South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-07-06
PORFTRIO DI4AZ.
indianapolis News. }

Porfirio Diaz was one of the world 5
remarkable men. The So years of his
life embraced the most tempestuous,
as well as the most prosperous, per-
iods of Mexican history His youth
extended back TO the days of the pa
triot, Beuito Juarez the dictator,
Santa Anna, the war with the United
States and the seasons of French Oc-
cupation. Born in OaXaca, on Sep
TENDER Is, 1880, Diaz was intended
for the priesthood. 1t was the fig
ure of Juarez that called him to a
military career. AS a young man he
the army, and was one Of the first
to revolt against Santa Anna. Like
many of his recent Successors, he
was for a time an exile in Texas.
When the French invaded Mexico he
was regarded as one of his country s
ablest generals. In 1867 he led the
victorious native army into the cap
ital From that year on his influence
increased.
With the exception of a single term,
Diaz was the master of Mexico from
1877 to 1911. when he resigned in
favor of Francisco l. MaderO. Esti-
mates of the exiled dictator vary.
He has been pictured as a corrupt,
merciIess man. Yet his fairest bio
graphers unite in praise Of his
strength. He may have been power
ful because of the extreme weakness
of his associates, but this was not
success was due to his faculty Cor
surrounding himself with able subor-
dinates When ne became president
Mexic0wns Undeveioped. Il had been
racked by revolution and anarchy.
IN 1876 there were 467 miles of
railway in Mexico. 10 1910 there were
$1,000. In 1876, few hundred
thousand dollars, more or less, rep
resented the bulk of foreign invest
merits By 1910. this amount hao
increased to billion and a half.
( These instances are typical Of the
commercial prosperity which Mexico
( enjoyed under Diazs dictatorship.
The president had a cordial feeling
/ for THE country. state Of mind due.
no doubt. 20 the visit Of Gen. Grant,
and the return visit which Diaz paid
To this country in 1881. piazS last
official intercourse with the United
/ States was in october 1909. when ne
met Prest TAFT at El Paso.
At that time the Madcro revolution
was gaining strength. ii hateVsr DlaZ 8
viii may have been in earlier years,
\ ii is certain that toward the close OF
I his dictatorship he was swayed by
/ other minds tnat his own. But he
I did Mexico service. He opened the
commercial door 10 foreign capital
/ He did not-perhaps he could not
7 change the social conGitiOns-the
tragic disparity between the rich and
/ the poor. the peon and the aristocrat.
I That Diaz was corrupt has been re-
I peatedly charged. yet il is stated on
I authority that ne did not loot the
I treasury. and IL is known that the
! Madercs. on coming into office. found
a large sum Of money on hand. DiaZ
was a dictator. He was cruel and
without pity when he thought the end
justified the means. He was for
more than generation the one strong
man or Mexico IL elections under
him were venal, Diaz had an answer.
I The principle OF national authority
justides itself more and more in Mex
leo. he once said. If IL is so hard
TO ind one man 10 direct the federal
government. how much more diff
cult must II be 10 find % men 10 gov
ern the states wisely and in harmony
with our interests as q nation" This
was Diaz's political philosophy. q be-
LIEF which. strangely enough, enabled
him 10 hold power for long time,
: out which also brought about his