Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-03-24
RULES WITH A ROD.
Picturesque Career of Porfiro Diaz,
Pres.uent of Mexico,

Pres,uent OF Mexico.
President Porfiro Diaz, has for years
been forming about him a system that
makes him one of the most powerful
| and autocratic sovereigns Of any coun-
try in the world.
The twenty eight states of Mexico
are governed by twenty EIGHT men of
President Diazs personal choice. The
226 projects are also his appointees,
who have the power to make arrests,
judge and execute prisoners. In Mex
leo a man who commits a misdemean-
or instead of serving his time in jail
must serve 1t in the army. Officers of
the army are privileged to kill any
subordinate who disobeys a command.
The result Is that President DiaZ, to
whom all military officers are respon-
sible. rules with an iron hand.
President Diaz was born in Oaxaca
in 1880. His mother was a full blood
ed Indian belonging to the large and
powerful tribe Of Zapotee in the state
of Oaxaca. His father was a Span
lard, who died In 1888, leaving his
widow with no other property than
five healthy children, of which little
Porfiro was one.
He studied law under Benito Jaurez,
who subsequently became president
of the republic, and was the first man
against whom young Lawyer DiaZ
raised his hand in rebellion. Diaz
fought against the Americans invad-
ing Mexico in 1S47 and 1S4S. For the
next eleven years he was frequently in
revolutions for or against some favor
ite candidate Of the republic.
In 1860 Diaz, who had now become
colonel, was sent to congress where
he asked the president in the name of
his people in the state of Oaxaca to
make them such concessions as he
we'll knew would not be granted. Up
on the refusal Diaz raised an army Of
1000 Indians and started another rev.
olution. 1t was quickly quelled and
Col. Diaz and his followers fled for
their lives and for several years lived
in the mountains, making frequent
raids in the lowlands. He made over
lures to President JaureZ for amnesty
for himself and his band of followers.
1t was granted.
In 1868. when Napoleon III sent his
troops to take Mexico with the object
OF making it--a French dependency.
Col. Diaz was made a brigadier gen.
eral in the regular army. He subse-
quently visited his home town and
was married to Mrs. Delfina Sanchez
y Ortega.
Col. Diaz was defeated for the presi-
dency In 1870 and he started another
revolution. He was defeated and fed
to Texas.
In 1875. Diaz after many adventures,
smuggled himself back to his native
state, OaXaca-
In 1877 both Sebastian Lerdo De
Tejada and Diaz claimed to have been
elected president. Diaz raised the
biggest army in support Of his claim
and Tejada fled to the United States.
Since then Diaz has been president Of
Mexico.
From the moment he seized the
reins of government he has worked to
surround himself with a corps Of
faithful subordinates. An astute and
skillful soldier himself he has made
the government a military one. Every
governor must have a military stand
ing for the laws Of Mexico require ev-
cry officer and soldier to swear al
legiance to his superior and as the
president Is the commander In chief
of the army, every member of his vast
army has taken a personal oath to
obey him.
For thirty years President Diaz has
been building up an army which at
present, active and reserve. numbers
almost 100000. AS stated, every
man who commits crime must serve
his time in the army. At the end or
his term, he Is released finished
soldier. From the time of his release
he must report at regular Intervals to
his captain and be subject to service
at a moments notice.