The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-05-26
BLOOD MARKS ACCESSION AND RETIREMENT
Strange Irony of Fate in the Career of Expresident
Diaz Of Mexico-A Masterful Man to the End.

order was obeyed and poor Archduke
MAMMALIAN was left to his sad fate.
Hero Of the Poems. .
Diaz, the hero Of the poems, put him.
self at the head of rebel army, de-
feated the federal forces with terrible
slaughter and entered Mexico City
with his triumphant force. An cleo
ton was held and Diaz took the field
against Juarez, was defeated and re-
tired to private life. His ardent spirit
however, could not remain long at
peace and soon he was again at the
head of a band of rebels operating
against his erstwhile friend. President
Juarez Juarez died and was sue
ceeded by Senior Lerdo, who put the
rebel leader to flight by concentrating
a large army and moving steadily to-
ward his strongholds. DiaZ escaped to
the United States. secreted himself
aboard a boat bound for Vera Cruz,
was discovered, made prisoner and on
the eve of sailing plunged overheard.
A vain search was made for him and
the report was spread broadcast that
he had been eaten by sharks.
In the meantime the vessel contjn-
ued on its way to Vera Cruz, with
DiaZ secreted in narrow closet.
where he suffered agonies because of
his cramped quarters. At Vera Cruz
he bribed some boatmen to take him
ashore and so he turned up in the'
very midst of Lerdos country. with
naught on his back but a ragged sail
or's suit and naught in his hands but
sailors dirk. Like Napoleon return
ing from Elba, the appearance of Diaz
in the country of his birth was the sig
nal for great uprising. Joy crazed
poems. remembering only his brave
deeds during a decade of bloody strife,
hailed him as their savior. From
ragged sailors suit to the command of
an army numbering thousands was
the transition of a day. The Lerdo re-
gime tottered as the news of his APP
pearance became current, and win
ming victory after victory he march
ed into the capital in 1877 at the head
of $4,000 men, the flag of the republic
proudly flying over a sea of flashing
bayonets, to be elected president a
few weeks later.
This position he has held ever since
with the exception of four years. 1880
to 1884. when General Gonzales was
given the Office because Mexico's con-
stitution later amended forbade the
reelection of president.
Ruled As a Despot.
AS president of Mexico, Diaz has
laid himself open to the criticism of
the world. For thirty years he ruled
a republic with oligarchic despotism.
He has been called in one breath, the
country's saviour and a tyrant: he
abroad; his policies have been lauded
and derided, and he himself has been
the object both of hero worship and
the anathemas of the populace. Be
yond doubt both opinions are cor
rect. to a certain extent, but only a
Higher Power can strike the balance
that will tell whether he was a hurt
or hipdrance to his country. Certain
it is however. that when Diaz took
|
fronting him. He was head of gov
eminent split by political factions.
governing a country whose credit had
long ago been blasted by continued
wars, and peopled by race plunged
into the depths of ignorance, swayed
by every superstitious rumor, and fan
atically averse to the invasion of for
Lott ;fnI bat 10,
From this chaos Diaz wrought or
der. He held the turbulent masses
still. He made revolution impossible
He organized a police system that
swept away the bandits. He built
schools. He punished corruption. and
made it known that any concession
granted by Mexico would never be re-
complished for his war ridden coun.
try. But If Diaz has wrought wonders
for Mexico, his methods of accom-.
plishing the miracles have been those
of great general rather than a great
statesman. His was the iron hand
within the velvet glove and woe be.
tide him who sought to take away
the prestige of the great general and
popular hero of the people Death or
Punishment awaited him.
Although from time to time minor
instructions against this great Cen
trail American oligarchy were in evil
dence, all were successfully dealt with
till in the fall of last year. Senior
Francisco I. Madero. Jr., of Northern
Mexico, backed by the immense
wealth of his family. commenced the
revolution that has led TO the down
fall of Diaz. This movement, starting
with small uprising In the northern
part of Mexico speedily developed till
it seriously menaced the Diaz regime
Town after town was taken. Battle
after battle was won. Southern Mex
leo revolted and at last with the fall
of Juarez, Diaz's cabinet. foreseeins
naught but defeat and further blood
shed staring them in the face, brought
such pressure to bear upon the old
and feeble ruler that he consented tc
his resignation with its promise OF
peace.