published
giving an unbiased history of the life
and work of Diaz. which for the last
quarter of a century has been identified
so closely with that OF peaceful Mexico
Senior Jose f. GOdoy, Mexican minister
70 Cuba, and for many years connected
with the Mexican Embassy at Washing
ton. has written such a book under the
subheading of THE Master Builder Of a
Great Commonwealth 10 be published
within few days by G. P. Putnam's
Sons, of New York. and through whose
courtesy we herein reproduce a few not
able extracts.
The reason this book is predicted to
have great weight in this country is due
10 the fact that the assertions made In
the work are nothing more or less sane
TONED. as 1t were. by the opinions of a
hundred OF the most prominent English
speaking people IN tbs United States and
Canada, and which opinions or comments
on the life and work OF Diaz were writ
ten especially for Mr. Godoys book.
Blu, before giving a few extracts from
the work. We shall transcribe what the
Vice President, J. S. Sherman. wrote:
President Diaz is a statesman Of progress; a master
Of diplomacy an executive Of the higher type:
man Of whom any country would Be proud and
who IS IN thorough touch with advanced IDEALS OF
government and civilization. His long and, it Il
70 BE hoped. continued administration Of the affairs
Of Mexico carries with it the confidence Of nations
In lis uIrghtncss. strength, and purity.
Chapter I. which deals with Diaz's
parentage school. and college days. be-
gins thus: 1T Is a remarkable cofnci-
dence that PorhriO Diaz should hsve
been born on the anniversary Of Mexican
independence. His Oirth took place on
September Is. 1880 just twenty years after
the great Hidalgo proclaimed that Mex
leo should be free"
The rest OF the chapter deals with
Diaz's experiences as a law student,
which profession he had 10 abandon be-
cause of pOverty-and in those days edu-
cation had TO be paid for in Mexleo-so
he then devoted himself to a military
life, and the chapter ends with these
lines:
While pursuing HIS professional
studies there were instilled IN him the
true principles Of republican and liberal
ideas, whether his professors advocated
such principles and his fellow-students
likewise admired them. or because his
character HIS aims. and his pursuits led
him into the ranks OF the Liberal party.
which had already entered into a death
struggle with the Conservatives"
The next chapter treats of the war of
reform. and the author, after giving an
account OF how Diaz was arrested. es-
capped. and Joined the ranks of the op-
posing party, goes on 10 tell that the
contest between the Liberals and Con
servatives. which Is known in Mexican
history as the War of Reform was then
carried on with great herceness, bringing
about much bloodshed and suffering.
"Porfirio Diaz from the first took a
most prominent part In that struggle,
and in December, 1855, he was appointed
subprefeet Of the district Of Ixtlan in mis-
native state. As such he reorganized the
public administration of that district and
raised troops to oppose the Conservative
forces. which under the command OF the !
project Of the, department, were sent to
crush him
Speaking of that period Of his life
the President himself has said: In nv
youth stern experience taught me many /
things. When I commanded two com !
panfes of soldiers, there was a time when /
for six months I had neither advice, in /
structions, nor support from my govern |
ment. l had to think for myself. I had /
20 be the government myself"
This chapter then describes in an inter- |
esting manner the feats of bravery and |
victories attained by young Diaz. and /
II ends saying; 'The Conservatives had !
yet to make final stand. and they did /
so near the city Of Pachuca. when they /
met with a signal defeat at the hands 1
OF the Liberals on October %. 1861 Por- /
frio Diaz took most prominent part in
that victory. which may be said 10 have
given the death blow 10 the power OF
the Conservatives in Mexico. and 10
have put an end TO the war OF reform.
Chapter III deals with the war Of
French intervention, when France. Eng
land, and Spain invaded Mexico, but the
latter two nations soon withdrew, "and
il was only France, then governed bv
Emperor Napoleon H. that, assisted by
a few Nexieans, led the onslaught against
institutions on Mexican soil
THE very first encounter between the
French forces and the Mexican patriots
took place at Escamela, between Orizaha
and Cordoba. A portion OF the br!gade
OF Porfirio Diaz met the enemy there. and
efterward, being REINFORCED at Acult-
lingo. CALAMITY held is own against the
invaders. On May the glorious battle
which resulted In the crushing defeat of
the French. took place This brilliant
victory Is still celebrated every year
throughout the republic
ION that occasion Porfrio Dlaz COM
manded his brigade and fought CALAMITY.
and toward the latter part of the day
led the pursuit Of the vanquished. French
troops" France sent re-enforcements
and Archduke Macmillan be-
came head Of the so-called Mexican en-
pire, and fighting was renewed. When
Diaz was offered high honors and rewards
II he gave up the Liberal cause. he an
swered In these words; I'VE are re-
solved to go on with the struggle un-
eeasingly. so as to leave to the coming
generation the same republic. free and
sovereign. that we inherited from our
Then is given an account in Dfaz's own
words OF his sensational escape from the
French prison. After his escape he again
Ook up arms and was victorious in
many battles with the French, among
which the most notable ones were the
aking Of Puebla, on April ?. 1867: San
lorenzo on the 10th Of the same month,