The Washington times., 1915-07-03
President From 1878.

ioritrlo Dlaz was President of Mexico
from 1873 to 1911, except between 1880
and 1884. when General Gonzales ruled
MS power was unquestioned and unim-
paired until the successful Madero revo-
iution of 1911 which exiled him.
with the cries of the Mexican mob
rising to the windows Of the palace the
aged dictator superintendent the pack
ing OF the few possessions he could take
win MIN and after two days of rioting
deshed for the railroad station and took
train for Vera Cruz. After a perilous
ride he arrived at the seaport.
FloWers were strewn in his path as
ne walked between rows OF bayonets OF
MS guard to the steamer Ypiranga 1t
was on May 81. 1911. that he sailed.
never to return.
Diaz was born on September "A, 1880.
In a little inn at Oaxaca, Mexico He
was intended for the church, but his
sarIy lnciinations turned him to the law.
The condition of affairs in Mexico made
soldier. 'e
The first thirty years OF his manhood
were spent In almost continuous fight
ing; me remaining years In constructive
statesinanship whose stern measures for
lhe upouilding of Mexico won the re-
spect and confidence Of the world.
Diaz was Of MIXED blood. HIS
father. JGse de la Cruz Diaz. was Of
was the daughter OF Mariana Mori, Of
pure Andalusian strain. who married
Maria i la Cortes. on Indian girl OF
the Mlxteco race. Diaz was therefore
one fourth Indian and three-fourths
white.
Studied for Priesthood.
Wien Diaz was three years old his
father died and the family suffered
many privations. At seven he earned
his first money as an altar boy in
the church OF Santa Catarina. and
a few years later he was studying for
the priestroo in the pontifcal semi
nary Of Oaxacai where he soon be-
came disgusted with the ways of the
monks of the Santo Domingo monas-
tory.
After Juarez was elected President.
put General Zuioaga was declared
p1Sdsident. aTS .G nisT fought fer fer :, Jusrez. s
tenant-colonel. He was then twenty
eight years old. The revolution was
beaten down, and JuareZ firmly seat
ed as President. Colonel Diaz subse-
sent Ixtlan in the Mexican congress.
DiaZ won his greatest military dis
tinctton in the campaign a-,ainst tho
Austrian Archduke Maximilian, ris-
ing to general OF division. the high
est rank in the army,
After Macmillan had been defeated
Juarez stood again for the Presidency
in lsn and Diaz consented to run
against him. Juarez was declared
elected when Congress canvassed the
vote. but Diaz's friends raised a cry OF
fraud and there were uprisings in many
parts OF the country.
Brother Killed.
Diaz's brother elk. who now fought
on his side. was captured and killed, and
,X,k
soon a fugitive. He went into hiding
in the mountains, but soon reappeared
at the head of a band OF Indians ano
captured the city Of Chihuahua While
lighting in that neighborhood he heard
Of the death OF Juraez.
Lerdo de Trejada, president of the
supreme court, succeeding Juarez by law
and Diaz, recognizing Lerdo as Presi-
dent. quit the field and returned to his
farm.
Diaz next headed a revolution against
Lerdo. and on November %, 1876. en-.
tered Mexico City and got control OF
the government. Lerdo fed to the Uni
ted States. Diaz at once ordered a
general election and in 1877 the new con-
gress declared him elected President.
After restoring order Diaz went to
work to revive the national credit. Next
he turned his attention to railroad build
Ing. and got. the cooperation of fnan-
ciers in the United States.
Only One Term.
While working at high pressure to
establish commerce and extend the edu-
cationa) system. Diaz. oddly enough. in
view of what was to happen, forced
through an amendment to the constitu-
ton prohibiting a president or a gov
ernor succeeding himself.
His term ended, Diaz supported Gen.
Manuel Gonzales. who was elected his
successor. The Gonzales administration
ended with Mexico on the verge of finan-
cial ruin. Diaz. In spite of rle con-
stitutional prohibition, was almost
unanimously elected to the presidency.
and not long after the constitution was
again altered to permit his continuance
in the office. which he held without SER
Gus opposition up to the Madero revolu-
ton.