NO PEACE IN MEXICO.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1096, 7 April 1911, Page 5

NO PEACE IN MEXICO.

" A WAR OF EXTERMINATION."

By Telegraph-Press Ajsociation-Oopyrizht

i Mexico uiiy, April 5. Despito the reforms promised by President Diaz, the prospects of a settlement of the rebellion now appear to be less hopeful. General Madero, the insurgent leader, in the course of an interview at Chihuahua, has repealed his former declaration that the insurgents will not lay down their arms unless President Diaz resigns. Tho General declares, moreover, that ho will not accept any peace proposals unless they are officially .addressed to himself or to a confidential agent of the United States. The rebels, ho says, are confident of ultimate success, and followers are flocking to the standard. Senor irancisco Madero, father of the revolutionary leader, and Senor Gustavo Jlatlero have departed from El Paso ou a peaco mission on behalf of the insurgents. The refusal by the insurgents to consider any peace terms, except on the condition that the President first resigns, has resulted in President Diaz starting a "war of extermination."

Mexico Ciiy, April i>.

DIAZ IN HIS DOTAGE, "DID NOT KNOW WHEN TO QUIT." An American journal, in reviewing the situation in Mexico some little time ago, said :— "In our opinion, the aged President did not know when to quit. He has made Mexico. What was the neighbouring Tepublic when the revolutionist Porlirio Diaz took up arms against President Benito Juarez and his two immediate successors, Lerdo do Tpjada and Iglesias? At home, Juarez ruled the country as ho might have ruled the few bucks and squaws of his native village; abroad, the Government was discredited. What Juarez might have done to restore the prestige of his country we do not know, for he was taken away almost suddenly by a fatal malady at tho time his former pupil at Oajaca and his most efficient military leader was in open war against him. Thus did Porfirio Diaz gallop up to Die presidential chair. Utterly sick of warfare, wasted fields, highwaymen, and kidnappers, the people welcomed him and changed the Constitution a few times to please and retain him in olGce. He responded to their hopes and expectations. Mexico began to thrive. Foreign capital came in, because under Diaz it was safe; valuable concessions were granted to the foreigners who camo to develop Mexico's immense buried wealth, to make the country more prosperous, and incidentally to enrich themselves. Tho people murmured, for they thought that tho best of everything was rapidly passing into'tho hands of Englishmen, Germans, and especially Yankees; but the strong arm of Diaz was at the helm and the threatened storm subsided.

The "Fair-Haired Boy." "Diaz was growing old. A man born in 1830 is no longer a youth in 1901. He wanted a vice-president, and the people obligingly mndo room for one in the Constitution. Long tenure of office marietta old man eager to name the-vice-pre-sident and obstinate in sticking to his choice. Again the people {retted, but lie had his way, and Corral of Sonora was duly elected for a term of six years. Corral was not well liked nor favourably known, still he'was the old man's fairhaired boy and that had to suffice. "When the Presidential election of 1910 approached, General Bernardo Reyes, then Governor of Nuevo Leon, was loudly acclaimed as the next vice-president; but, as is commonly the case, advancing years had made the aged President even less sttpp c in his limbs and in his will, and he clamoured for Corral as children ory for some favourite plaything. Reyes, dashing, gallant, soldier that he was, seeiiv that valour's best part was discretion, resigned and slipped off to Europe. He went with a Government appointment to spend plenty of time in studying the cinches used in the . French army, or words to that effect.

Election Day in Gaol, "Francisco I Madero offered himself to a small but admiring group as a candidate for the presidency, unci began to deliver campaign speeches. He was charged with incihmr.the people to sedition snd was.lodged in gaol, where he spent elec"on/"}-. After seven weeks as a guest pt tne Government, lit was released on bail, and was finally told to go in peace, if he would leave the country. Ho went to San Antonio, Texas, it is said, and there tound some malcontents who had preceded him. Tlil present activities are inspired by him, if common report bo trnsted, and their object is not so much to depose poor old General Diaz who is travelling so- speedily towards fhe setting sun, as it is to oust the unpopular heir apparent, the hated Corral. What lasting glory would have been that of Diaz if he had recognised the signs of th .°. tlme . s . an( ! had KMcefully bowed himself off the stage while the audience was still good-natured, or at least tolerant! I'or a time ho was necessary; the people waited for him to outgrow the childish hallucination, but they waited to little purpose. And now, in bitterness of heart ho hears the hurrah of yesterday changed into the curse of to-day. His dream of greatness has outlasted tho real greatness that once was his."