The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1911-03-16
Intended For Priesthood.

Intended For Priesthood.
The mothers ambition was that he
should take orders, and he was placed
under 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 he went from his home in
Oafaca to become soldier, but before
seeing a battle his country had sur
rendered. Returning to the law, he
studied and taught by turns, becoming
a full fedged 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 dictator's overthrow. In
1858 he joined the army of Juarez in
the fight against the clericals. first
serving as captain and leading
charge with a bullet hole in his side.
For gallantry in this and in later bat
tie which he fought to recover his ma
tive town Diaz was promoted RAPIDLY
till he became general, governor of
a state, commander Of district and
member of congress.
When our own civil war, occurred
and the Monroe doctrine was hung up
for season, France, England and
other European powers took the oppor-
tunity to intervene in Mexico. It 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 REINFORCED 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 9Th Of May, was made a
national holiday
A brusque American once asked the
president, ''Why do you ,Mexicans cele-
brate defeat when you know that
the French finally took Puebla?''
President Diaz, with twinkle in his
eye, replied: 'sPerhaps we have initial
ed the Americans even to the extent
sof celebrating our defeats, for I have
been told that the British defeated
the colonists at the battle of Bunker
Hill, and yet you built a 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 imbittered by the
execution of his brother, a republican
soldier like himself. Bazaine at first
tried to corrupt Diaz and, failing in
this, led great army against him,
capturing him after stubborn fighting
and throwing him into prison a 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 a traitor, the future
president once more escaped by clam
bering over the tops Of buildings and
falling into sly full of pigs. making
his getaway during the resultant
clamor.
After the American civil war was
ended the Monroe doctrine was taken
down from its nail,. busted off 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. It was
the twice imprisoned, twice tempted
end twice escaped patriot general
+>orfirio Diaz, who at this juncture
captured the City of Mexico, and
Macmillan lasted about long enough
ito 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 thu
opera bouhe empire he was candi