The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-02-25
MADERO AN IDEALIST.
Statesman, Rather Than Soldier, Did
Not RetaIiate on Opponents.

Statesman, Rather Than Soldier, Did
Not RetaIiate on Opponents.
City Of Xexico, Feb. 24.-Francisco
l. Madero. one Of thirteen children,
would have been forty-two years old
had he lived unit Oct. 1S next He
was regarded more as an idealist and
statesman than a soldier. He had an
aversion to carrying out the time hon
ored custom in Mexico Of putting to
death OF all persons found involved
In traitorOus conduct. This weakness.
for such the Mexicans regarded it, was
among the causes underlying his de-
thronement and resulting in his death.
His attitud, toward his enemies and
his failure to put his enemies to the
sword led the public. after the iron
rule of absolutism by General Porfirio
Diaz, to regard him as too easy"
President Madero came from an in
duential, privileged class with abun-
dant wealth. He was born in the state
of Coahuilo. While his 'amily was in
Influential. few members of 1t held pub
lie office. His grandfather was governor
Of the state of Coahuila until 1884.
when he retired. Young Madero was
educated IL Paris and IL the Univer-
sity Of California Upon his return
from his studies he showed great in
terest in agriculture and in the min.
ing, ranching and other industries in
which the family was interested. He
was regarded as a model young man.
ltudious. abstemious and deeply inter.
ested In the political future of his
country.
Sweeps Diaz From Power.
Not until he was thirty did Madero
become factor In the political life
that within eleven years put him at
the head Of a revolutionary army, to
| the presidency and his death. In the
| town of San Pedro. in the state Of
| coahulia. he for the first time saw the
| bon hand of President Diaz crush po-
! !itical opposition Amazed he started
then IN a small way movement which
within nine years swept the iron mas
ter of Mexico" out of the presidency
and made him an exile.
BY 1910 Madero had strong enough
following to organize a convention to
nominate an opponent to President
Diaz for the Office of chief executive.
Although he didn't seek the nomina-
zion Madero was nominated. He be
gan bitter campaign against Diaz
AT first he was tolerated notwlthstand
ing that his speeches were infamma
. | tf
pass unpublished by the Diaz regime
He became so formidable that Presi
dent Diaz threw him into prison. He
was charged with sedition. THAI
charge collapsed, but others were
trumped up. While at liberty undel
vail Madero fed to San Antonio, Tex.
Falls to Keep Pledges.
He realized that the iron grip O.
Diaz could be broken only by a revo
luton. With his eight brothers ant
his father he started the one whicl
carried him to the presidency in No
| vember, 1911, for a five year term
, His administration started auspicious
. ly. Discomfort developed, however
when he failed to keep many of hi
pledges. About $50 of his relative
moved to the City of Mexico iron
Coahuila to take office under him an,
r favoritism gained full sway. He show
t ed what Mexicans regarded as ''eS
IRENE weakness when he failed t
: put to death General Diaz. the presen
!. revolutionary leader, when Diaz wa
captured after falling to take Yer
I Cruz last October. Diaz, nephew O
3 the exiled president, langulshed in ja
] until his recent release by force t
o head the revolutionists.
!, Madero's wife was devoted to him
S all his struggles. She was Spiritualis
S So was the president. 1t has been sta
e ed that he was guided greatly by til
o vediumistic abilities of Mrs. Nader