JUAREZ.

Otago Witness, Issue 2106, 5 July 1894, Page 42

JUAREZ.

The career of Benito Juarez, as depicted in '•A Life of Benito Juarez, Constitutional President of Mexico," by Ulick Ralph Burke, M.A., is 'one of the most remarkable in modern histoiy, and the character of the man, when cleared of the gro3s misrepresentations of his enemies, is seen to have been worthy of the success he achieved. Juarez was born in 180G, at the little village of Sin Pablo Guelatao, among the mountains to the north of Oaxaca, in the province of that name, in Southern Mexico. His parents were pure-blooded Indians of the Zapotec3, and the child's bringing up was that of an Indian peasant. Already many years an orphan, he made hia way alone, at 12 years of age, to Oaxaca, where he found employment and a home with one Salanueva, a bookbinder. His master was in minor orders, connected with the Franciscans, and, impressed by the intelligence and industry of hi 3 young servant, destined him for the priesthood of the Catholic Church. But th 9 times in Mexico were full of intellectual and political unrest, and Juarez finally chose the law as hi 3 profession, and at the beginning of 1831 was admitted an advocate of the Sapreme Court. He had already plunged into politics, and been elected deputy t-o the National Congress of 1832, but when Lopez at the close of that year once more made himself Dictator of Mexico, Juarez returned to his native State. Here, though tbe practice of law was hi 3 chief concern, his high character and abilities kept him to tbe fore; and in 1848, when tbe United States had effected the reduction of Mexico to about one-third of the area it covered under Spain at the beginning of the century, Juarez was chosen governor of the State of O.vxaca. Lopez had now fled to Cuba.

As Governor of Oaxaca, during his five years of office, Juarez showed the stuff of which he was made. Few speeches but a great many roadp, few law 3 but a great reduction of the State debt, soldiers brought back to discipline and their officers to obedience, taxes paid, education developed, justice equally administered — such were some of the features of his rule. Mexico at large also enjoyed during that period, ending November 1852, comparative peace internally. Then the priest party invited Lopsz back, and be once more became Dictator. Juarez was cast into prison, but managed to escape to New Orleans, where he devoted himßelf to the study of law. By the beginning of 1855 Mexico had again had enough of Lopez Juarez joined the insurrectionists, the Dictator again fled to Cuba, and in the new Government the former Governor of Oaxaca bacame Minister for Justice and Religion. Hitherto, from the advent ©f the Spaniards in Mexico down to 1855, the clergy were amenable only to the ecclesiastical courts, and military officers only to military tribunals. Juarez at a stroke made both alike subject to the civil magistrate — one law for all Mexicans. Bat the enmity of the privileged classes was for the moment too strong for him. He was depiived of his portfolio and Bent back once more as Governor to his native State. Bat such a man could not be dispensed with at the capital. ' Events moved quickly in faction-torn Mexico. A new Constitution was decreed in February 1857, and in the following November Juarez was made Chief Justice, with the right of succession to the President's chair in case of a vacancy during the four years' term. We cannot find room to relate the intricate ins and outs of Mexican politics. Suffice it to say, in December 1857 Juarez found himBelf tbe Constitutional bead of the Republic owing to the flight of Comonfort, the President, from Mtxico. The capital was in the power of the priests and army, with an excroupier chosen by them into the place Vacated by ComoDforr, though legally Juarez was Preßideot, Vera Cruss, which Juarez x&acle bis faeadqasrtars, was staunch to him, and the United States recognised him as Jruler of Mexico; but foreign intervention Was soon to come to the aid of hie foes, though in the interim Juarez bad disposed of She ex-croupier and of his successor, MiramoD) and in January 1861 entered tbe capital. He was confirmed in his position as President by the eleotion of that time, and thereupon bet himself to enable Mexico to take her jplace among the nations. But time was needed to rebuild the ship of State out of the mere wreckage that was all the material Juarez had for the purpose. The foreign creditors could not be satisfied from an empty treasury, and Napoleon 111 bad a precarious grasp of Ibe empire which a spirited foreign policy might render more firm. The interest of those to whom Mexico owed money was made the pret xt of intervention, and Napoleon persuaded England and Spain to join him in it. But he was i laying solely for his own band, and his allies soon left him when it became pliin that this was the case.

Against 60,000 French troops Juureu could make no effectual s^and, and gradually he was compelled to retire to the extreme north of Mrsica. Meanwhile the unhappy Maximil'aa was icstalied as Emperor (Jur.e 18G4 , but within two years Napileon was sick if his transatlantic venture, and the withdrawal of the French troops wag ordered. This part of the Mstory is familiar to everybody. With Maximilian left to himseH tbe istue could not be long doubtful. The Liberal or National Party,

under Juarez, step ty step recovered possession of the country, and on June 19, 1867, Maximilian was shot. Twice subsequently was Juarez re-elected to the President's chair, and he died in harness, July 1872. " His undying glory is," says Mr Burke, " that he set law above force in Mexico." — Literary World.