THE AUTOCRAT OF MEXICO

Evening Star, Issue 12721, 26 January 1906, Page 7

THE AUTOCRAT OF MEXICO

A MAN OF BLOOD AND IRON. [By John Henderson, London ‘ Standard.’] In all official records it is written that Mexico is a Federal Republic, a country governed by the people for the people. Actually, the place is ruled by one man—governed by a despot whose power is greater even than the power of the strongest Czar or Kaiser. I’orfirio Diaz is actually an autocrat, though, theoretically, ho is only a President elected by the people of the Republic of Mexico. His story is the romance of a man who has succeeded, of an unknown, obscure youth who, by force of character, strength of will, indomitable courage and energy, has rnen from the lowest rank to tho highest power. This Mexican Indian President is the Napokon of the West, the Central . American King, the architect, the foundation, and the strongest pillar of the great Republic. Probably he is the greatest American Indian known to European history. He found his country tom with revolution and threatened by many external powers. Strenuously he combated ah these evils. Ho has fought for Mexico common soldier, as a captain, a colonel, a general, and last of all as a commander-in-chief. He has been counted a rebel, a patriot, a traitor, and a saviour; a corpora], a statesman, and, in all but name, a King. His speed and methods have been Napoleonic; Ms ideals and ambiuons seem more in keeping, with the character of a Cromwell. In Iris statesmanship be may safely claim to have founded a school peculiarly his own. In Mexico, where, under the title of President, he rules as an autocrat sixteen million souls, his people love and fear him. They count him infallible; while Diaz lives Mexico wiTl be untroubled by internal or external complications. Nothing is strong enough to shake his power or his people’s faith in his power. Never was absolute power more justly used ; newer was absolute autocrat more sincerely reverenced. Diaz is a man of a century. Born of pure Indian stock, the son of a people vigorous in physique, if somewhat decadent in culture, he was trained in youth amidst conditions of ungovorned anarchy. Naturally the first tcaiung young Diaz had’ was that of a warrior; Ms first experience that of war. Steadily he fought his way into leadersMp by way of suffering, defeats, and victories. He has always been a man of iron constitution and great courage. Nothing daunted him; nothing wearied Mm; nothing could induce him to waver from Iris purpose, or abandon an ideal or principle. He obtained his desires always by pursuing the path of least resistance, but he never wearied if that path extended ..... through many years. He has reached his goal; he has had a large band in the building of a republic and in the foundation of a n,-vH>vn To-day he is counted the saviour of Mexico; he is the father of the Federal Republic; the ruler of sixteen million people.

—Quick To Avenge.— Even in recent years groups of ambitious, adventurers have dared to dream, of usurping his power, A year or two ago a few headstrong men met at a. house in Yera Cruz and tried, to plan arevolution. Why no one ever guessed, except that revolution seems to be in the Hood of the people of Southern America. Diaz heard of this meeting, and his vengeance was swift Without trial or palaver of any description, these revolutionists were brought into the market-place of their city and shot. That is one of the secrete of the power of Diaz; when he strikes he does so instantly, without hesitation. And ho is quick to strike, just as he is slow to forgive and very slow to forget. A good tnend and a bad enemy; a trained soldier, statesman, diplomat. Such is the man who rules Mexico. He honored me with an invitation to his palace at Cliapaltepee, and I drove there from Mexico City by way of a royal avenue planted with giant trees, and furnished with many groups of fine statuary. The avenue ends in the great park of Chapultepec, from which one looks up at the palace as at a fortress built by the sunset on a bank of high clouds. The City of Mexico stands on a plain nearly B,oCK>ft above level; the President’s palace is built on an eminence high enough to'command the city. You reach the castle by way of a winding road well shaded by forest trees, and scented with the wild fragrance of Mexican blossoms. You are challenged by an armed sentry, who guards the gate of the first courtyard, and then you cioss a flagged square and reach the palace gate after more challenges and the exchange of passwords. An aide-de-camp receives you, and you are ushered into the President’s apartment without formality. Though officially Diaz is an autocrat, in his heart Le is entirely a democrat. IDs friends are his friends, ho has no courtiers, and be seems to have no vanity. The President received us with much cordiality. “ I’m always glad to see Englishmen.,” he said General Diaz looks his part. An ordinary English morning coat and ordinary English trousers and black boots, black tie and white collar, do not make him look an ordinary man. There is something about him which would make him conspicuous anywhere. The kind of man you would single out of a crowd and wonder who he might be. Thongh fully seventy years old, he could pass as fifty; straight as a dart, finely-built,' obviously muscular, he stands with a soldier’s bearing—shoulders back, head erect; there is no awkwardness, no studied pose. The President has a magnificent presence. His face is strong; a large, well-shaped nose, too broad, perhaps, from the aesthetic point of view; straight eyebrows, a broad forehead, closely-cropped hair—iron-grey hair. His lips are thin, and his chin looks as if it were built of metal. The eyes are metallic, too; in color they are grey, .but one does not notice Die color. You look at the man and feel that he has already looked at you, seen you through and through, and weighed you I believe I never met a stronger man. —Mexico’s Wealth,— “Mexico.” he said, “is in its infancy. Commercially and industrially we are only at the thro hold of our career. The country is rich—immensely rich. The people are energetic; we are’ambitinua. riot only by Die value of our precious metals are wo going to increase in wealth. The richness of our agricultural resources is not yet realised even by ourselves. Cotton, sugar, coffee, tobacco, rubber—all these things tire cultivated already; but they are not cultivated extensively ’enough. Wo could grow enough sugar to sweeten the whole world. Already we produce great crops of tobacco, yet if you journey through Mexico you will see Drat Die land is hutsparse ly cultivated; our resources are boniKlies. Wo do not know what we llavc. But recently a new species of nibber lias been found ; it grows in certain districts as wood—just as sriel did in Ytiikaian. I am told that this now rubber is extremely valuable. For many purposes it is superior to all the other kinds. Though our progress during the past twenty years has been great, it will be even greater during the next decade. Look at our railways; the country is severed by a close network of railway lines. And now Tehuantepec is completed.” It may be interesting to not© that this same Tehuantepec gives fair promise of becoming Die chief junction of the trade between East and West America, aud perhaps even s. route to the East-. Panama., the rival route, will be finished, perhaps, in twenty years. Meanwhile boats can sail from Europe to Coatzacoaicos, the eastern part of the Tehuantepec line, transfer their passengers and freights to trains which will journey from Goatzacoaicos to Salim Cruz in a few hours. At Salma Cruz a steamer will bo waiting, the goods and passengers will be embarked, and the journey to the east or west of America continued. The railway crosses Mexico at its narrowest point, and at both the ports commodious harbors and docks axe being completed. The plan is to start the line with a dozen steamers, six for Ooatzacoalccs and six for Salina Cruz. That is the Latest example of Mexican enterprise. The system will be under the control of an English firm-—B. Pearson and Son, who built tho line and the harbors, and who have, in company with the Mexican Government, financed the tmclertakmg. General Diaz is naturally greatly interested in the development of this colossal undertaking. He pro-

phcsics for it absolute success. Continuing, the President again expressed his strong friendship towards England and Englishmen. “ Look at our new commercial link with Canada. A Canadian official came to sec me, and I suggested a direct line between Mexico and the Dominion, We arranged a subsidy; Canada pays half and Mexico half. The line will bo a great commercial bond between the two countries. English owners—the contract is in the hands of., the Elder Dempster Company—the ships already have their share of cargo; soon there will he more ships arid larger freights. A great trade will be created.” —English Trade.— I asked the President if ho thought the Ensrlish manufacturing houses did all they could to secure their proper share of Mexico’s trade. “Many do,” he replied. “Tint it seems that very few properly qualified commercial representatives are sent out' hero from Britain. The English do not soem to he so eager for markets as do ZANDER AND SONS’ PURE VOLATILE O EUCALYPTI EXTRACT Is Manufactured under the Most Srionttf. and Expert Supervision, and every bottle is guaranteed to contain the healing (antiseptic) and heart-stimulating substances which were shown at a recent trial against an imitating concern in the Supreme Court at Melbourne, before His Honor Chief Justice Sir J. Atarit den, K.G.MAL, etc., to be present ttn-raj™ and which are only contained in the finest and purest extract. , , DO NOT CONFOUND IT with common Eucalyptus products, often called extracts, which are discarded medicinally on acount n> -ne irritation they produce when applied <o tender parts. and on account of not containing the medicinally active constituents of the plant. His Honor the Chief Justice said with regard to the GENUINE SANDER AND SONS’ EUCALYPTI EXTRACT that whoever an article is commended to the public by reason of its good quality, etc., it is not permissible to imitate any of its features, and restrained the company from doing so. Therefore, to avoid falling a victim to m>. position by worthless imitations, insist upon the , - . GENUINE SOANDEE AND SONS’ PURE VOLATILE EUCALYTPI EXTRACT.

Public NotHOMk

some of the other commercial Powers. But Still your people do a large trade with ns.” He talked about his country and bK peoidc, and was interested to hear how his capital impressed ah Englishman. Frequently he expressed his regret that ho had never seen London, and had never had time to visit England. It is easy enough to see that President Diaz has- grasped to its fullest extent the importance of King Commerce. Having helped to win the freedom of his people, to form tho Federal Republic, he is now at work making the country prosperous. He is always the first to rapport any scheme which makes for the material prosperity of his country; whether tho project is concerned with indiarubhor or sugar or railway development, President Diaz is always willing to lend tho whole weight of his power and influence to further the test, interests of his people. If be had not been destined for the career of a soldier and a President be. would have made a firstclass business, inan—a man of gigantic undertakings'and no failures.