The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-05-26
CAREER OF PORFIRlO DIAZ
PRESIDENT or MENICO. EN-
CEPT YEARS. SINCE 1870.
started Ia study for the Priesthood.
changed ~ Law and Then Brcame a
soldier Captured Maxin,iian After
French We're Driven out Of Mexico.

French We're Driven out Of Mexico.
Porfirio Diaz became President Of
Mexico in 1879 and. with the exception
Of the four years between 1880 and 1884.
ruled the country continuously until his
resi ignation. Gen Gonzales was Presi
dent In the interim Of four years.
The father OF the President was Of
pure Spanish blood. while his mother
was the daughter Of Spaniard and
an Indian woman. The father died
when Porfirio Disz was years old
and the family was left in want The
son first was employed a. an altar boy
AZ the age Of T. and later studied for the
priesthood When he was Is he met
Juarez. the Indian who later became
President of Mexico. and partially "a a
result of the influence Of Juarez Diaz
changed his mind about the priesthood
and 81 udied law.
When war with the United States came.
Diaz declared himself against continuing
Santa Ana in power and was ordered
arrested He fed TO tho Mixteco Noun
tains and joined band Of Indian revolu-
tionists Taking command Of the band
Diaz won a battle but sooh his band was
dispersed and its leader remained in hid
ing until Santa Ana was superseded by
Gen Alvarez. leader OF the Liberals. in
1855. Alvarez made him sibprefect Of
Ixtlan and he began organizing the
Indians in his district into an army.
In November of the same year a revolu-
tion was started and Alvarez resigned the
Presidency Gen. Jose Maria Garcia
suddenly became an opponent Of the
Liberals. Diaz with his Indians attacked
Garcia while the latter vas on his way to
attack Oaxaca and brought Garcia back
! into the Liberal cause.
Diaz was mex, sent 10 put down an
uprising in Tehuantepec and was shot
through the body. but was soon fighting
again He was. made a Lieutenant
Colonel al the age Of % and when the
revolution was put down and Juarez
became President was elected TO Congress
He tired OF this in a short time and went
back to the army.
He was fighting the rebel Marquee
when Napoleon III tried to establish an
empire in Mexico. and Diaz. after taking
part In the battle OF May 5. disastrous 10
the French. was sent TO Jalapa to take
charge OF the Government and 20 be
military commander Of the State Of Vera
Cruz. which was occupied by the French
army He Was not then 81 years old
| In the battles with the French which
| followed he distinguished himself both
for bravery and military foresight and
became Brigadier- General after the
! fight at Santa Ines Then he was cap
tured. but escaped and Joined President
Jlarez 10 the northward taking COM
nand of the main body OF the troops and
reorgani7ing them. In 1853 he was made
General of Division. the highest rank in
the Mexican army. but the following year
surrendered to the French General
Bazaine and was put in prison,
He escaped again and began the third
campaign against the French invaders
BY the time the United States interfered
and compelled the withdrawal of the
French troops Diaz had things in shape
and capturing tho Emperor marched
into the capital and sent for Juarez to
return.
When the President had been reseated
Diaz retired to his farm. He ran for
President once against Juarez and was
defeated. and then in 1871 he took the
field against the Government His
brother Felix was killed and Diaz took
to the mountains He had resumed the
fight when Jusrsz died and Diaz recog,
niZed his successor. Lerdo, ana returned
to his farm. In 1874 he formed party
in Congress- and then started revolution
against Lerdo. but was defeated and go,
away TO the United States. He returned
TO Mexico in 1879 and on November 2;
hs completed a successful revolution anC
assumed the Presidency.
As President he began the restoration
OF the country's credit tho wiping ou'
OF the bandits and generally restoring
order In order to meet a paymen,
OF $500, 600 due the United States ne forcec
officeholders to 90 without their salaries
and went TO work to interest Unitec
States financers in the development
of the country, particularly in the matter
OF railroad building.
When his first term expired in 1896
he helped to elect Gonzales President
and he himself became Governor OF
Oaxaca The credit OF the country suf
fered under Gonzales. and Diaz was al
most unanimously elected for his seconC
term In his first term he had caused 6
constitutional provision to he enacted
prohibiting President from succeeding
himself, He now bad this changed anc
continued in the Office term after tern
until his resignation Yesterday He wen
through the formality Of being reelected
only last fall when Francisco | Nader,
was nominally his competitor,
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