The Mena weekly star., 1911-06-01

Diaz was a young man and lived at
Matamoras, just across the Rio
Grande river from Brownsville,
Tex. The revolution that started to
put Tejada out OF business has been
traced TO the efforts Of Diaz, who
moved his headquarters across the
river TO Brownsville. H. was at
Brownsville and in house that is
now standing on Elizabeth street
that the plan" instigated by Diaz
was started and carried TO a finish.
Finally with a number Of men he
left Brownsville and crossed into
Mexico. Everywhere he went his
force increased in numbers till at
length he had quite an army.
II must be remembered that he
was not a stranger in Mexico. He
had seen years of active service in
the army and had distinguished
himself on many a field Of battle.
Diaz lost out and Teiada was re-
elected. However, the revolution
lists continued their forays and agi-
tation and Tejada was obliged to
hand over his authority and leave
the capital on the Goth day of No
vember, 1876. Diaz then entered
the city and has since been prac-
tically in supreme power. He was
at first proclaimed provisional
president. After fighting all over
the country the Mexican congress
in May, 1877, made him constitu-
tional president for a term to last
till November 30, 1880. In 1880 Gem
eral Manuel Gonzales was elected
to the presidency, and for the sec
ond time in the history of the re-
public the retiring president hand
ed over his authority without a
revolution. This has happened only
twice in the history of the Mexican
nation, that is TO say when Benito
Juarez died and also in the case of
Diaz and Gonzales.
Diaz succeeded at the end of four
years and no man has been able TO
Gust him since that time except
Madero and his adherents.
But in spite OF the many alleged
wrongs that have been committed
by the administration of Diaz, it
must be admitted that he has been
national builder along broad and
essentially constructive lines. With
out him Mexico would today in all
probability be still cropping in the
darkness Of past centuries, be-
cause as rule the people of the
romances are not a virulent and
progressive people. In this respect
they are incapable local self
government and nobody knew this
better than Diaz. Knowing il he
has not bothered himself with wOr-
rying over their Individual condi-
tons. In many respects while his
work has been for the upbuilding
OF his country, the work has been
given into the hands of the Philis-
tines and few Mexicans have reaped
the benefits. Concessions worth
millions and millions of dollars
have been sold, but not to Mexicans,
because Mexicans were incapable
of developing the country in such
way that it would bring forth fruit
a hundred fold. In Mexico the
genesis of practically every indus
trial enterprise can be traced to the
United States and other foreigners
above the average Mexican of Mex
leo, and when we say this we mean
The common people. the Mexican
hoi polloi, who, if you will give
two-bit jackass, a dozen pods of red
pepper, dozen dogs and a sack of
chill beans and he is perfectly hap
ply. He was in this condition 200
years ago, and he is in this condi-
tion today. They are ignorant and
have been kept in ignorance, deep
aud dark, by people who have
prayed like parasites upon their
misfortunes since the day of Cor
tez.
But Mexico has improved in an
industrial way. What is now said
Of the United States along all lines
of development can with equal
truth be said of Mexico if we elm
mate entirely the individual prob
lem of progress. The common corn
field darby Of this country, who
never takes bath, and sleeps in
the same clothes, till they rot, is
sweet smelling rose by the side of
the regulation sure enough greaser
Of the Rio Grande. There is moth
ing to thing of this description,
nor can there ever be, and the Won
der is that Diaz has not lost his
scalp long ago.