Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1915-07-08
PORFIRIO DIAZ.

Porfrio Diaz, whose name would do to conjurc with in the not
very distant past, died a few days since IN PARIS, attended only by
his faithful wife, his son and his daughtcrin-law.
Porfro Diaz began his career as a champion of the poor and
down-trodden, as Villa and Carronza began theirs. Diaz was a lib
eral' OF the pronounced type.
Porfro Diaz ended his career as the oppreSSor of the weak and
the downtrodden, as the upholder OF privilege and the supporter OF
class distinction.
General Diaz was born in 1880 and Us a young man carved his
way-literally carved it, as one may say, with the sWord-to the
presidency of Mexico.
Winning this distinction as a liberia, as a champion of the OPP
pressed, he soon became the most conservative OF conservatives, and
for thirty ears he had himself reelected to the presidency and sue
ceeded in maintaining a firm government.
Possibly Diaz could not have retained his power had he done
otherwise. 1t is possible that any other course would have led to
deposition within half a dozen years instead OF thirty
But be that as it may, the fact remains that Dlaz was the strong
man Of Mexico for o generation, and during that time he managed
very well in increasing the political power of the landed anstocracy
and in placing special privilege in the saddlc-nay not securely, for
there arose a force before which he quaIIcd and hnany NED 10 FaflS,
leaving Madero in control.
Whether Madero was better than Diaz may be open to question,
judged from results. Whether any man strong enough to rule, even
temporarily, could have done better than either Diaz or Madero,
under the conditions confronting them, is largely a matter of specu-
Iation.
The underlying problem in the Mexican situation relates to land
and the so-caned aristocraey The rich have gobbled up the natural
resources of the country. The poor want a share in them, particular
y IN the land. scheming men take advantage of the situation to
start a revolution, and perhaps a counter revolution, only to sue
cumb TO the Vaccinations of the arstocrats in the end if temporarily
successful.
Had Diaz been disposed to carry out his original program; had
Madero earnestly strlyen to carry into effect his land reform plans;
had Huerta sought to GUST privilege and to install a regime based on
honesty, it is doubtful whether any of them would have succeeded.
If the winner of a revolution should attempt to carry out re-
forms by providing means for the small fry" to secure homes of
their own, local and foreign interests would very likely bride a few
ambitious Statesmen and start a revolution; should he stand with
the special privileged the smaller fry wond find some ambitious sol
der Of fortune to lead them in revolutionary schemes.
Its a case wherein Diaz, or Madero,@ or IIuerta, or Villa, or Car
rama stands y chance to get it in the neck3 either a-comng or
a-gong.
And vet Diaz, viii all his faults, had some virtues which later
day MexIcaa statesmen" would do we'll to emulate.
The fortunes Of war surge back and forth in Europe. Germany
still seems to BE getting the best Of it, but it should be remembered
that the end is not yet in sight.