Arizona republican., 1912-05-13
Judq ment on Diaz.

Porfirio DiaZ was acclaimed the other evening at a dinner in Paris as the creator of modern Mexico That is a tribute which has frequently been paid to him and which even those who most strongly disapproved some of his autocratic methods of government will not withhold. The world generally has long recognized the great beneficence of his work in securing for Mexico tranquility instead of turbulence and stable continuity of government in place of the all but incessant revolu- lions which prevailed before his day. IL seems probable that history will confirm the judgment of his contem- poraries
 The present disturbances in Mexico suggest however. if not for recon sideration of that judgment at least a pertinent and pregnant commentary on it. They were not unexpected In deed, many friendly observers of Mex ican affairs respectfully predicted when Diaz was forced to abdicate that the country would speedily relapse into the slough of disorder and repeated revolutions from which he had res cued it. and even the most hopeful today must confess there is danger that the forecast will be fulfilled
 
 sans of Diaz promptly reply that it shows the inability of President Ma dero to bend the bow of Ulysses" and the need of Diaz himself to keep the land in order That estimate may be partly correct. MT. Madero has not been universally regarded as a strong man in the sense that Diaz was in former years. Seeing how many men formerly tried to main lain constitutional order in Mexico and failed, it would not be an inde- Iible reproach to MT. Madero that he did not greatly succeed.
 The retort however. is ready and not ineffective. that if MT. Madero has not been able to keep reVolu- lions in check neither was Diaz him self, in the last emergency. If it be said that that was when he had grown old and comparatively feeble, the retort is that he should by that time have educated and disciplined the people that they would remain orderly even when his grip began to be relaxed, or that before the fatal hour of weakness came he should have transferred the reins of govern ment to other hands which would be able to hold them. The fact of re- cord is that after suppressing or pre- venting revolutions for so many years he finally himself became the victim of one and of one which was led by a man who is now criticised for be- ing weaker than he and less compe- tent to deal with disorder.
 Beyond that. and above all else, there rises this unsatisfactory and disquieting reflection, that with all his great work for that country Diaz did not permanently redeem Mexico from her inclination toward revolu- tionary methods It was remarked at the time of his abdication that the supreme test of his work was then to come in the conduct of Mexico af- ter his departure. Now it must be regretfully confessed that the coun- try has not stood the test as well as had been hoped. The old revOIu- tiOnary spirit is again rampant And that is probably the severest judg- ment that is to be passed upon Diaz. His work for stability and order does not endure. He was the creator of modern Mexico, but his creation rest ed too largely upon his own puissant personality, and when that was with drawn the great fabric was imperiled.
 The Banking Inquisition.