Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1911-05-10
wAuHAr1A. wlspss|spAr, MAY TO- 1911.
DIAZ SAYS HE WILL RESIGN.
Decides to Quit Office When Peace
Prevails I'm Mexico.

\ hSS0Ao NASNiSOs
Mexico City, May 7.---Gen. Porfirio
DiaZ tonight issued q manifesto to
the people of Mexico, declaring his
intention to resign the Presidency
as soon as peace is restored. In this
manner the President has virtually
acceded to the demands of Francisco
|. Madero, Jr., that he make an
nouncement Of such intention.
AS to when peace is actually re-.
stored, Gen. Diaz reserves the right
TO be the judge. In the words of
the manifesto, 1t will be when his
conscience tells him that he will not
leave his country In anarchy.
For His Country's Sake.
The President declared that his de-
termination not to relinquish the
Presidency at this time was not due
to vanity or love Of power, because,
as he points out, power at this time
had no attraction, accompanied, as
it is, by tremendous responsibility
and worries. He says he was
prompted by desire to conserve the
best interests Of his country.
President Diaz made it clear that
he does not propose to abandon the
Presidency while his country is at
war, and that he would not do SO at
any time under compulsion.
Promise Made to People.
The promise of the President is
made to the people of Mexico and it's
receipt by the rebels will be .nciden-
tai. That it will be sent to them
immediately. however, by private in
dividuals, and that it will be regard
ed as entirely satisfactory by them,
is taken for granted.
Reign OF Anarchy Feared.
Regarding the point upon which
the rupture Of negotiations occurred,
the manifesto declared that compli-
ance with the demHnd for Diaz's res
| ignation could not be entertained,
for the reason that his resignation
| would precipitate condition of an
| archy throughout the country, while
| on the other hand, if his retirement
was fixed for a future date, the gov
| ernment would not have SUFFICIENT
stability to assure the return of nor
nal conditions pending the selection
of ANEW President %s,ES' ~
In concluding, Gen. Diaz appealed
to the patriotism Of the people, call
ing upon them to act together for
the peace and progress of the ma
ton, and eulogized the army.
Method Of Succession.
At no place in the manifesto is
there made mention of a new elec-
ton. According to the constitution
resignation Is equivalent to death, SO
far as it affects the succession. The
Vice President would assume the
active chair and he in turn would
be followed by the minister Of for,
eign affairs.
In this case, the Vice President Is
eight months leave OF absence in an
endeavor to regain his health. Should
Vice President Corral not be back In
the country at the time the Presi.
dent leaves his post, the new incum.
bent would be Minister De La Barra
the choice of the rebels themselves
for provisional President. What
course affairs would take with him
in power Is to be seen.
Career OF President DiaZ.
Porfirio Diaz was born Septembe,
| 10, 1880, on the anniversary Of Mex,
lean independence. OaXaca was his
birthplace. His father was Span.
lard and his mother was Of Indian
extraction. His mother at first in.
tended that he should enter the
church, but finally yielded to his de-
sires, SO that he pursued the studies
| then required for lawyers career
While thus engaged, the invasion
OF Mexican territory by the Ameri
can troops occurred, and young Diaz
with other fellow students, offered
his services to the Governor. The
Governor accepted their patriotic Of
fer, but did not require the students
to go into the battlefield.
Served Against Santa Anna.
Diaz served in the revolt against
Gen. Santa Anna and supported Jau.
rez in his war of reform, which be.
gan in 1855 and ended in 1853. Al
the age of 20 he was general OF g
brigade, fighting the French when
Napoleon III tried to place Maximil.
Ian on the Mexican throne.
Diaz was regularly elected Presi.
dent Of Mexico for the first time IN
1877. He was succeeded at the end
OF his term by Gen. Manuel Gonzales
HIS crowning achievement in the
Gonzales administration was the alb.
rogation Of the law against Presi.
dental reelection and, in 1884, he
was elected President for the second
| time.
Theer has been no other President
since then, and until last summer the
opposition to him never attained seri.
Gus proportions. He was elected
President for the eighth time June
90, 1910.