The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-02-27
Miscellany
Political Destiny in Mexico.

The theory of the incapacity Of Mex
leans for popular government is based
largely on the success Of Porfrio Diaz
IN his long career as an able ruler of
Mexico. This argument, however, falls
TO the ground when the facts are close
ly considered, Diaz was successful in
this way, but it was not the way Of
permanent success, and be fell finally
before the Madero revolution. There
is no reason to think the result would
be different had Huerta received sup
port in an unconstitutional office from
the United States. The voice Of his
tory is against any such theory.
Review the last half-century of events
in Mexico. In 1857 new and very
democratic constitution was promulgat"
ed. The struggle ever since appears to
have been 10 restore this constitution or
create another like il. After the cpl
sode of the Macmillan empire, JuareZ
was elected president under the con-
stitution as restored. Juarez was again
elected president In 1871, one of the
opposing candidates being Porfrio Diaz.
Juarez died in 1871, and IN new cleo
tion Lerdo de Tejada was chosen presi
dent A report in Appleton s cyclope
dia in 1873 says of the conditions in
Mexico at the time under the presi-
dency: 1.-The republic is at present in
n state of comparative peace; the laws
are faithfully observed; and the mill
tary seems reconciled to the idea Of en-
during civilian at the head Of the
governments, public education is in d
prosperous condition; internal improve
| ments are IN progress; brlgandaee Is
| gradually disappearing.
The man who disturbed this prosper
| Gus experiment. In constitutional govern
| ment was Por6rio Diaz. In 1872 he led
Il revolt against Tejada and was de
feated. He raised the banner of revolu-
| City of Mexico, declared himself dicta
tor. He recognized the popularity of
| the constitution, however, and submit
| ted mis- chances to popular election
, and became constitutional president. He
retired after his first term In accord
with his agreement and in submission
! to the constitution: was succeeded IN
/ tary, Gonzalez; and put himself forward
and was reelected president in 1854,
| From this date began his oncroachments
! on the constitution for the purpose Of
/ retaining all executive power in his
own hands. An organizer of real abil-
ity, he had good. claims TO popular ia
yor, He had granted concessions to for
cigu capitalists through which thou
sands of miles of railroads were built,
which gave employment TO all avail
| ablo labor aud lcssened tho pressure of
poverty that created bandits; ho had
| secured the establishment OF many prof
table industries; and soon felt strong
enough to secure change in tho con
stitutiou that practically gave him the
| =. 4
But, though Diaz himself was proba-
bly, honest in public matters, there
grew mp around him group Of exploit
ers Of political privilege, uicknamed
the Cientificos, and, as Diaz grew old,
they tightened their grip on public af'
faire. Ono Of the chief complaints
arainst them was The growth OF land
monopoly. and this finally became exi.
gent, inciting a strong popular move
mcnt against Diaz's continuance at the
head Of affairs. Madcro put himself
forward as tho champion Of free elec-
tions, the form Of which had been con
tinued by Diaz without permitting any
real opposition; aud, Madero being con
sidered dangerous opponent, was
forced to flee the country. This
brought on the long deferred crisis. The
people rose in revolt, and Madero was
invited to return and head revolu-
tion. This he did, and Diaz was de
feated in important battles Tbereup-
on he resigned, realizing his weakness
and the changed conditions, and very
possibly being patriotic enough to de
Sire to avoid such long-drawn- out
disturbance As Huerta has since pre-.
cipitatcd. Diaz was duly banished
an election. the most truly popular that
had been held in years, took place and
Madero became constitutional president
of Mexico.
The revolution of Felix Diaz agninst
Madero, made successful through the
dislovalty Of Huerta, is recent history
THE accompanying deaths or Maderc
and Suarez-the two mon who stood be-
tween Uuorta and the presidential of
fice-shocked the world. Everywhere
supporters of the constitution rose
against Huerta s despotic usurpatiou
II is the cheapest of pretenses TO as
sumo that IL President Wilson had rccog
nizod this outrage on humanity ana
on constitutional government peace
would have been restored in Mexico
The success Of Carrauza Is revolt under
the banner OF the constitution is answer