New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-24
MADERO GAVE HIS LIFE
FOR DEMOCRATIC IDEALS
Real Constitutional Government
Ambition Of the Dreamer
Who Won and Lost.
ENDED DIAZ DESP0TISM
Humane, People Thought Him
Irresolute, and Revolutions
Continually Threatened
His Administration.


The ambition OF Tranclsco '1dslecia
Madero was 10 tablish 81 real cons titu-
tional democracy in Mexico. 1t "as this
deal that enabled him 20 end the auto
cratic SWAY Of Poririo Dial VINO had
ruled Mexico for thirty-foLr years. Ma
dcro ALWAYS had maintained that his de-
size above al things Was 20 upliit the
ignorant peon from his present position
OF feudal slavery 10 plane of liberty
and equality.
The ardent wish 70 overthrow DiaZ the
heavy taxes imposed on the dcfenceess
rcasantry and the moderation Of free
speech and free elections were the mo-
lives that sent MadorO into the field.
When lrst ne declared war or D!az his
reclamation read:
"OuI beloved fatherland has reached
such a stage that dcspotism snch as We
Nexicans have not been accustomed to
bear since we secured our independence
Expresses 80 to such degree tha- II has
become intolerable."
When nc babe farewell TO MS soldiers
he said:
"Eut. my soldiers. u has been a jas.
va. All Of the suffering that has been
which the result OF mis- WAY will PIE
vent. Ii was WAY against granny: its
fruit is liberty"
And when he was welcomed III his CAPT
tai he declared
The spirit Of liberty will not oe salts
red and we all Will ,ea,ly not b, happy
until IL the whole American continent
the reign Of democracy IS complete.
President Madero had pronounced and
advanced ideas on what should be done
toward placing the mass Of citizens on q
higher level OF morality II vas said OF
him in Mexico city thar h had not =
single bad habit.
lie intended. II is said. 10 abolish gam
bling possibly horse racing, ana 20 rcSu-
late the liquor trade. It. Was even rI-
mored that he would support Dill %
abolish bull nshtins. tIc tin IGNORED
sport Of Mexico. mi. staten 10, was
made Immediately aftcl 10 Gjtenoed his
iirst blll nght a ycar or so axe. and Wa
horror-stricken with is brutality The
President anhorred cruelty in any form
whether toward man or Brute
This very dislike Of brutality. MS n: ..-S
say. brought about the storm Of criticism
that he was weak and irresoute. Ma
dero's policy of mercy and humanity was
n strongest contrast 10 the Gespotic
methods Of his predecessor the dictator.
and. his friends say. was largely his IN
doing.
3adcro's wife was devoted 10 him in
all his struggles. She was a Spifitualisi.
so was the President. !. mas beer stated
that he was guided greatly by the meal
Emistic abilities of Mrs. Ma1ero. Since
lis arrest Ms. Madero told friends she
knew him 10 be doomod.
Was Rich and Scholarly.
Nladero wa. known only for his riches
and literary attachments Up 20 the veal
1903 lie was born on tire Hacienda del
Rosario in the state OF Coahuila. In
Northern Mexico. OF October 4. So. ani
was sent abroad 10 study, as are most Of
the members Of the Madero family.
Madero is said 10 have spent half II the
family fortune lighting Dias and in the
lettering OF the peons-the Mexican labor
ing class. Madero was perhaps visionary,
al idealis,. His friends called him an i'm
practicable mystic. cherishins dream OF
an impossible Utopia, Vet he went far
toward proving his dream possible BY in
s,alling In the laborlng Mexicsr sense
of justice equality. liberty and self-re-
spect and in making him d first class
lighting man. lie drilled him 10 cope
with the well trained troops Of Disz. and
al that Madero did was accomplished
with two years.
AIadero was aroused By the tales OF the
maladministration Of Diaz. Of the heavy
taxes and the cruelty practised on the de-
fcnceless peon by the government tax
collectors. who endcayored 10 get from
the poems money which they did not
possess. His pa ssiona.e Indignation found
an outlet in a book on the Presidential
succession Of 1910 which created ire
meudous sensation throughout Mexico.
Daz was arraigned most bitterly, and
blamed for The bad government and for
the distressing conditions that prevailed
in the humber walks OF life. Madero' 8
views we're shared secretly b. hundreds
OF the better classes. but even his own
father. Francisco Msdero. sr.. Mastered
10 declare that he vas not in sympathy
with his son.
Maderos reward for his book and his
soeoches was arrest and imprisonment
until after the election OF 1909. When he
was released from Jail he discovered that
lie was looked upon as leader Of tho
opposition TO Diaz. For Il time Madero
did nothing Of public nature. He bided
his time ana planned political cam
paicn lr the early part Of 1910 he came
forward as q candidate for the Presi-
ocrcy. He made a thorough canvass Of
tho country, and his impassioned speeches
gained for him large numbers Of sincere
adherent-.
Diaz ard his government al first did
not take seriously this studious young
man. and looked upon his campaign with
oct alarm IL not with almost utter in
difference. 1t was seen after a while.
however that Madoro was making prog
rcss. and again he was arrested--this ti,ae
On a charge Of scdition When the clec-
lion was over he was again set free, but
Was required 20 give a bond OF $1,000
Madero left Mexico in the guise OF
peon. and came 10 the United States. He
established junta in New York CITY and
gathered about him many Mcxicans OF
wealth and influence. An army WAS or
canzed in tho northern states Of Mexico.
When he went back 10 Mexico he had
With him mon who mad been officers in
foreign armcs-soidiers OF fortune
Madero proclaimed himself openly an
enemy % Diaz. on May Q. 1911. Madcro
made speech, in which ne said Now
that the people Of Mexico arc alive TO the