Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1911-04-03

Theodore Roosevelt called him 1.-The
greatest statesman now living" What
manner Of man Ia this who can win SO
high enc0miums from such sources
In the first place, he is part Indian, bis
mother having been a halfbreed and
his father, IN innkeeper, having had
Indian blood. Porfirio was born in 1880,
on Sept. Is, the anniversary Of Mex"
ico's strike for liberty. While still a
child he lost his father and his youth
was one of struggle and poverty.
Intended For Priesthood.
The mothers ambition was that he
should take orders, and he was placed
under a priest for study. The lad had
more martial and worldly aspirations,
but compromised by reading law.
When the war with the United States
broke out be- went from bis home in
Oaxaca to become Il soldier, but before
seeing a battle his country had sur
rendered. Returning to the law, he
studied and taught by turns, becoming
a full fledged professor at the age Of
twenty -four. Then he took up arms
against Santa Anna and, placing him
self at the head Of band of poems,
helped in the dictators overthrow. In
1853 liz joined tho army Of Juarez in
the fight against the clcricals. first
serving as captain and leading a
Charge with a bullet hole in bis side.
For glllantry in this and in later bat.
tie which lie fought to recover his ma
tive town Diaz was promoted rapidly
till he became Il general, governor of
q state, commander of district and
member of congress.
When our own civil war occurred
and tile Monroe doctrine was hung up
for a season, France, England and
other European powers took the oppor-
tunity to intervene in Mexico 1t was
then that Diaz became known as "the
hero Of Puebla."
On the invasion of the French he
held the town against the besiegers
and repulsed them, although outnum-
bered three to one. Later the French
were re-enforc ed and in the end COM
PEELED his Surrender. He refused to
sign a parole and was imprisoned, but
made perilous escape. disguised as
an Indian and became commander Of
the army Of the east.
Glory In Defeat.
So splendid was the defense Of Pu-
ebla that the anniversary of the, first
battle, the 5th of May, was made a
national holiday.
A brusQue American once asked the
president, "Why do you Mexicans cele-
brate a defeat when You know that
the French finally took Puebla?"
President Diaz, with a twinkle in his
eye, replied: perhaps we have initial
ed the Americans even to the extent
of celebrating our defeats, for I have
been told that the British defeated
the colonists at the battle of Bunker
Hill, and yet you built monument to
commemorate the event."
After Macmillan became emperor Of
Mexico and Bazaine was placed In
command Of the imperial army Diaz
refused allegiance to the empire and
was still further imblttered by the
execution Of his brother, a republican
soldier like himself. Bazaine Mt first
tried to corrupt Diaz and, failing In
this, led great army against him,
capturing him after stubborn fighting
and throwing him into prison second
time. While incarcerated Diaz receiv-
ed an offer Of liberty direct from Maxi
milan If he would be general Of the
empire. spurning the second oppor-
tunity to become traitor. the future
president once more escaped by clam
bering over the tops Of buildings and
falling into sty full Of pigs. making
his getaway during the resultant
clam0r.
After the American civil war was
ended the Monroe doctrine was taken
down from its nail. busted of and
tackled on Uncle Sans front door in
sight Of all the world. Napoleon the
Little was reminded by our state de-
partment that this would be a good
time for him to remove his French
soldiers from the western hemisphere.
which he did forthwith, leaving Maxi
milan to shift for himself. 1t was
the twice imprisoned, twice tempted
and twice escaped patriot general,
Porfirio Diaz. who Mt this juncture
captured the City of Mexico, and
Maximilian lasted about long enough
to be taken out one morning before
breakfast and shot.
Power Follows Defeats.
General Diaz's first marriage was
celebrated during his siege Of the Mex
lean capital. After the end OF the
opera bouffe empire he was a candi-
.~na Sa....N