Perth Amboy evening news., 1911-03-11
Called" Greatest Rulerof Our rage"
by ToIstOy Because of Nation
Building Reforms He Brought
About In His Country.
BY JAMES A.

W NGhN 0ha6J law o6tA
ruler of Mexico, is held has
been illustrated by the univer-
sal concern displayed over the recent
rumors of his Illness and impending
death. While these reports have been
denied, they alarmed the nations and
may have played a part In the dis
patching Of In American army to the
Mexican border.
President Taft and President Diaz
have the same birthday. Sept. Is, and
their warm mutual regard was evil
depced at their meeting In Ell Paso
and Juarez two years ago.
Count Leo Tolstoy once referred to
Dtaz as "the greatest ruler of our age"
Theodore Roosevelt called him "the
greatest statesman now living" What
OF man Is this who can win so
high encomiums from such sourcesf
mother having been a halfbreed and
his father, an innkeeper, having had
Indian blood. Porfirio was born IL 1880,
on Sept Is, the anniversary Of Mex
ico's strike for liberty. While still a
child he lost his father and his youth
was one of struggle and poverty.
Intended For Priesthood.
The mothers ambition was that he
should take orders, and he was placed
lander a priest for study. The lad had
more martial and worldly aspirations,
but compromised by reading law.
When the war with the United States
broke n he went from his home in
Oaxaca TO become a soldier. but before
seeing a battle his country had sur
rendered Returning to the law, he
studied and taught by turns, becoming
Z full hedged professor at the age of
tw~enty-four. Then he took up arms
against Santa Anna and. placing him
self at the head Of a 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 a
charge with a bullet hole In his side.
For gailantry In this and In a later bat
tie which he fought to recover his ma
tive town Diaz was promoted rapidly
till he became a general, governor of
4 state, commander Of a district and
member of congress.
When our own civil war occurred
and the Monroe doctrine was hung up
for a season, France, England and
other European powers took the oppor-
tunity to intervene In Mexico. 1t was
then that Diaz became known as s'the
hero of Puebla."
On this. invasion OF the French he
held the town against the besiegers
MD repulseAassn although eESsnm
lSeHs9-fhEee 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 a 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-
ehla that the anniversary of the first
battle, the 9Th of May, was made a
saiionai holiday.
A brusque American once asked the
president. why do you Mexicans cefe-
brate q defeat when you know that
the French finally took Puebla7"
President Dias. with a twinkle In his
eye, replied: perhaps we have initial
ed the Americans even to the extent
of celebrating our defeats, for 1 have
been told that the British defeated
the coionists at the battle Of Bunker
BILL, and yet you built q 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 stiil further imbittered by the
execution OF his brother, a republican
soldier like himself. BaZaine at first
tried to corrupt Dtsz and, falling In
this. led a 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