Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1915-07-07
MEXICAN Ex-PREsIDENT DEAD.
Gen. PorfiriO Diaz Succumbs to Ill
ness and Age i'm Paris.

anu CHelr son, POfllrlO DlaZ, Jr., and
the latters wife were by his side
when the end came.
Gen. Diaz began to fail rapidly
about three weeks ago, and while his
death was not unexpected, owing to
his advanced age and recent failing
health, the crisis came suddenly this
afternoon. Porfirio Diaz, Jr., and his
wife were hastily summoned and ar
rived at the bedside only few mo-
ments before the end, which came at
Z O'Clock tonight.
Col. Diaz, in announcing the death
OF his father, said that he was una
bic to state the nature Of the malady.
but expressed the opinion that a COM
plication of diseases, due to advanced
age, was the cause.
TWO tragic circumstances marked
the death Of the eXiled ruler. Owing
10 the troubled state in Mexico it has
been judged impossible to send the
body home with all that ceremony
which would have beftted one of the
figures Of Mexican history, and fur
ther, Col. Porfirio Diaz, Jr., has tried
in vain to inform his sisters, Sonora
lgnaCio De La Terre and Sonora Rim
fathers death
Not less tragic, perhaps, is the fact
that not one of those whom Gen. Diaz
raised up as his assistants in govern
ing Mexico, and who proSpercd and
grew rich in the shadow Of his great
ness, were with him when he died.
Jose Yves De LimantOur, former
Mexican minister Of finance, is in
London; Francisco De La Barra. for
mer Provisional President Of Mexico
and holder Of other important posi-
tions, and Guillcrmo De Landa, for
mer Governor OF the Federal District
in Mexico, are in Biarritz. France.
Scarcely any one outside the family
knew Of the seriousness Of Gen.
Diaz's illness or that he was in Paris
The end seems to have been
brought about by failure Of the heart,
weakened by an attack of grip last
year.
This illness left the aged exile
blind. Nevertheless, he walked daily
last spring in the Bois de Boulogne,
which he loved because it resembled
the Chapultepec in Mexico City. He
had been hoping to go to Barritz
shortly, but Illness prevented
Gen. Diaz lived here in simplicity,
occupying a modest apartment, in
maintained by friends who left
Mexico with him.
Master of Mexico 35 Years.
The letter with which Gen. Por-
hrio Diaz announced, on May 25th,
1911, his resignation from the Presi-
dency Of Mexico, after having been
master OF the country for 35 years.
gives in his own words an interesting
glimpse of his remarkable career. 1t
reads:
Sir: The Mexican reople who gen
erously have covered me with honors,
VINO proclaimed me as their leader
during the international war, who
patriotically assisted me in all works
undertaken to develop industry and
the commerce of the republic, estab-
lish its credit, gain for it the respect
Of the world and obtain for it an
honorable position in the concert of
natons--that same people, sir, have
revolted in armed military bands,
stating that my presence in the exer-
else of the supreme executive power
Is the cause Of this insurrection.
II do not know OF any fact imput-
able to me which would have caused
this social phenomenon, but permit
ting, though not admitting, that |
may be unwittingly culpable, such "a
possibility makes me the least able
to reason out and decide my own
culpability. Therefore, respecting
as | have always sNected-the will
of the people, and in accordance with
Article 80 OF the Federal Constitu-
tion, I come before the supreme rep
resentativeS of the nation in order to
resign, unreservedly, the office OF
constitutional President OF the re-
public with which the national vote
honored me, which | do with the
more reason since, in order to con-
tinue in Office it would he necessary
to shed Mexican blood, endangering
the credit Of the country, dissipating
its wealth, eXhaustng its resources
and exposing its policy to interna-
tional complications.
Il hope, gentlemen, that when the
passions which are inherent to all
revolutions nave been Gained, a more
conscientious and just study will
bring out in the national mind a cor
rect Judgment, which, when | die, |
may carry craven on my soul as
just estimate OF the life which | have
devoted and will devote to my coun-
trymen."
Diaz Overthrow by Madero.
The revolution led by Gen. Fran
cisco !. Madero. Jr., had brought
about the aged Presidents reported
pledge early in 1911 to resign his
Office in bargain for peace, but on
May "a, the day on which the resig-
nation was expected, it was not forth
coming. Riots occurred that day in
Mexico City, during which many per
sons were killed. The national pal
ace was stormed by mobs shouting
"ViVa Madero," and demanding to
know why Diaz did not resign. The