Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-30
HIS EYE ON BORDER
Diaz Knows Need of Main
tanning a Military Patrol.
LEARNED HIS LESSON WELL
Mexican President Fostered His Own
Revolution Along Rio Grande.
RECALLED IN BROWNSVILLE
Older Residents Remember How
Thirty-Five Years Ago Plans
Were Made for Invasion.

BROWNSVILLE, Tex, April 29.-Presi-
dent Diaz has good cause to know the i'm
portance and value of maintaining effect
i've military patrol on the United States
bank of the Rio Grande to prevent aid
being given to the revolutionary move
ment that is now widespread in Mexico.
1t was in the days when he was at the head
Of the dissatisfied political element of
that country thirty-five years ago that he
had the personal experience that impress
ed upon his mind the advantages that
could come to seditious effort of the
kind now being made through the assist
ance of sympathizers on this side of the
river. 1t was only by a narrow chance
that Diaz himself escaped arrest on the
charge of violating the United States
neutrality laws.
For several months he was active in
making history along the lower Rio
Grande border. In those days the re-
mOteness of this section from railroads
and other civilizing influences made 1t an
ideal place for organizing emeutes against
the existing government Of Mexico. OF
the many attempts along this line, how
ever, that were made, that of Gen. Diaz
is the only one which proved successful
1t was in the spring of 1876 that Diaz.
having become a refugee from MeN-c
set about making his plans for returning
to that country at the head of an army
for the purpose of overthrowing Presl-
dent Sebastian Lerdo de TeJada He had
made q notable record in his native coun-
try as daring and splendidly equipped
officer of the army in many great cam
paigns. He was in the pr me of his man.
hood, and he entered upon the task OF
bringing about a change in the govern
ment of Mexico with all the enthusiasm
and sound judgment that marked hi/l as
Il great military genius. The territory
along the lower Rio Grande was in those
days, as it IS now. the rendezvous or
public knowing this. Gen. Diaz picked
upon this region as the most available
locality for organizing the nucleus Of
his revolut onary army.
Quietly Made His Plans.
Quietly boarding coastwise vessel at
New Orleans, he came to Point Isabel,
the deep-water landing place near the
mouth of the Rio Grande. His arrival at
that place was unheralded. The distin-
guished refugee made his presence there
known only to a few persons who he
knew were in sympathy with the cause
in VIII CHI he was interested. One of these
men whom he took into his confidence
was Fred c. Forto. who kept the little
hotel at Point Isabel where Daz made
his headquarters for several weeks be-
fore coming TO bTOWHSNlie MI roito
was a brother of E. c. Forto of this
place The latter subsequently became
an intimate friend of Gen. Diaz and was
made familiar with the latter's revolu-
tionary plans. He is still in active bust
ness in Brownsville and is keenly inter-
ested in the developments Of the revolu-
tionary situation in Mexico at this time.
During Diaz's stay at Point Isabel.
twenty-five miles from Brownsville, he
was in daily conference with other Next
can refugees who were lending him as
sistance in the promulgat on Of his sedi-
tious movement. The chief Of these was
Gen Gonzales, who became president of
Mexico at the expiration Of President
Dtaz's first term. 1t is said that it was
at these conferences that the two mill
tary leaders arranged between themselves
as to the presidency n the event of the
success Of their proposed revolution.
Gen. Gonzales was a native Of Mata-
moros, situated just opposite Browns
vile. He was exceedingly popular among
the masses Of the people Of northern
Mexico and particularly among those of
his own city and state.
Later Went to Brownsville.
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