POBFIIilODIAZ

Tne, Ee.ov.Berator of Mexico

mm^

i» r
u \j \j u L.. I u nnn i
PoRFiRio Diaz
The Regenerator of Mexico
 These pages are sent with the
compliments of the

li?xtra« National parking OInmpang

Compafiia Eiupacadora Nacional Mexicaiia
OPERATING JJ^DER SPECIAL CONCESSIONS FROM THE SUPREME GOVERNMENT
OF THE REPUBLIC AND SUBJECT TO ITS DIRECT OFFICIAL INSPECTION

Published by kind permission

of Pearson's Magazine.
All rights reserved.
I'liotogr.ipheil l.y Cahoni, Mexico

PRESIDENT I'ORIIKIO DIAZ, THE CREATOR AND HERO OV MODERN MEXICO, AS HE WAS A FEW WEEKS AGO
AT THE AOE OF SEVENTV-SEVEN YEARS
 Pearsons Magazine
VOL. XIX MARCH, 1908 NO. 3

Holographed by Percy Cox, Mexico

THE MEETING OF TWO CIVILIZATIONS IN MEXICO TO-DAY

PRESIDENT DIAZ
Hero of the Americas
By JAMES CREELMAN
In this remarkable article the greatest man 0} the continent speaks fully to the
world through Pearson^s Magazine. By previous arrangement Mr. Creelman
went to Mexico and ivas received at Chapultepec Castle. He had unusual oppor-
tunities for conversation with President Diaz and has brought out with great clear-
ness the dramatic and impressive contrast between his stern, autocratic government
andhis stirring tribute to the democratic idea. Through Mr. Creelman the President
announces his unchangeable intention to retire from poiver, and predicts a peaceful
future for Mexico under free institutions. The story of a nation-maker. Editor. —
jROM the heights of Cha- of —
modern Mexico the inscrutable leader
pukepec Castle Presi- in whose veins is blended the blood of the
dent Diaz looked down primitive Mixtecs with that of the invading
upon the venerable capi- —
Spaniards watched the slender, erect form,
tal of his country, spread the strong, soldierly head and commanding,
out on a vast plain, with a but sensitive, countenance with an interest
ring of mountains flung up beyond words to express.
grandly about it, and I, A high, wide forehead that slopes up to
who had come nearly four thousand miles crisp white hair and overhangs deep-set,
from New York to see the master and hero dark brown eyes that search your soul, soften
Copyright, iqoS, by the Pearson Publishing; Company. All rights reserved 231
 Copyriglit, 1900, by Waite, Mexico
TERRACE OF CHAPULTEPEC CASTLE, WHERE MR. CREELMAN TALKED WITH PRESIDENT DIAZ. ON THE CEILING WILL BE
NOTICED SOME OJ THE PO.MPEIAN DECORATIONS ORDERED BY THE HAPLESS EMPEROR MAXIMILIAN

into inexpressible kindliness and then dart mocracy, than the soldier-statesman, whose
—
quick side looks terrible eyes, threatening adventurous youth pales the pages of Dumas,
eyes, loving, confiding, humorous eyes — and whose iron rule has converted the war-
straight, broad and somewhat
powerful, ring, ignorant, superstitious and impover-
fleshy nose, whose curved nostrils lift and ished masses of Mexico, oppressed by cen-
dilate with every emotion; huge, virile jaws turies of Spanish cruelty and greed, into a
that sweep from large, flat, fine ears, set close strong, steady, peaceful, debt-paying and
to the head, to the tremendous, square, fight- progressive nation.
ing chin; a wide, firm mouth shaded by a For twenty-seven years he has governed
white mustache a full, short, muscular
; the Mexican Republic with such power that
neck; wide shoulders, deep chest; a curiously national elections have become mere formali-
tense and rigid carriage that gives great dis- ties. He might easily have set a crown. upon
tinction to a personality suggestive of singu- his head.
lar pov,-er and dignity — that is Porfirio Diaz Yet to-day, in the supremacy of his career,
in his seventy-eighth year, as I saw him a this astonishing man —foremost figure of the
few weeks ago on the spot where, forty years American hemisphere and unreadable mys-
before, he stood —
with his besieging army tery to students of human government an- —
surrounding the City of Mexico, and the nounces that he will insist on retiring from
young Emperor Maximilian being shot to the Presidency at the end of his present term,
death in Queretaro, beyond those blue moun- so that he may see his successor peacefully
tains to the north —
waiting grimly for the estabhshed and that, with his assistance, the
thrilling end of the last interference of Euro- people of the IMexican Republic may show the
pean monarchy with the republics of America. world that they have entered serenely and
It is the intense, magnetic something in preparedly upon the last complete phase of
the wide-open, fearless, dark eyes and the their liberties, that the nation is emerging
sense of nervous challenge in the sensitive, from ignorance and revolutionary passion,
spread nostrils, that seem to connect the man and that it can choose and change presidents
with the immensity of the landscape, as some without weakness or war.
elemental force. It is something to come from the money-
There is not a more romantic or heroic mad gambling congeries of Wall Street and in
figure in all the world, nor one more intensely the same week to stand on the rock of Cha-
watched by both the friends and foes of de- pultepec, in surroundings of almost unreal

232
 Photographed by Percy Cox. Mexico

REMARKABLE PHOTOGRAPH, MADE EXPRESSLY FOR PEARSON's MAGAZINE,

SHOWS ^HE POWER COURAGE AND
THIS IN COLOR
ENERGY ,N PRESIDENT DUZ'S COUNTENANCE. WHEN HE IS AROUSED HIS EYES OPEN WIDE AND DEEPEN
WHICH HE SUGGESTS AT SUCH A MOMENT,
AND HIS NOSTRILS SPREAD. YET, IN SPITE OF THE TERRIFIC FORCE
HIS SIMPLE DIGNITY IS ALWAYS APPARENT
THE MEXICAN NATIONAL PALACE. PRESIDENT DIAZ S OFFICE IS IN THE RIGHT-HAND CORNER. SECRETARY OF FINANCES

grandeur and loveliness, beside one who is by the long continuance in oflice of one Presi-
said to have transformed a republic into an dent, " he said quietly. " I can say sincerely
autocracy by the absolute compulsion of that oflice has not corrupted my political
courage and character, and to hear him ideals and that I believe democracy
be the to
speak of democracy as the hope of mankind. one true, just principle of government, al-
This, too, at a time when the American though in practice it is possible only to highly
soul shudders at the mere thought of a third developed peoples."
term for any President. For a moment the straight figure paused
The President surveyed the majestic, sun- and the brown eyes looked over the great
lit scene below the ancient castle and turned valley to where snow-covered Popocatapetl
away with a smile, brushing a curtain of lifted its volcanic peak
nearly eighteen
scarlet trumpet-flowers and vine-like pink thousand feet among
the clouds beside the
geraniums as he moved along the terrace —
snowy craters of Ixtaccihuatl a land of dead
toward the inner garden, where a fountain volcanoes, human and otherwise.
set among palms and flowers sparkled with " I can lay down the Presidency of Mexico
water from the spring at which Montezuma without a pang of regret, but I cannot cease
used to drink, under the mighty cypresses to serve this country while I live," he added.
that still rear their branches about the rock on The sun shone full in the President's face
which we stood. but his eyes did not shrink from the ordeal.
" It is a mistake to suppose that the future The green landscape, the smoking city, the
of democracy in Mexico has been endangered blue tumult of mountains, the thin, exhila-
234
LIMANTOUR OCCUPIES THE LEFT-HAND CORNER. THESE ARE THE TWO GREAT ADMINISTRATORS OF THE NATION

rating, scented air, to stir him, and

seemed vincing manner, as one whose place was
the color came cheeks as he clasped his
to his great and secure beyond the need of hypoc-
hands behind him and threw his head back- risy.
ward. His nostrils opened wide. " It is quite true that when a man has occu-
" You know that in the United States we pied a powerful office for a very long time he
are troubled about the question of electing a is likely to begin to look upon it as his per-

President for three terms?" sonal property, and it is well that a free people
He smiled and then looked grave, nodding should guard themselves against the tenden-
his head gently and pursing his lips. It is cies of individual ambition.
hard to describe the look of concentrated in- "Yet the abstract theories of democracy
terest that suddenly came into his strong, in- and the practical, effective application of
teUigent countenance. —
them are often necessarily different that is
" Yes, yes, I know," he replied. " It is a when you are seeking for the substance
natural sentiment of democratic peoples that rather than the mere form.
their officials should be often changed. I " I can see no good reason why President
agree with that sentiment." Roosevelt should not be elected agrin if a
It seemed hard to realize that I was listen- majority of the American people desire to
ing to a soldier who had ruled a republic con- have him continue in office. I believe that
tinuously for more than a quarter of a century he has thought more of his country than of
with a personal authority unknown to most himself. He has done and is doing a great
kings. Yet he spoke with a simple and con- work for the United States, a work that will
235
236 PRESIDENT DIAZ
cause him, whether he serves again or not, to me to be without any just reason. There can
be remembered in history as one of the great be no question of principle in the matter if a
Presidents. I look upon the trusts as a great majority of the people of the United States
and real power in the United States, and approve his policies and want him to con-
President Roosevelt has had the patriotism tinue his work. That is the real, the vital
and courage to defy them. IMankind under- —
thing whether a majority of the people need
stands the meaning of his attitude and its him and desire him to go on.
bearing upon th^ future. He stands before "Here in Mexico we have had different
the world as a statesman whose victories have conditions. I received thisGovernment from
been moral victories. the hands of a victorious army at a time when
"In my judgment the fight to restrain the the people were divided and unprepared for
power of the trusts and keep them from the exercise of the extreme principles of dem-
oppressing the people of the United States ocratic government. To have thrown upon
marks one of the most important and sig- the masses the whole responsibility of gov-
nificant periods in your history. Mr. Roose- ernment would have produced condi-
at once
velt has faced the crisis like a great man. tions thatmight have discredited the cause of
"There can be no doubt that Mr. Roose- free government.
velt is a strong, pure man, a patriot who "Yet, although I got power at first from
understands his country and loves it well. the army, an election was held as soon as
The American fear of a third term seems to possible and then my authority came from

Photographed by Waite, Mejtigo

DIAZ, THE SOLDIER, IN THE FIELD
 Photographed by Percy C
HERE ARE OLD MEXICO AND NEW MEXICO FACE TO FACE

the people. I have tried to leave the Presi- tion of the nation's affairs, guiding and re-
dency several times, but it has been pressed straining popular tendencies, with full faith
upon me and I remained in office for the sake that an enforced peace would allow educa-
of the nation which trusted me. The fact tion, industry and commerce to develop ele-
that the price of Mexican securities dropped ments of stability and unity in a naturally in-
eleven points when I was ill at Cuernavaca in- telligent, gentle and affectionate people.
dicates the kind of evidence that persuaded " I have waited patiently for the day when
me to overcome my personal inclination to the people of the Mexican Republic would be
retfa-e to private life. prepared to choose and change their govern-
"We preserved the republican and demo- ment at every election without danger of
cratic form of government. We defended the armed revolutions and without injury to the
theory and kept it intact. Yet we adopted a national credit or interference with national
patriarchal policy in the actual administra- progress. I believe that day has come."

237
238 PRESIDENT DIAZ
soldierly figure turned toward itself over rocks sculptured b}- the Aztecs;
Again the
the glorious scene lying between the moun- stretches of blue myrtles that made the heart

tains. It was plain 'to see that the President leap with an emotion born of color; violets,
was deeply moved.
poppies, lilies,

laurels.
The strong face !

was as sensitive as
To the rear was
the pink-walled,
a child's. The dark
eyes were moist.
crumbling mill
And what an where Winfield
unforgetable vi- Scott stood with
sion of color, his artillery in

movement and ro- 1847, when swift

mance it was! lines of American

Beneath the bayonets came
giant trees still
through the
surrounding the swamp, the cy-

rock of Chapulte- presses and the

laurels, and
pec- —the only rise the

in the flat valley

American flag was
Montezuma, the borne to the sum-
Aztec monarch, mit of Chapulte-
used to walk in pec over the dead
his hours of ease
bodies of the gal-
before Cortes and lant young Mexi-
Alvarado came can cadets whose
with the cross of white monument
is decorated once
Christ and the
pitiless sword of a year by Ameri-
Spain, to be fol- can veterans.
lowed by three As we paced the
hundred terrible castle terrace we
years in which the could see long
country writhed processions of

and wept under Mexican Indians,

sixty-two Spanish accompanied by
viceroys and five their wives and

governors, to be children, with

succeeded by a monstrous hats,

ridiculous native bright-colored

emperor and a blankets and bare
succession of dic- or sandaled feet,
tators and presi- moving continu-
dents, with the ously from all
Emperor INIaxi- parts of the valley
milian's invasion and from the
between, until mountain passes
Diaz, the hero of toward Guada-
fifty battles, de- lupe ;
and two
cided that Mexico days later was
I

should cease to to see a hundred

and learn to
fight, thousand aborig-
work and pay her GENERAL DIAZ IN FL I,!, I-NIFORM inal Americans
debts. gather about that
Here, on the hillside of Chapultepec, were holiest of American shrines, where, under a
red and white roses blooming in December, crown of emeralds, rubies, diamonds and
passion flowers, daisies, strange splashes of sapphires that cost thirty thousand dollars
scarlet blossoms; white jessamine wreathing merely to fashion, and before a multitude of
PhotOj^raphed by Waite, Mexico

THERE HANGS ON THE FRONT OF THE NATIONAL PALACE, THE CHURCH BELL WHICH THE PRIEST HIDALGO RANG ON
THE NIGHT OF SEPTEMBER 15TH, 1810, AS THE SIGNAL FOR THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE. AT ELEVEN o'CLOCK ON
EACH ANNIVERSARY NIGHT PRESIDENT DIAZ APPEARS ON A BALCONY, RINGS THIS BELL AND GIVES A CHEER FOR FREE
MEXICO. THE ABOVE PICTURE SHOWS THE SCENE AN INSTANT AFTER THE BELL IS HEARD

blanketed Indians, kneeling with their wives smote the most cynical spectator into rever-
and babies, holding lighted candles and flow- ence, the resplendent Archbishop of Mexico
ers, and worshipping with a devotion that celebrated mass before the altar-enclosed

1^

X^l\^

>lr|^| I f -

tf itf li
S-'^>- «--^^l

Photographed by Waite, Mexico

THIS SHOWS THE PROCESSION PASSING THE PALACE ON THE FOLLOWING DAY
239
240 PRESIDENT DIAZ
blanket of the pious Indian, Juan Diego, upon "It is commonly held that true democratic
whose woven surface the image of the Virgin institutions are impossible in a country which
of Guadalupe appeared in 1531. has no middle class, " I suggested.
We could faintly see the little chapel on the President Diaz turned, with a keen look,
hill where the holy blanket originally hung. and nodded his head.

/,»»*

*^
 JAMES CREELMAN 241

" In the old days we had no middle class in in our people, I fear. But the nation has
Mexico because the minds of the people and grown and it loves liberty. Our difficulty
their energies were wholly absorbed in poli- has been that the people do not concern
tics and war. Spanish tyranny and misgov- themselves enough about public matters
ernment had disorganized society. The pro- for a democracy. The individual Mexican
ductive activities of the nation were aban- as a rule thinks much about his own
doned in successive struggles. There was rights and is always ready to assert them.
general confusion. Neither life nor property But he does not think so much about the
was safe. A middle class could not appear rights of others. He thinks of his privileges,
under such conditions." but not of his duties. Capacity for self-
"General Diaz," I interrupted, "you have restraint is the basis of democratic govern-
had an unprecedented experience in the his- ment, and self-restraint is possible only to
tory of republics. For thirty years the des- those who recognize the rights of their
tinies of this nation have been in your hands, neighbors.
to mold them as you will; but men die, while "The Indians, who are more than half of
nations must continue to live. Do you be- our population, care little for politics. They
lieve that Mexico can continue to exist in are accustomed to look to those in authority
peace as a republic? Are you satisfied for leadership instead of thinking for them-
that its future is assured under free institu- selves. That is a tendency they inherited
tions?" from the Spaniards, who taught them to re-
It was worth while to have come from frain from meddling in public affairs and rely
New York to Chapultepec Castle to see the on the Government for guidance.

PRESIDENT DIAZ STANDS ON THE RIGHT. BEHIND HIM HANG THE DEER KILLED BY HIM, AT THE AGE OF SEVENTY-FIVE
YEARS, IN TWO DAYS' HARD HUNTING. THE SNAP-SHOT WAS MADE BY HIS SON

hero's face at that moment. Strength, patri- '

Yet I firmly believe that the principles of
otism, warriorship, prophethood seemed sud- democracy have grown and will grow in
denly to shine in his brown eyes. Mexico."
"The future of Mexico is assured," he "But you have no opposition party in the
said in a clear voice. "The principles of Republic, Mr. President. How can free in-
democracy have not been planted very deep stitutions flourish when there is no opposition
242 PRESIDENT DIAZ
to keep the majority, or governing party, in advise it and forget myself in the successful
check?" inauguration of complete democratic govern-
" It is true there is no opposition party. ment in the country.
Ihave so many friends in the republic that "It is enough for me that I have seen
my enemies seem unwilling to identify them- ^Mexico rise among the peaceful and useful
selves with so small a minority. I ai)preciate nations. I have no desire to continue in the

the kindness of my friends and

the confidence Presidency. This nation is ready for her
of my country; but such absolute contidence ultimate life of freedom. At the age of
imposes responsibilities and duties that tire seventy-seven years I am satisfied with robust
me more and more. health. That is one thing which neither law
"No matter what my friendsand support- nor force can create. I would not exchange
ers say, I retire when my present term of it for all the millions of your American oil

office ends, and I shall not serve again. I king."

shall be eighty years old then. His ruddy skin, sparkling eyes and light,
"My country has relied on me and it has elastic step went well with his words. For
been kind to me. My friends have praised one who has endured the privations of war
my merits and overlooked my faults. But and imprisonment, and who to-day rises at
they may not be willing to deal so generously six o'clock in the morning, working until late
with my successor and he may need my ad- at night at the full of his powers, the physical
vice and support; therefore I desire to l^e condition of President Diaz, who is even now

rUESIDENT DIAZ iJlMNi, Willi HIS lllXTINi; COMPANIONS IN THE FOREST

alive when he assumes office so that I may a notable hunter and who usually ascends the
help him." palace stairway two steps at a time, is almost
He folded his arms over his deep chest and unbelievable.
spoke with great emphasis. "The railway has played a great part in
" I welcome an opposition party in the the peace of Mexico," he continued. " When
Mexican Repul)lic, " he said. " If it appears, I became President at first there were onl\-
I will regard it as a blessing, not as an evil. two small lines, one connecting the caj)ital
And if it can develojj power, not to exploit with Vera Cruz, the other connecting it with
but to govern, I will stand by it, sui)port it, Queretaro. Now we have more than nine-
Copyright by Waite. Mexico
THE MASTER OF MEXICO IN HIS OFFICIAL CHAIR
244 PRESIDENT DIAZ
teen thousand miles of railways. Then we necessary then to the life and progress of the
had a slow and costly mail service, carried on nation. If there was cruelty, results have
by stage coaches, and the mail coach between justified it."
the capital and Puebla would be stopped by The nostrils dilated and quivered. The
highwaymen two or three times in a trip, the mouth was a straight line.

last robbers to attack it generally finding " It was better thata little blood should be
nothing left to steal. Now we have a cheap, shed that much blood should be saved. The
safe and fairly rapid mail service throughout blood that was shed was bad blood; the blood
the country with more than twenty-two hun- that was saved was good blood.
dred post-offices. Telegraphing was a diffi- "Peace w^as necessary, even an enforced
cult thing in those times. To-day we have peace, that the nation might have time to
more than forty-five thousand miles of tele- think and work. Education and industry
graph wires in operation. have carried on the task begun by the army."
" We began by making robbery punishable He moved slowly along the terrace, sweep-
by death and compelling the execution of ing the scene below with his glances, as
offenders within a few hours after they were though the old days were upon him again
caught and condemned. We ordered that the slaughter and victory at Puebla, the
wherever telegraph wires were cut and the march on ^lexico City; the visit of the stately
chief officer of the district did not catch the Princess Salm-Salm to his lines and her vain
criminal, he should himself suffer; and in pleadings for the life of the Emperor Maxi-
case the cutting occurred on a plantation the milian, preparing to die at Queretaro the ;

proprietor who failed to prevent it should be stealthy interview of jSIaximilian's priest-

hanged to the nearest telegraph pole. These secretary; the pale Senora Donna Luciana
were military orders, remember. Arrozola de Baz, wife of Maximilian's war
"We were harsh. Sometimes we were minister, who came out to offer the surrender
harsh to the point of cruelty. But it was all of the capital if Diaz would abandon the re-

^'^'''Xi

Photographeil by Percy O
CHAPULTEPEC CASTLE
Copyright, 1904, by Waite. M
WALK IN THE SHADOW OF MONTEZUMA S OLD CYPRESSES, WHERE PRESIDENT DIAZ HAS FOR MORE THAN A QUARTER
OF A CENTURY TAKEN HIS DAILY EXERCISE AND PLANNED THE DESTINY OF HIS COUNTRY

public the attempts of traitorous generals,

; population of Mexico is capable of high de-
here on Chapultepec rock, to betray the young velopment ? "
Emperor to save themselves — all, heroines, " I do. The Indians are gentle and they
heroes, priests and soldiers, sent back hope- are grateful, all except the Yacquis and some
less, and the lines of sharp steel, already glori- of the Myas. They have the traditions of an
ous with the blood of the foreign oppressors, ancient civilization of their own. They are
strengthened and tightened about the doomed to be found among the lawyers, engineers,
city. And then, the white flag flying from physicians, army officers and other profes-
the towers of yonder gray cathedral, the end men."
sional
of the bastard empire and the entry of the Over the city drifted the smoke of many
dusty republican army, Diaz at its head, be- factories.
tween multitudes of great-hatted, blanketed, " It is better than cannon smoke, " I said.
barefooted peons, weeping for gratitude. " Yes," he rephed, " and yet there are times
" And which do you regard as the greatest when cannon smoke is not such a bad thing.
force for peace, the army or the school- The poor of my country have risen up
toiling
house ? " I asked. to support me, but I cannot forget what my
The soldier's face flushed slightly and the comrades in arms and their children have
splendid white head was held a little higher. been to me in my severest ordeals."
" You speak of the present time ? " There were actually tears in the veteran's
"Yes." eyes.
"The There can be no
schoolhouse. "That," I said, pointing to a hideously
doubt of that. I want to see education modern bull-ring near tlie castle, " is the only
throughout the Republic carried on by the na- surviving Spanish institution to be seen in
tional Government. I hope to see it before I this landscape."
die. It is important that all citizens of a re- "You have not noticed the pawnshops,"
public should receive the same training, so he exclaimed. "Spain brought to us her
that their ideals and methods may be har- pawn-shops, as well as her bull-rings."
monized and the national unity intensified. The terrace on which the great American
When men read alike and think alike they stood still bears the ugly Pompeian decora-
are more likely to act alike." tionswhich the doomed Emperor Maximil-
"And you believe that the vast Indian ian and the beautiful Empress Carlotta

245
HALL IN MEXICO CITY WHERE THE FAMOUS CALENDAR AND SACRIFICIAL STONES STAND AMONG THE AZTEC SCULPTURES

caused to be painted to gratify their Austrian Away to the right, among the trees of Co-
tastes. The patriot who crushed the im- yoacan, the garden in which Cortes
is

perial invader, and in whose blood is to be strangled his wife and the spot on which he
found the tide ripple of Spanish ancestr)' and roasted the feet of Guatemoc in a vain at-
a native American civilization whose ancient tempt to make the monarch reveal the hiding
monuments are still the wonder of the con- place of the Aztec treasures.
tinent, will not have the gaudy memorials of Still farther away in the valley is the pic-
the crowned adventurer against whom he turesque and garden of Alvarado,
house
fought, and whose bribes he scorned, altered Cortes's cruel captain, whichwas the home of
or even touched. an Aztec chief before the Spaniards came, and
Below us, and reaching from the castle is now occupied by Mrs. Nutall, the charm-
gardens to the city, was the wide and beauti- ing California woman who is searching out
ful boulevard which the young Empress Car- the mystery of the original Americans in the
lotta gave to Mexico, she who went mad majestic ruins of Mexico.
while pleading with the Pope to save her To the left is the road over which Cortes
husband after Napoleon III deserted him, and his cut-throats retreated from Monte-
and who to-day, a gray-haired woman, is zuma's capital, when the Aztecs rose up
still shut up in a Belgian castle. against his murderous oppression, and the
Here in the carriage-way is a monument to still living tree under which he wept on the
Guatemoc, the last of the Montezumas, "Dismal Night" as he saw his defeated
erected by President Diaz. There is an forces before him.
file

equestrian monument to Carlos IV, the And throughout the valley moves a won-
largest bronze casting in the world, whose derful system of electric cars, for even
maker killed himself when he realized that the crumbling house of Cortes is lit by
the horse and its imperial rider were without electricity, and an electric elevator runs
stirrups. through the shaft in Chapultepec hill by
246
 JAMES CREELMAN 247

which the Montezumas used to escape from malans and other peoples of Central Amer-
enemies. ica seem to fear absorption by Mexico,
It is hard to remember that this wonderful so there are Mexicans who fear absorp-
plain was once a lake and that the Aztecs tion by the United States. I do not share
built their great city on piles, with cause- this fear. I have full confidence in the
ways mainland. President Diaz bored
to the intentions of the American Government,
a tunnel through the eastern mountains and yet " —
with a sudden twinkling of the eyes
the Valley of Mexico is now drained to the "popular sentiment changes and govern-
sea through a system of canals and sewers that ments change and we cannot always tell
cost more than twelve millicni dollars. what the future may bring.
" Is there a real foundation for the Pan- "The work done by the Bureau of the
American movement? Is there an Ameri- American Republics at Washington is a
can idea that can bind the peoples of this good one and it has a great field of usefulness.
hemisphere together and distinguish them It deserves hearty support. All that is
from the rest of the world ? " needed is that the peoples of the American
The President listened to the question and nations shall know one another better. The
smiled. Only a few weeks before, the Ameri- Bureau of the American Republics is doing
can Secretary of State had been the guest of a great deal in that direction."
Mexico, lodged in Chapultepec Castle like a He spoke with marked confidence of the
king, with its hill turned into a fairyland, and Pan-American usefulness of the Bureau
the nation, from President to peon, exerting under the management of Director Barrett.
itself to show that, in all the American repub- " It is important that the leading men
lics he had visited, none could ecjual the land of the hemisphere should visit one another's
of the Montezumas in the grandeur of its countries. The visit of Secretary Root
welcome. to Mexico and the words he spoke here
"There is an American sentiment and have already been fruitful. Ignorant Mex-
it isgrowing," said the President. "But icans have been led to think that their
it is useless to deny a distinct feeling of enemies live on the other side of our northern
distrust, a fear of territorial absorption, frontier. But when they see a distinguished
which interferes with a closer union of American statesman and Cabinet officer
the American republics. Just as the Guate- like Mr. Root entertained in Mexico, and

Photographed by Waite from painting

THE TORTURE OF THE LAST OF THE MONTEZUMAS BY CORTES. THIS PICTURE APPEALS POWERFULLY TO THE AZTEC
PEONS WHO CROWD THE NATIONAL ART GALLERIES OF MEXICO
248 PRESIDENT DIAZ
learn the words of friendship and respect thousands of Americans every year, and I
he spoke, they cannot be misled again. find them to be, as a rule, intelligent workers
Let the leaders of the Americas see more and men of great energy of character. But
of one another and the Pan-American idea their strongest characteristic is love of coun-
will grow rapidly, as the republics under- trv. In my opinion, when war comes this
stand that they have nothing to fear and spirit will change into a military spirit.
" In Philippines and other
much to hope for from one another." taking the
"And the Monroe Doctrine?" colonies you have set your flagfar from
"Limited to a particular purpose the your shores. That means a great navy.
Monroe Doctrine deserves and will receive I have no doubt that if President Roose-

the support of all the American republics. velt remains in office four years more,
But as a vague general claim of power by the American navy will equal the British
the United States, a claim easily associated navy in power.
with armed intervention in Cuba,
it isa cause of profound suspicion.
There is no good reason why the
Monroe Doctrine should not be
made a general American doctrine,
rather than a mere national policy
of the United States. The Ameri-
can nations might bind themselves
for self-defense, and each nation
agree to furnish its proportion of
means in case of war. They
might even provide a penalty for
a failure to fulfil the agreement.
Such a Monroe Doctrine would
make each nation feel that its na-
tional self-respect and sovereign
dignity was not compromised, and
would secure the American repub-
lics forever against monarchical
invasion or conquest."
" How does the present tend-
ency of national sentiment in the
United States strike you at this
distance, Mr. President ? You have
as the leader of the Alexican people
studied us for more than thirty
years.
How he seemed, how
strong
frank, simple and
sane, as he stood
there in the sunlight on the ground
where civilization began in the
—
Western World he whose boy-
ish arm was weak to serve
too
Mexico when was stripped of
she
half her territory by American
bayonets —he who since that un-
happy day has trodden fifty battle-
fields and has defended his country
against all enemies, internal or ex-
ternal !
Copyright, 1904, by Waite, Mexico
"The people of the United
A PIOUS PEASANT WOMAN ASCENDING THE SACRED
HILL OF AMECA-
States are distinguished by public MECA, WEARING A CROWN OF THORNS. THE CROWD IS SOFTENING
spirit," he said. "They have a HER PENANCE EY THROWING SHAWLS AND BLANKETS UNDER HER
singular love of country. I meet BLEEDING KNEES
 Copyright, 1904, by Waite, Mexico

ONE OF THE RELIGIOUS SPECTACLES WHICH STIR THE BLANKETED PEONS OF MEXICO

" But, Mr. President, Cuba is to be given every point of view. No matter how gener-
buck to its people, and it is well understood ous you may be, the people you govern will
in the United States that the people of the always consider themselves a conquered
Philippines will receive their political and people."
territorial independence as soon as they There was a pause. A flock of pigeons
are fitted to govern themselves. wheeled about the castle. From the city
Listening soberly and with an expres- came the muffled sound of church bells.
sionless face, he looked toward the snowy "Men are more or same all over
less the
volcanoes, beyond which lay the scene the world," he continued. "Nations are like
of the bloody struggle in which he smashed men. They must be studied and their mo-
forever the power of Europe in Mexican tives understood. A just government is sim-
affairs and made imperialism a word of ply the collective ambitions of a people ex-
contempt among his countrymen. pressed in practical form.
" When the United States gives inde- " It all comes down to a study of the indi-
pendence to Cuba and the Philippines," vidual. It is the same in all countries.
he said slowly and with some show of feeling, The individual who
supports his govern-
"she will take her place at the head of ment in peace or war has some personal
the nations and all fear or distrust will dis- motive. The ambition may be good or
appear from the American republics." bad, but it is, at the bottom, personal ambi-
It is impossible to convey an accurate tion. The beginning of true government is
idea of the gravity and earnestness with the discovery of that motive, and states-
which the President spoke. manship should seek, not to extinguish
" While you hold the Philippines you will but to regulate individual ambition. I have
be compelled not only to keep a great navy, tried to follow that rule in dealing with my
but your army will increase in size." countrymen, who are naturally a gentle,
" We are trying to make American school affectionate people, following their hearts
teachers take the place of soldiers in the oftener than their heads. I have tried to
Philippines," I ventured. understand what the individual wants. Even
" I appreciate that, but I feel satisfied that in his worship of God a man expects some
in the end the people of the Philippines will return, and how can a human government
gain more than the people of the United expect to find anything higher in its units ?
States and that the sooner you give up your " In my youth I had a stern experience
Asiatic possessions the better it will be from that taught me many things. When I com
249
25° PRESIDENT DIAZ
manded two companies of soldiers there was have the right to sell them to any other person
a timewhen for six months I had neither without the consent of the Government. Not
advice, instructions nor support from my that we objected to the operation of our oil
Government. I had to think for myself. I fields by your American oil king, but that we

had to be the Government myself. I found were determined that our oil wells should
men to be the same then as I have found not be suppressed in order to prevent com-
them since. I believed in democratic prin- petition and keep up the price of American
ciples then and I believe in them yet, although oil.

conditions have compelled stern measures to "There are some things which govern-
secure peace ments do not
and the devel- talk about, be-
opment which cause each case
must precede must be dealt
absolutely free with on its own
government. merits, but the
Mere political Mexican Re-
theories will not public will use
create a free its powers to
nation. preserve to its

"Experience people a just

convinces me share of its
that progressive wealth. We
government have main-
should seek to tained free and
gratify individ- fair conditions
ual ambition as in Mexico thus

far as possible, far, and I be-

but that it must lieve we can
possess an ex- maintain them
tinguisher, to be for the future.
" Our invita-
used wisely and
firmly when in- tion to the in-

dividual ambi- vestors of the

tion burns too world is not to
brightly for the be found in idle
general good." promises, but in
"And the the way we treat
trust question, them when they
Mr. President ? come among
How is a coun- Photographed by Waite from paintinj; us."
Mexico,
try like BEKITO JUAREZ, A PURE ZAPOTEC INDIAN, WHO INAUGURATED THE And so I left
with such vast " REFORMS " IN MEXICO AND WAS THE COUNTRY'S FIRST the master of
CONSTITUTIONAL PRESIDENT modern
natural re- ]\Iexico
sources awaiting among the
development, to protect itself against the flowers and memories of the heights of Cha-
oppressions of such alliances of wealth and pultepec.
industrial combination as have grown up in
your nearest neighbor, the United States ?
" We welcome and protect the capital and The Spanish-Indian boy who was to make
energy of the whole world in this country. the plundered and degraded ^lexican nation
We have a field for investors that perhaps a challenge to the statesmen, and a confusion
cannot be found elsewhere. But, while we to the political doctrinaires of the world, was
are just and generous to all, we are seeing to born seventy-seven years ago in the town of
it that no enterprise shall be an injury to our Oaxaca, among the mountains of south-
people. western JMexico.
"
For instance, we passed a law providing That same valley gave birth to Benito
that no owner of oil-producing lands should Juarez, the pure-blooded Zapotec Indian
Copyriii'ht, 1904, by \\

EVEP.Y-DAY SCENE IN THE PLAZA FRONTING TaE SPLENDID CATHEDRAL OF MEXICO

lawyer and patriot, "the man in the black mines and banks, and the wonder is that one
coat," who was the first constitutional presi- man can mean so much to any nation, and
dent of the Republic. that nation an American republic next in im-
PorfirioDiaz was the descendant of Span- portance to the United States and its nearest
iards who married women of the Mixtec race, neighbor.
an industrious, intelligent, and honest people
whose history is lost in the myths of aborigi-
nal America.
He was the son of an inn-keeper. An in-
stitution of learning now stands memorially
on the site of his birth. Three years after he
was born his father died of cholera and his
Spanish-Mixtec mother was left alone to
support her six children.
When grown boy wanted shoes, he
the
watched a shoemaker, borrowed tools, and
made them himself. When he wanted a gun
he took a rusty musket-barrel and the lock of
a pistol, and constructed a reliable weapon
with his own hands. So, too, he learned to
make furniture for his mother's house.
He made things then, as he afterward
made the Mexicanby the sheer force
nation,
of moral initiative, self-reliance and practical
industry. He asked no one for anything that
he could get for himself.
Go from one end to the other of Mexico's
767,005 square miles, on which more than
15,000,000 persons live to-day, and you will
see everywhere evidence of this masterful
genius. You turn from battlefields to MORELOS, THE FIGHTING PRIEST WHO HELPED TO FREE
schools, from schools to railways, factories, MEXICO FROM SPAIN
 Photographed by Waite, Mexico

MEXICAN INDIANS IN DANCING DRESS AT THE HOLY FEAST OF GUADALUPE

He found Mexico bankrupt, divided, in- To-day there are thirty-four chartered
fested with bandits, a prey to a thousand banks alone, whose total assets amount to
forms of briber}'. To-day life and property nearly $700,000,000, with a combined capital
are safe from frontier to frontier of the repub- stock of $158,100,000.
lic. He has changed an irregular and ineffec-
After spending scores of miUions of dollars tive pretense of public instruction, which had
on harbor improvements, drainage works and 4,850 schools and about 163,000 pupils, into
other vast engineering projects, and paying a splendid system of compulsory education,
off portions of the public debt —
to say noth- which already has more than 12,000 schools,
ing of putting the national finances on a gold with an attendance of perhaps a million
basis —the nation has a surplus of $72,000,- pupils; schools that not only train the chil-
—
000 in its treasury this, in spite of the im- dren of the Republic, but reach into the pris-
mense government subsidies which have di- ons, military barracks and charitable institu-
rectly and indirectly produced 19,000 miles tions.
of railways. And from one end of the country to the other
When became President, Mexico's
he —with $800,000,000 (gold) of American capi-
yearly foreign trade amounted to $36,111,600 alone invested —
tal the invariable
it is testi-
in all. To-day her commerce with other mony of both foreign and native investors
nations reaches the enormous sum of $481,- that the Government is honestly administered
363,388, with a balance of trade in her favor and that business enterprises are dealt with
of $14,636,612. fairly, intelligently, and without the slightest
There were only three banks in the coun- suggestion of blackmail, where before all was
try when President Diaz first assumed power, corruption, ojjpression and confusion.
and they had a small capital, loaning at enor- The slender, dark-eyed Oaxacan boy, with
mous and constantly changing rates the Spanish-Mixtec blood in his veins, who
252
 JAMES CR.EELMAN 253

was to do these wonderful things for his the hero and leader of his people is the —
country, and change Mexico from a weak- PorfirioDiaz who played among the ruins of
ness and a shame to an honor and a strength Mitla, destined by his poor mother to be a
among the American nations, could not fore- priest.
see the mighty part he was to play in history.
He wandered much as a child among the
ruins of ]\Iitla, those vast remains of a native No man may say how old are the people
civilization that reaches back beyond Cortes, who were yet to be made a nation by Diaz.
beyond the Maytlower pilgrims, beyond Before the birth of Christ Mexico had
Columbus, beyond even the Aztecs, to a time cities, temples, courts and laws. Her sculp-
when the Zapotecs and Mixtecs reared their gardens and her gold,
tures, her potteries, her
courts and altars, lived their theocratic and silver and copper mines are ancient beyond
socialistic lives out on their own continent human knowledge.
and dreamed not of the Spaniards who were In Yucatan and in Oaxaca are the remains
to come with dogmatic theology and gun- of wonderful buildings made by the original
powder. American civilizers. Not far from the City
Here among the extinct altars of his aborig- of Mexico is the mighty pyramid of Cholula,
inal American ancestors he learned to love larger than any pyramid in Egypt, on the
his native soil with a love and strength that summit of which stood the rich temple of
has thrilled into life the national spirit cower- Quetzalcoatl, the "fair god." About this
ing under the blanketed, barefooted igno- pyramid, now a desolation, Cortes, the con-
rance of Mexico, made a man capable of queror, counted four hundred temple towers
standing erect out of the gentle, starved, before Spanish Christianity laid the city waste
beaten Mexican peon, and set the Republic and destroyed its records. Yet the scien-
among nations to be respected and trusted. tists who are to-day digging around the pyra-
It is difficult to realize that the white- mid say that it was old and its origin unknown
haired President with whom I walked and even before the ancient Aztecs discovered the
talked at Chapultepec Castle in December plain of Cholula.

A TYPICAL MEXICAN PEON AND THE MAGUEY PLANT WHICH FURNISHES PULQUE, HE INTOXICATING CURSE OF
THE REPUBLIC
Copyright by Percy Cox, Mexico
THIS VIEW, OVERLOOKING AMECAMECA, GIVES AGOOD IDEA OF THE GRANDEUR OF MEXICAN LANDSCAPES. IT SHOWS
THE RIGHT OF IXTACCIHUATL THE VICTORIOUS AMERICAN ARMY FORCED ITS WAY INTO THE VALLEY OF MEXICO, IN
CASTLE WITH

When the heathen King Penda was fight- —

by Christian Spain these were incidents in
ing to maintain the religion cf Woden against that great and thrilling spectacle of an entire
the religion of Christ in England, and when civilization extinguished by force.
Theodore I was Bishop of Rome, the Toltec Throughout Mexico to-day you may see
race reigned in Mexico. The Aztecs ap- millions and millions of the descendants of
peared in the twelfth century when Richard the ancient Mexicans, in gaudy blankets, pre-
the Lion-hearted was attempting to rescue the posterously wide and tall hats, trousers so
Holy Sepulcher from the Saracens. They tight that you wonder how they are removed,
settled in the Valley of Mexico and built their sandaled or bare feet —a brown-skinned,
capital on piles in the middle of a shallow straight-haired people, with large black eyes
lake, now the City of Mexico. and indolent ways, an affectionate, gentle,
The empire of the Montezumas began, it polite, grateful people.
is said, about the year 1460, and when It is enough to bring tears to the eyes of an
Cortes, the murderous and greedy Spanish American to see these wronged peons, their
invader, landed among the Aztecs, Monte- wives and children, poor, patient, eager to be
zuma II was on the throne. The death of loved, responding instantly to every kind word
that generous and amiable monarch by the or look, clinging to religion with a simple
arrows of his own warriors when Cortes com- earnestness that adds a new holiness to the
pelled him to appear before his infuriated crumbling Christian shrines of their country;
people in the hope of quieting them the tor- ; to see humble men and women everywhere
ture and death of Guatemoc, his royal succes- holding hands, caressingly, even on the high-
sor and last of the Montezumas; the de- ways; to see the poor constantly giving to the
struction of the native temples and records poor; to see the solemn pride of the most
254
THE TWO DEAD VOLCANOES— IXTACCIHUATL, TO THE LEFT ; POPOCATAPETL, TO THE RIGHT. THROUGH A PASS ON
1847. THIS IS PART OF THE SCENE SPREAD BEFORE MR. CREELMAN WHEN HE WALKED THE TERRACE OF CHAPULTEPEC
PRESIDENT DIAZ

wretched outcast when he speaks of Mexican rise and remain forever a free and enlight-
—
independence and to think of the three ened people — for, after when every
all,

hundred years of unspeakable horror through vote in the IVIexican Republic is cast and
which their ancestors passed under Spanish counted the country will be ruled by its

domination, robbed, tortured and degraded aboriginal inhabitants.

almost to the level of beasts. Again and again during my talks with
There are fifty-five native tongues in President Diaz in December he expressed
Mexico and, even now, great multitudes his confidence in the ultimate rise of these
speak only the Aztec language. wonderful tribes to the highest plane of
And to these original Americans, Por- civilization. He seemed to tower up with
firio Diaz is something less than a god, a new dignity when he spoke of them.
something more than a man. If he has His plan for nationalizing education is
shed blood freely, if he has governed with born of faith in them and their future.
an iron hand, if he has seemed to deny the Yet, in spite of the lovable and improv-
democratic principles for which he fought able qualities of the aboriginals, when you
on the field, if he has retained office when see them everywhere loafing in the sunlight
he yearned for retirement, it was principally against their little adobe huts^nert, con-
for the sake of the down-trodden peons; tent, procrastinating, lazy —
it seems a mir-

that through long peace, industry and ed- acle that one man could have changed the
ucation, even though the conditions were most corrupt, confused and helpless country
imposed by armed force, the trampled and on earth into modern Mexico. Perhaps
stripped heirs of the first American civil- it was this very transformation that con-
ization, the real children of its soil, might firmed the master of the nation in his dem-
255
 Photographed by VVaite, Mexico

THE BEAUTIFUL AND STATELY YOUNG WIFE OF FRESIDENT DIAZ

ocratic principles and makes him look con- the spot where the present cathedral stands
fidently the final complete rule of the
to in the City of Mexico was merely a single
common people. event in a fierce vandalism that lost to the
With the downfall of tlie Aztec empire world the key to one of its oldest and most
the Spanish monks swept away every interesting civilizations.
vestige of original civilization, and the an- It is not necessary to tell the appalling
nihilation of the great native temple on story of three hundred years of Spanish

256
 ffoZ
Photographed by Waite, Mexico

THE POWERFUL AND SUGGESTIVE PROFILE OF MEXICO's GREAT PRESIDENT

viceroys in Mexico. They stripped the among flowers and trees to the sound of
land and enslaved the people. With the a military band.
reign of Phillip II —
he whose religious Before the Spaniards came the natives cut
bigotry made the Netherlands revolt; he the hearts out of Hving human sacrifices in
who sent the Armada against England their worship of the gods, but the Christi-
the dread Inquisition was established in anity that followed Cortes seemed at times
Mexico, and as recently as 1815 heretics to trample the very souls out of its victims.
were publicly burned to death on the ground Dominican, Franciscan and Carmelite
where now you may walk in the capital monks overran the country. The monastic
257
258 PRESIDENT DIAZ
orders became enor-
mously rich. Their
monasteries were fort-
resses. They got pos-
session of the richest
lands. ^lillions and
millions of dollars
were spent in the dec-
oration of churches.
Even to-day you may
see evidence of the
almost unbelievable
extravagance that ac-
companied the cruel
arrogance of monastic
rule,while the mass
of the people, beaten
and cowed, sank into
lower and lower
depths of poverty and
ignorance.
Yet that people
produced the two
greatest men in the
history Mexico
of
Benito Juarez and
Porlirio Diaz, both
with Indian blood.
It was a priest,
oh, marvelous wheel
of Justice! —a priest
PRESIDENT DIAZ, WITH ONE OF HIS DAUGHTERS AND A GRANDSON
of Spanish blood, who
struck the fu"st strong
blow for Mexican independence, in Septem- by the Inquisition as "an unconfessed here-
ber, 1810. Miguel Hidalgo was sixty years tic,a traitor to God, to the King and to
old when he ascended his primitive pulpit in the Pope," and was shot.
the small town of Dolores, proclaimed the It was Agustin de Iturbide, once a colonel
revolution in a loud voice, and, with a cotton in the Spanish forces, who won the tremen-
banner bearing the image of the Virgin dous fight attempted by Hidalgo and More-
of Guadalupe, followed by a handful of los.
patriots, armed with knives and clubs, he But Iturbide had himself proclaimed
roused a part of the country, stormed and emperor, lived in a great palace now a —
captured Guanajuato, San Miguel and Celaya hotel swarming with American company
and marched against the capital. —
promoters and established the church as
Thewhite-haired patriot-priest was de- a monopoly.
feated, captured and promptly shot to Then arose General Santa Anna, a
death with three of his companions. dashing, vulgar, brave adventurer, whose
Hidalgo's venerable head was stuck on forces were finally scattered by American
a pike and exhibited for eleven years on volleys. This picturesque and tyrannical
the fortress wall of Guanajuato. It now rogue proclaimed a republic, banished the
rests in the splendid Cathedral of Mexico. Emperor Iturbide, and, when the fallen
Another priest, Jose Maria Morelos, Emperor returned to Mexican soil, had
carried on the struggle begun l)y Hidalgo. him shot.
He turned out to be a good soldier, and the Santa Anna was a brilliant political gam-
story of his war for freedom is one of the bler who alternately governed the country
most picturesque pages in history. But through puppet presidents and played at being
in 181 5 he was taken prisoner, condemned president or dictator himself. He won bat-
 JAMES CREELMAN 259

ties, massacred prisoners, tried to crush the The boy went back to his mother with a
Texan revolution, was captured by the new look in his face. His godfather, the
Texans and released, lost a leg in defending Bishop of Oaxaca, told him that he was to be
Vera Cruz against the French and had the a priest. He refused to accept the decision.
limb buried with royal pomp; was twice exiled He had made up his mind to be a soldier. A
and twice recalled^ and was again driven into terrible scene followed, but he withstood the
exile by a revolution, only to return and die reproaches of his mother and the bishop.
in obscurity. It was this many-sided but In that hour the seed of modern Mexico
was germinating unconsciously in the heart
and brain of the Spanish-Mixtec lad of seven-
teen years.
Having renounced the career of a priest, he
studied law and, in time, was able to earn his
tuition fees by taking law pupils.
Through one of his professors, Don Mar-
cos Perez, hemet Benito Juarez, the illus-
trious Indian lawyer, then governor of the
State of Oaxaca. Juarez, who was to begin
the work of Mexican reform completed and

Photographed by T. L. Clarke, Mexico

MAJOR PORFIRIO DIAZ, JR., SON OF PRESIDENT DIAZ. HE

IS AN ARCHITECT-ENGINEER AND HAS DISTINGUISHED
HIMSELF AS A SCIENTIFIC FARMER

unprincipled soldier who commanded in the

disastrous war with the United States.

While his country was gradually wrecked

by successive wars and political intrigues,
until bandits took possession of its highways
and its blackmailing, perfidious officials were
the scandal of the age, young Porfijio Diaz
was studying in a Roman Catholic seminary
in Oaxaca.
The news that an American army had in-
vaded Mexico set his soul on fire. He
walked two hundred and fifty miles across
the rough country to the capital to offer him-
self as a soldier. But it was too late; Mexico
had already surrendered nearly half of her porfirio diaz the third. he is the son of the
territory to the conquering Americans. president's son
 mmm
VIADUCT OF METLAC, BETWEEN MEXICO CITY AND VERA CRUZ. AN EXAMPLE OF IMPORTANT ENGINEERING WORK
WHICH IS TO BE SEEN THROUGHOUT MODERN MEXICO

unified by Diaz, oner should

took much no- have means of
tice of the youth communication.
and had him ap- His life depended
pointed Hbrarian on it.
of the college. Young Diaz
These two are did not desert his
the greatest benefactor. With
names in Mex- his brother he
ican history. scaled the walls
Suddenly Don of the convent at
Marcos Perez night, swung
was arrested and from a rope in
confined in the front of the pris-
turret of the local oner's window,
Convent of Santo talked with him,
Domingo as a escaped the dic-
conspirator tator's sentinels,
against the dicta- and twice re-
torship of Santa turned to repeat
Anna. That the thrilling ad-
kind of thing venture. There
usually ended m is nothing in fic-

an ignominious tion more excit-

death. ing than the tale
It was impor- PRESIDENT DIAZ PRESENTINi; THE NATIONAL FLAG TO A of thesethree
tant that the pris- MEXICAN BATTALION nights, when the
260

1»
 JAMES CREELMAN 261

future President of Mexico, hung on the end dais where the professors were tremblingly
of a rope, planned in the darkness, almost writing their names in favor of the dictator,
within arm's-reach of the sentries, the safety and asked to be excused from voting.
of the Mexican patriot who had been his He was taunted with cowardice. Without
friend. another word he went to the opposition book,
I thought of the pale youth swinging in the where none had dared to write, and recorded

o^^^S^^^

GUANAJUATO, THE WONDERFUL AND PICTURESQUE OLD CITY WHERE SO MUCH AMERICAN MONEY IS INVESTED
IN MINING

midnight air fifty-three years ago, when I saw his vote openly for General Alvarez, leader of
him looking down from Chapultepec Castle in the revolution against Santa Anna.
his old age, the maker of his nation, the most In the uproar which followed this daring
interesting and impressive figure of his time. act Diaz disappeared crowd, and, by
in the
The revolt against Santa Anna's tyrannies the time his arrest was he had
ordered,
in 1854 was led by General Alvarez, a pure mounted a horse, and, rifle in hand, he rode
Indian, who had fought for independence down all who opposed him, reaching the
against Spain. The dictator audaciously town of Mixteca, where he put himself at the
called for a popular vote to sustain him. head of barefooted peons armed to overthrow
It meant death or imprisonment to vote the dictatorship, and scattered the troops sent
against Santa Anna. In Oaxaca the dicta- to pursue him.
tor's troops and cannon were drawn up in That was Porfirio Diaz at the age of
the plaza where the votes were recorded. twenty-four years.
The professors of the law institute —Diaz After the fall of Santa Anna, General
—
was now a professor were commanded to Alvarez became President, and he appointed
vote as a body for Santa Anna. Juarez minister of justice and ecclesiastical
The young professor, now only twenty- relations. Juarez drafted a law subjecting
four years old, went to the scarlet-covered soldiers and the clergy to civil trial. This
262 PRESIDENT DIAZ
aroused the clericals to opposition and the young captain, then twenty-seven years
church preached resistance. General Al- old, was hit in the side by a bullet, which

varez resigned and Ignacio Comonfort made a large hole. He fell,but a moment
formed a pro\a- later, white-faced
sional government, and with blood
announcing that streaming from his
the clergy must side, he rose and

submit to the laws. threw himself into

There was a the fight with his
revolt in cheering soldiers
clerical
Puebla, which was until the battle was
promptly sup- won. Nearly two
pressed, and the vears afterward an
cost of the opera- American naval
tion was defrayed surgeon removed
by a government this bullet.

sale of church prop- WTiile still suffer-

erty. ing from his wound

The war between he was called upon
the Church and the to help to recover
Republic had be- his native town,
gun, and it did not Oaxaca, from the
end until the soil of fierce revolutionary

Mexico was wet leader, Co bos.

with blood. With a squad of
The Republic men he led a des-
forbade church cor- perate attempt to
porations to possess break into the
lands, except what enemy's position.
were actually nec- Later on, when his
essary for church wound had re-

purposes, and di- opened and he was

rected the sale of too ill to buckle a
all other church sword about him,
lands. Then a his courage and
constitution abol- won the
leadership
ishing all ecclesias- bloody fight for
tical or militar}' possession of
privileges, provid- Oaxaca.
ing for universal Comonfort, hav-
instruction and ing proclaimed the
guaranteeing free- new constitution,
dom of speech and had declared him-
of the press, the self dictator, and

right of petition then fled to the

and association and United States.
the bearing of Juarez became
arms, was adopted. President, pledging
This was the cause himself to main-
Copyright, 1904, by Waite, Mexico tain the constitu-
of a great civil war.
Diaz became a MONUMENT TO GUATEMOC, THE LAST OF THE MONTEZUMAS, tion and to work
TORTURED AND MURDERED BY CORTES, WHICH PRESIDENT for the destruction
captain in the Na-
DIAZ CAUSED TO BE ERECTED IN MEXICO CITY
tional Guard, and of the political
in July, 1857, he led power of the
an attack on the clerical and conservative rev- Church and the confiscation of its vast prop-
olutionists near the village of Ixcapa. The erties. The clericalsand conservatives es-
battle became a hand-to-hand fight. The tablished General ]Miramon as President in
 Copyriglit, 1904, by Waite, iMexico Photographed from painting in Museum

THE EMPEROR MAXIMILIAN

Mexico City —the

handsome, courtly Mira- and tons of solid silver altar railings, gold
mon who was executed by the
afterward vessels, woven of precious
embroideries
side of the Emperor MaximiHan. metals and manner of costly accoutre-
all
War raged throughout IMexico. The ments were melted down to pay the cost
marks of this terrific struggle are visible of soldiers.
everywhere to-day. Diaz had become governor of a state
It was a war in which priests appeared, and military commander of a district.
crucifixes in hand, at thehead of charging He had the rank of colonel.
troops; a war in which the curse of the The United States recognized President
Church was thundered from hundreds of Juarez; but the enemy had him besieged
altars; a war in which the treasures of in Vera Cruz, where he issued a procla-
centuries were roughly stripped from walls, mation confiscating the lands of the Church,
altars and sacristies, armed peon patriots followed by proclamations secularizing mar-
roughly breaking into dim interiors gleam- riages and guaranteeing religious toleration.
ing with gold, silver, jewels, priceless old Even against the whole force of the Church
carvings, embroideries, painted and sculp- and its political allies, against ecclesiastical
tured Christs and Madonnas, gilded saints, anathemas and against the accumulated
robes encrusted with gems, shrines beautiful influence of tradition, added to a desperate
and soft with the dust and tarnish of ages soldiery, backed by an intelligent aristoc-

263
264 PRESIDENT DIAZ
racy, the black-coated Indian President liance and sent an allied fleet to the Mexican
and his army won steadily. coast.
When the capital had been taken and The Republic was exhausted and the
Juarez was seated in authority, Diaz went allies were permitted to land and occupy
back to Oaxaca Vera Cruz.
and was elected Then the weak
to the Congress. mind of Napo-
General Mar- leon III took fire,

quez, a remorse- and he dreamed

less slaughterer of conquest.
of prisoners, suc- Presently he sent
ceeded to the an agent, Don
place Mira-
of Juan Almonte, to
mon, and he ad- propose a Mexi-
vanced with his can empire under
troops to attack the suzerainty of
the capital. When France, whereat
the firing was Spain and Eng-
heard Diaz arose land indignantly
and asked the withdrew their
Congress to let forces.

him join the At once the

forces of the Re- French pro-
public. claimed a mili-

The young tary dictatorship

colonel, by a under Almonte,
night attack, led and a French
by him in person, army marched
defeated Mar- inland. Diaz's
quez, capturing brother was the
seven guns and first Mexican
seven or eight wounded in this

hundred pris- advance.

oners. That There was a
made him a gen- great battle
eral. fought at the
It is useless to City of Puebla.
recount allthe Diaz was second
battles of Diaz. in command
Therecord shows under General
that he served Zaragosa . Al-
Mexico as a though the Mexi-
soldier for fifty- cans were out-
four years. numbered three
to one, they in-
flicted a terrible
defeat upon the
In 1862 Presi- invaders, and
dent Juarez sus- Diaz is the most
pended payment Copyright, 1901, by Waite, M..
slashing, heroic
on Mexican gov- figure in the story
A TYPICAL TEHUANTEPEC BEAUTY
ernment l)onds. o f t h a t day's
There was no fighting. Mexico
money. War had emptied the national treasury. celebrates the victory of May 5th as one of
England, France, and Spain demanded her great national anniversaries.
payment for their bondholders and, failing Nearly a year later the French, with a
to get more than promises, formed an al- greatly increased army, besieged Puebla,
 JAMES CREELMAN 265

and, after weeks of fighting, sometimes from Civil War prevented the United States from
—
house to house and hand to hand with Diaz resisting a direct violation of the Monroe Doc-
thrilling his comrades by his desperate cour- trine.
—
age and brilliant methods the city was Maximilian, who was young, handsome
starved into surrender. and much of a dreamer, set up a resplen-
Diaz was made prisoner, refused to give dent court under the influence of the girlish
his parole and, with a peon's blanket cover- but intensely ambitious Empress Carlotta.
ing his uniform, managed by a clever ruse to But he continued to enforce the reform
escape, visit President Juarez in Mexico City laws of Juarez, and that cost him much

•^a^ ^-i - .4.

Photograplitil by Lc\

CHRISTMAS BOOTHS AROUND THE BEAUTIFUL ALAMEDA, IN MEXICO CITY, WHERE, NINETY-THREE YEARS AGO, THE
INQUISITION PUBLICLY BURNED HERETICS

and accept command of the eastern army of of the clerical support. He also executed
the Republic, just before Juarez abandoned several Mexican generals, including Diaz's
the capital to the invaders. brother. The Republicans never acknowl-
When the French had entered the capital edged the Empire, but continued to look
the imperial crown of jSIexico was offered to to President Juarez, who retired, first,

the Archduke Maximilian, a brother of the to San Luis Potosi, and then to Mon-
present Emperor of Austria. The young terey.
prince and his beautiful young wife, Car- Hard pressed, Juarez crossed into the
lotta, were escorted across the ocean by United States. The Emperor then issued a
French and Austrian warships and were proclamation declaring that all persons in
crowned Emperor and Empress in the Cathe- arms against his Government were bandits
dral of Mexico, That was in 1863, when the and would be shot on captisre. It was under
266 PRESIDENT DIAZ
this shameful decree that Maximilian exe- greatest adversities will ever cause me to
waver.
cuted the Mexican generals.
. . .

Neither by myself, nor by the distinguished

Napoleon had sent Field-Marshal Bazaine personnel of the army, nor by the towns of
to support Maximilian in Mexico with some- this extensive part of the Republic, can the pos-
thing like forty thousand French bayonets. sibility of an understanding with the foreign

Copyright, 1905. hy Wane. .Mexico

HERE YOU HAVE THE ORDINARY SCENE AT A MEXICAN RAILW'AV STATION

Bazaine recognized in Diaz the most danger- invasion be thought of, resolved as we are to
ous and intelligent of his enemies, and on his fight without truce, to conquer, or to die in the
advice Maximilian tried to win the patriot challenge, to bequeath to the generation that
succeeds us the same free and sovereign Re-
general over to his cause. He even per- public which we inherited from our fathers.
suaded General Uraga, an old and beloved
commander under whom Diaz had served,
to write to him a seductive letter. Diaz After that letter, written when Diaz was
answered in brotherly terms, but scorned the thirty-four years old, when the head of his
proposal, writing: Government was a fugitive, when France and
Austria were supporting ISIaximilian, and
When a Alexican presented himself to me when the Emperor and his distinguished
with the proposals of Luis [Uraga's messen- French field marshal were ready to honor the
ger], I ought to have brought him to trial
according to law, and not to have sent you in
soldier to whom
they stretched alluring
reply anything more than the sentence and a hands, is it any wonder that, during the long
notification of the death of your envoy. But years of his power, with the Republic at his
the great friendship you invoke, the respect I feet and all opposition dissolved, not once
have for you, and the memories of happier has he been tempted to place a crown on his
days, which bind me to you and to that mutual
friend, relax all m}^ energy and convert it into
head and that now, at the summit of his au-
the weakness of returning him to you safe and thority and glory, he offers himself to the
sound, without a single word of odious re- twentieth century and to all the centuries
crimination. after, as a witness for democracy, a prophet
The test to which ou have submitted me
i
of the ultimate virtue and capacity of his
is a very grave one, because your name and
friendship constitute the only influence (if people ?
there be one) capable of forcing me to deny Bazaine assembled an army and moved
all my past, and to tear with my own hands against Diaz at Oaxaca. The marshal com-
the beautiful flag, emblem of the liberties and upon the
manded in person in the attack
independence of Mexico. As I have been
able to withstanc^ this test, 3'ou may believe patriot hehad failed to corrupt. For weeks
that neither the crudest disillusions nor the besieged and besiegers fought daily and the
 JAMES CREELMAN 267

town was constantly vuider artillery fire. But fined,but before he could finish the work
at last, after losing more than two-thirds of he was moved to another convent, his cell
his soldiers, and when all food and ammuni- was deprived of light and his guards were
tion were exhausted, Diaz went on foot at doubled.
night to Bazaine and surrendered Oaxaca. During his long imprisonment one of his

Photugraplied l.y I'm v ( mx Mixi,..

VENDERS OF TAMALES AND TORTILLAS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO ANNOY RAILWAY PASSENGERS. THEY CANNOT GO
BEYOND THE RAIL

The marshal said he was glad that Diaz old generals, who had entered Maximilian's
realized his error
— "it was criminal to take service, came to his cell and said that the
up arms against one's sovereign." Emperor wished to see him and that the im-
Diaz lifted his head and looked his con- perial carriage was in waiting to take him
queror straight in the eyes. into the imperial presence. The Emperor
" I will not join, nor even acknowledge, the desired to give Diaz command of a great part
Empire," he answered. " I am just as hos- of his army.
tile to it as I have been at the cannon's The prisoner listened coldly and then,
mouth. But further resistance is impossible drawing himself to his full height, he said:
and further sacrifice useless, as I have neither "I have no objection to such a meeting.
men nor arms." But I will not go in the imperial carriage.
Then followed a long imprisonment. Diaz The commander of your forces has the right
once more refused to give his word that he to have me brought before him, but only as
would not take up arms again for the Repub- his prisoner, and if he is to see me he must
lic. The Emperor sent messages of warn- see me in the ranks of his prisoners."
ing. The Erench even threatened death to It was a fitting answer by the hero of the
obdurate prisoners. Diaz said frankly that Americas to the crowned adventurer. Maxi-
if he could escape he would take the field milian never forgot it.
against the Empire. It is an extraordinary proof of the energy,
The prisoner spent four or five months courage and resourcefulness of this man
digging a subterranean tunnel from the that, in spite of the fact that his prison was
cell of the convent in which he was con- guarded with unusual vigilance and that a
268 PRESIDENT DIAZ
sentry entered his cell every hour for he — and onto the roof. Then I untied the
made no secret of his intention to gain his rope by which Ihad ascended, and took
—
freedom he contrived by a subterfuge to possession of the three that I had previously
draw away the attention of his guards and flung up.
managed to escape alone. Here is his own "My' walk across the roofs to the corner
story of that dramatic night: of San Roque, the point I had chosen for
"Late at night on the 20th, I rolled into a my descent to the street, was very danger-
small ball three ropes which I had surrepti- ous. Opposite me was the roof of a church,
tiously obtained to assist me in my escape, at such a height that it overlooked the whole
putting another into my kit-bag along with of the convent. Here a sentinel was posted
a dagger, perfectly pointed and sharpened whose duty it was to watch the convent
the only weapon at my disposal. prison. Before I had made many steps
"After the bell had sounded for silence I came to a part of the roof where there

in the prison I went out upon an open bal- were many windings, for each of the con-

Copyright, 1906, by Waite, Mexico

JOSfi YVES LIMANTOUR, THE DISTINGUISHED MEXICAN SECRETARY OF FINANCES, WHOSE BRILLIANT POLICIES HAVE
ATTRACTED THE ATTENTION OF THE FINANCIERS OF ALL COUNTRIES

cony near the roofs. It overlooked an vent cells was built within a semi-circular
inner courtyard of the convent. In this arch and corridors ran between these
place the coming or going of a prisoner rows of arches. Threading my way along
would attract little attention from the and taking advantage of every bit of shelter,
sentinels, for it was commonly used by us crawling at times on hands and knees,
all for exercise. I moved slowly in the direction of the
"The night was particularly dark, but sentinel, while seeking the point from
the stars shone clearly overhead. which to effect my descent.
" I took with me the ropes, wrapped "There were two sides of the courtyard
in a gray cloth. Once assured that no- square to be traversed. Often I had to
body was about, I flung them up onto stop and carefully explore the ground
the adjacent roof. Then I threw my last over which I moved, for many loose pieces
rope over a projecting stone gutter above of tiles and glass were strewn about the
me, which seemed very strong, and secured roof, which cracked and made noises under
it with difficulty. The light was too feeble my feet. Moreover, frequent flashes of
to enable me to see the gutter well. sheet lightning illuminated the sky, and at
"I tested the strength of my support, any moment might have disclosed my where-
and feeling satisfied, climbed up the rope abouts.
 JAMES CREELMAN 269

"At last I came to the protection of a wall "Almostbreathless, I reached the roof
where the sentinel on the church parapet of the chaplain's house, just as a young
could no longer see me unless he stooped man who lived there entered by the door.
down very low. I walked steadily along He probably came from the theater, for he
and rested, pausing to ascertain if any alarm was gaily humming an air. I waited until
had been raised. Here I was in great he had reached his room. Shortly after-
danger, for the stonework sloped and its ward he came out with a lighted taper, and
surface was very slippery after the heavy actually walked in the direction where I

PRESIDENT DIAZ IN HIS PRIVATE CABINET

rains. At one moment my feet slipped was crouching. Fortunately I was well
helplessly toward some window panes, which concealed. After an interval, he went back
could have offered but little resistance; in to the house; probably it was only a few
fact I almost fell to the depths below. minutes, but minutes seemed hours to me
"To get up San Roque,
to the street of in such circumstances. When I thought he
where I hoped had to pass a
to descend, I had been a sufficient time in his room to
part of the convent which was used as the have got into bed, perhaps to have fallen
chaplain's house. The man had only a asleep, I crept onto the and walked
roof,
short time before denounced some political from there to San Roque corner, which at
prisoners who, in an ill-fated effort to es- last I reached.
cape, had cut a passage toward this dwell- "Exactly at
this corner of the roof, there
ing. In consequence of this denuncia- is a stone statue of San Vicente Ferrer,
tion they were the next day taken out and which I had intended to make use of in
shot. securing my rope. Unfortunately, the saint
"I needed, therefore, to be very careful tottered when I touched him. However,
not to rouse him. I thought he probably had an iron support
 THE CENTRAL FIGURE, IN CIVILIAN DRESS, IS PRESIDENT DIAZ, WHO IS WATCHING THE TRIALS
OF NEW MEXICAN CANNON

somewhere to keep him up; but for greater When he had gone I dropped into the street
safety secured the rope only round the
I and breathed freely once more.
base of the pedestal, which formed the angle "Sweating and almost exhausted with
of the building and seemed strong enough fatigue, I hurried to the house where I ex-
to bear any weight. pected to find my horse, my servant, and a
"I was afraid if I descended straight guide [Diaz had previously managed to
into the street at this corner, I might be communicate with these allies], and reached
seen by some passer-by in the act of climbing the place without further mishap.
down mv rope. I therefore determined to " Once I was safely inside the house, the
go down by the side of the house away from three of us looked to the loading of our pis-
the main street, which gave me the advan- tols, mounted our horses and, after avoiding
tage of some shadow. Alas, ])y the time a cavalry patrol, left the city. I was almost
I reached the second floor my feet missed certain that we should be stopped at the gate
their grip on the side wall, and slipping by the guard, and I fully intended to fight my
down on the garden side I landed in a pig- way out, but fortunately the gate was open.
sty. There was a light within the lodge and a sad-
"My dagger first fell from my belt and dled horse waiting outside.
dropped among the porkers. Then I tum- "We went through at full trot, and once
bled in among them. Alarmed at this in- out of the city, to gain time we broke into a
trusion, the pigs set up such a squealing that full gallop."
if any one had run to see what was the matter

I should have been discovered at once. I Hardly had Diaz begun to organize and
hid again as soon as I recovered my feet, but fighta series of desperate battles when a mes-
had to wait until the pigs were pacified before senger from Maximilian came to say that the
venturing to move away from the garden. Emperor was willing to place himself in the
Then to reach the street I climbed a low wall. hands of the Liberals, and to intimate that if
I had to beat a retreat quickly, for a gen- Diaz would change his allegiance he might be
darme was just passing on his rounds and ex- commander-in-chief of the armies of the Em-
amining the fastenings of the door below me. pire. He sent back word that his one object
270
 JAMES CREELMAN 271

was to the Emperor his prisoner and

make Then the capital surrendered and Juarez,
him to the law of the Republic. the Indian President, returned to find the
subiect
flag of the Republic flying above a sea of
Again and again he swept the imperial
Diaz's bayonets.
forces before
him.
Diaz himself
soon retired to
Then the close
War become a farmer.
of the Civil
United Later on the
left the
soldier took the
States free to de-
Monroe field against
fend the
Doctrine, Na- Juarez on the

was ground that he

poleon
had failed to
warned by the
carry out prom-
American Gov-
ernment that his ised reforms.
Juarez died and
armed interfer-
ence in the affairs
was succeeded by
Lerdo, who at-
of the continent
tempted to sup-
would no longer
press Diaz
the
be tolerated, and
he withdrew his
revolution by
concentrating a
troops, leaving
Maximilian large army. Diaz
retired to the
alone in Mexico.
The whole United States,
sailed in disguise
world knows how
for the south of
the Empress
Carlotta went to
Mexico from
Europe to beg New Orleans,
assistance for her
was recognized

husband, how at Tampico,

leaped into the
Napoleon turned
his back on her,
sea,was pursued
how she visited
and captured in
the water, but
the Vatican and
escaped again.
went mad while
Following is
pleading with the
the tale as written
Pope and how
by one of Diaz's
she was shut up
old officers:
in a Belgian
castle where she While at Tam-
still lives, as yet pico the steamer
ignorant of Max- City of Havana
took on board
imilian's death.
G o vernment
Diaz took troops who were
Puebla after ter- Photographed by Carniichael going to Vera
rible slaughter, Cruz, among
HIDALGO, THE PRIEST- PATRIOT WHO LED THE FIRST GREAT whom were sev-
and while he was REVOLT AGAINST SPAIN AND DIED A MARTYR TO THE CAUSE officers who
eral
besieging the OF FREEDOM recognized h i m
City of Mexico, at once, as they
Maximilian was were the same
captured in Queretaro by General Escobedo, men whom General Diaz had but recently de-
feated and made prisoners at the capture of
was condemned by a court martial for his
Matamoras. It was useless for the mysterious
barbarous decree ordering Mexican soldiers passenger to attempt to avoid the inquisitive
to be slain as bandits and was, with his eyes of his fellow travelers and to refrain from
two generals, Miramon and Mejia, shot to appearing at the table.
From the very first he realized that he had
death.
272 PRESIDENT DIAZ
been discovered and was being closely watched, and after swimming round and round in a vain
and as unexpected bad weather was delaying endeavor to find the right direction, he was
the loading of the vessel and her departure to forced to abandon the attempt and was dragged
sea, he suspected they would seize and shoot into the boat. There he lay on the bottom of
him. Rather than run this danger, he decided the ship's pinnace, completel\' worn out by his
to make his escape and trust his life to the superhuman efforts and the amount of sea
dangers of the sea and the sharks. To make water which he had swallowed, on account of
matters even more difficult, the steamer was the rough choppy weather, but not unconscious,
anchored a long distance from the entrance to as some have said. When they were near the
the port. However, his mind was made up. ship's side the postal agent, Gutierrez Zamora,
He divested threw him a shirt
himself of his to put on, as he
clothes, and was naked.
without other After he had
weapons than a been brought on
dagger with board. Lieuten-
which to defend ant-colonel Ar-
himself against royo, command-
the attacks of ing President
sharks, let him- Lerdo's troops, at
self into the sea once attempted
over the ship's to take charge of
side. He did not the prisoner and
provide himself try him by court
with even a life martial, and thus
buoy, so as to be obtain his pro-
less conspicuous motion to the
a mark any
for rank of general
one who might in reward for his
see him and open diligence and
fire on him in zeal ; but
the
the water. dauntless swim-
As it happened, m e r protested
he was seen against this
immediately, be- course of action,
cause he was and, taking his
watched very pistol from under
closely, and the the mattress in
cry of "man his state room
o v e rboard'' w here it was
warned him that hidden, called
he was discov- upon the captain
ered and would of the ship to
be pursued. Very oft'er him the
soon after, he protection of the
heard the sound Photographed by Harris & Ewing, Washington American flag,
of one of the DAVID E. THOMPSON, THE ABLE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR TO under which the
ship's boats MEXICO, ONE OF PRESIDENT DIAZ's OLD FRIENDS Havana and her
which had been crew were sail-
lowered. ing.
Then commenced a terrible race a man hunt,
; Lieutenant-colonel Arro3'0 was all for exe-
witnessed by hundreds of spectators, in which cuting General Diaz without further ceremony,
the destinies of the nation trembled in the bal- as thereby he was assured of his promotion to
ance. The exciting chase was v/atched by the the rank of general, whereas, if he merely took
passengers of the Haz'aiia and the crews of him along prisoner, the Government would not
two vessels, one American and the other from consider this as any particular service, and pro-
Campeche, both of which were anchored near motion would be held from him, as had oc-
the spot. curred in the case of Teran, who had been
Assistance was proffered to him from the taken prisoner and not executed on the spot.
Campeche boat while he was swimming past The captain of the ship listened to General
her, but he would not accept it. Diaz's requests, and his aid was the more will-
With all the strength of his powerful lungs ingly given as between him and the prisoner
and with the skill and daring of an expert there had passed certain Masonic signs. More-
swimmer he clove his way steadily through the over, the American sailor was greatly im-
water, but in an effort to throw his pursuers pressed with the daring and courage of a man
off his track lost his bearings, and instead of who had risked his life in such a plucky man-
making for the shore, changed his direction by ner.
mistake and made for the open sea. It was arranged that he should be left under
At length, though General Diaz was swim- guard, but was considered at the same time as
ming strongly, his powers began to fail him. being on American soil, and the captain stated
 JAMES CREELMAN 273

he would not give him up until they reached the narrow limits of that tiny cabin locker, or
Vera Cruz. However, he tried to disarm him, cupboard. He could not stand upright, nor
whereat General Diaz declared that he would was he able to sit down, and had, besides, to
only use his pistol in self-defence, but that keep his legs wide apart, so that the small
they would have to kill him before he would doors of the locker could be shut. To add to
allow any one to deprive him of his only the trying situation. Purser Coney, as a matter
weapon. of policy and in order to disarm all suspicion,
The captain ordered that the guard of an invited the Lerdist officers into his cabin, where
officerand five soldiers which had been placed they would often spend hours chatting and
at the door of General Diaz's cabin should be playing at cards. One of them who was sit-
withdrawn but Ar-
; ting in front of the
royo, with the idea of cupboard every now
his promotion still up- and then tilted his
permost, made a pre- chair back, thus press-
tence of putting a ing the flaps of the
guard to watch the door against the un-
store of ammunition, fortunate man hidden
and in this way con- within, who suffered
tinued to keep a close agonies while it lasted.
watch on the man he In this manner seven
looked upon as his endless days of tor-
prisoner. mert were passed on
The following night a diet of ship's bis-
was intensely dark cuits and water, until
and the fact that a t b e vessel reached
storm was brewing Vera Cruz, where the
made circum-
all dangers and difficul-
stances favorable ties of escape became
accordingly General more serious. The
Diaz determined to task before him was
make another attempt to escape from the
at escape, despite the ship without falling
fact that the captain into the hands of the
had offered to trans- Lerdist troops, who
ferhim to an Ameri- were continually on
can man-of-war an- SEBASTIAN CAMACHO, PRESIDENT NATIONAL BANK OF the lookout for him.
chored near Tampico, MEXICO, AND FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT, MEXICAN NA- Colonel Juan En-
an opportunity he did TIONAL PACKING CO. riquez, who was then
not care to avail him- chief of the coast
self of as it would have guard service at Vera
delayed his plans. Cruz, managed to
He cleverly managed to slip into the cabin of smuggle in to him a dilapidated sailor's suit
the purser, whose name was Coney, and told and a very old pair of boots and at the same
him of his plans. This officer, who was a good time sent him word to say that a rowboat in
friend, endeavored to dissuade him from his charge of a man whom he would recognize by
determination and eventually suggested another certain signals would come alongside for him.
way out of the difficulty. When the ship commenced to unload bales
General Diaz agreed to follow his advice. A of cotton and the barges came alongside, his
lifebuoy was thrown into the sea so as to boat also appeared among them, and then the
make the government soldiers think he had man, who every one supposed had been eaten
jumped overboard. Meanwhile, the prisoner by the sharks of Tampico, made his escape.
hid himself in the cabin, not under a sofa as
common rumor has it, but in a small locker. Once in the south, his power grew and his
This ruse proved to be entirely successful, as,
soon afterward, the disappearance of the pris- army won victory after victory. In Novem-
oner was noticed, and his captors rushed to the ber, 1876, with twelve thousand soldiers he
side of the ship and commenced eagerly scan- triumphantly rode into the capital. A few
ning the sea in the hopes of catching sight of
weeks later he was elected President.
him. What they did find, however, was the life
buoy, and, as this was covered with great With the exception of four years— 1880 to
patches of bright red iron-rust which looked 1884, when General Gonzalez was elected be-
exactly like blood, it was surmised that the cause the constitution, afterward amended,
fugitive in trying to gain the shore had been
eaten up by sharks.
forbade the reelection of a President Diaz —
However, as an additional precaution. Gen- has been President ever since, and he will re-
eral Alonso Flores had troops posted all along main at the head of the nation till he dies or
the beach, so as to capture the prisoner should chooses to retire.
he succeed in reaching the shore.
Meanwhile, General Diaz was undergoing in-
describable torments, cramped as he was within Now the soldier became the statesman.
274 PRESIDENT DIAZ
He held the turbulent masses still. He made cross the new Harriman lines on the way to
revolution an impossibility. He organized a its outlet on the Pacific.
police system that swept away the bandits. There are nineteen thousand miles of rail-
He built schools. He punished corruption, ways operated in Mexico, nearly all with
and made it known that a concession granted American managers, engineers and conduc-
by Mexico would never be repudiated. He tors, and one has only to ride on the Mexican

caused the national finances to be organized Central system or to enjoy the trains de luxe
and the national revenues collected and of the NationalLine to realize the high trans-
spent honestly and intelligently. He began portation standards of the country.
retrenchments by So determined is

cutting his own President Diaz to

salary from $30,000 prevent his country
to $15,000. He from falling into
made a nation of the hands of the
Mexico, a nation trusts that the Gov-
whose laws and ernment is taking
whose pledges over and merging
meant something. in one corporation,
It had been pro- with the majority
posed that no rail- stock in the Nation's
road should be hands, the Mexican
permitted between Central, National
Mexico and the and Inter-oceanic
United States. The lines —so that, with
Republic was to be this mighty trunk
saved from future system of transpor-
invasion by an in- tation beyond the
tervening wilder- reach of private
ness. Against the control, industry,
bitterest opposition, agriculture, com-
and in the teeth of merce and pas-
accusations against senger be
traffic will

his loyalty to the safe from oppres-

Republic, Diaz wel- sion.
comed the great This merger of
trunk railways built ten thousand miles
by American capi- Photographed by F. 1.. Clarke, M of railways into a
tal, and had gener- VICE-PRESIDENT CORRAL
single company,
ous subsidies with $113,000,000
granted to them. of the stock, a clear
That was the policy which Diaz set against majority, in the Government's hands, is the
the cowardly cry, "Between the strong and answer of President Diaz and his brilliant
the weak let there be a desert." Secretary of Finances to the prediction that
The Harriman interests are now building Mexico may some day find herself helplessly
two immense railway lines through the west- in the grip of a railway trust.
ern y)art of Mexico, spending about a million Curiously enough, the leading American
dollars a week, and these will connect through railway officials representing the lines which
existing lines with the Pan-American road, are to be merged and controlled by the Gov-
which has been built almost to the Guatema- ernment, spoke to me with great enthusiasm
lan frontier. of the plan as a distinct forward step, desir-
Among the most remarkable enterprises able alike for shippers and passengers and
now being pushed forward is the Kansas for private investors in the roads.
City, Mexico and Orient which Arthur
line, Two-thirds of the railways of Mexico are
E. Stillwell is constructing. The road is six- owned by Americans, who have invested
teen hundred miles long and will cost about about $300,000,000 in them profitably.
$30,000,000. It is already half built. The As it is, freight and passenger rates are fixed
Kansas City, Mexico and Orient railway will by the Government, and not a time table can
 JAMES CREELMAN 275

be made or changed without official ap- by any Mexican official I had but to disclose
proval. the fact and, no matter how high up the official
It may surprise a few Americans to know stood, he would lose his post at once."
that the first-class passenger rate in Mexico More than$1,200,000,000 of foreign capi-
isonly two and two-fifths cents a mile, while tal has been invested in Mexico since Presi-
the second-class rate, which covers at least dent Diaz put system and stability into the
one-half of the whole passenger traffic of the nation. Capital for railways, mines, fac-
country, is only one cent and one-fifth a mile tories and plantations has been pouring in at
— these figures being in terms of gold, to the rate of $200,000,000 a year. In six
afford a compari- months the Govern-
son with American ment sold more
rates. than a million acres
I have been pri- of land.
vately assured by In spite of what
.

the principal Amer- has already been

ican officers and done, there is still
investors of the room for the invest-
larger lines that ment of billions of
railway enterprises dollars in the mines
in Mexico are en- and industries of
couraged, dealt the Republic.
with on their merits Americans and
and are wholly free other foreigners in-
from blackmail, di- terested in mines,
rect or indirect. real estate, factories,
Mr. StiUwell, of railways and other
Kansas City, is not enterprises have
only building a rail- privately assured
way from Kansas me, not once, but
City through many times, that,
Mexico to the Pa- under Diaz, condi-
cific — in raising tions for investment
capital for which he in Mexico are fairer
has taken fourteen and quite as reli-
hundred American able as in the most
business men on highly -developed
special trains to European c o u n -
Mexico within two tries. The Presi-
years —but he has dent declares that
established and these conditions
controls vast real will continue after
estate enterprises his death or retire-
in the Republic. ment.
He has something Since Diaz as-
like seven million Photographed by Clinedinst, Washington sumed power, the
dollars invested in JOHN BARRETT, DIRECTOR OF THE BUREAU OF THE AMER- revenues of the
Mexico. ICAN REPUBLICS, WHOSE WORK IS PRAISED BY PRESIDENT Government have
"In all my deal- DIAZ increased from
ings with Mexican about $15,000,000
officials," he said to me, " I have never been to more than $115,000,000, and yet taxes
asked to pay one dollar in bribery, direct or have been steadily reduced.
indirect. In establishing the American end When the price of silver was cut in two,
of my railway I have had to fight politics and President Diaz was advised that his country
graft constantly. Here in Mexico I have could never pay its national debt, which was
been treated not only justly, but with great doubled by the change in values. He was
generosity. President Diaz told me once that urged to repudiate a part of the debt. The
if I were ever approached for a dollar of tribute President denounced the advice as foolish-
 Copyright, 1906, by Waite, Mexico

THE SADDLE ON THIS HORSE COST $S,OOa BESIDE THIS TREE MONTEZUMA WEPT OVER HIS DOWNFALL

ness as well as dishonesty, and it is a fact Federal District; the public treasury is full
that some of the greatest officers of the gov- and overflowing and the national debt de-
ernment went for years without their salaries creasing; there are nearly seventy thousand
that Mexico might be able to meet her finan- foreigners living contentedly and prosper-
cial obligations dollar for dollar. ously in the Republic —
more Americans
The cities shine with electric lights and than Spaniards; Mexico has three times as
are noisy with electric trolley cars; English large a population to the square mile as
is taught in the public schools of the great Canada; public affairs have developed

Copyright by Waite, Mexico

THE ORDINARY MEXICAN PLOW. WHEN AN AMERICAN PLOW APPEARS, THE PEON SAWS OFF ONE HANDLE FOR CONVENIENCK
276
 JAMES CREELMAN 277

strong men like Jose Yves Limantour, the progress in any country or any time without
great Secretary of Finances, one of the most real religion."
distinguished of living financiers; Vice-presi-
dent Corral, who is also Secretary of the Such is Porfirio Diaz, the foremost man
Interior; Ignacio Mariscal, the Minister of the American hemisphere. What he has
of Foreign Affairs, and Enrique Creel, the done, almost alone and in such a few years,
brilliant Ambassador at Washington. for a people disorganized and degraded by
And it is a land of beauty beyond compare. war, lawlessness and comic-opera politics,
Its mountains and valleys, its great plateaus, is the great inspiration of Pan-Americanism,

its indescribably rich and varied foliage, its the hope of the Latin-American republics.
ever blooming and abundant flowers, its Whether you see him at Chapultepec
fruits, its skies, its marvelous climate, its old Castle, or in his office in the National Palace,
villages, cathedrals, churches, convents or in the exquisite drawing-room of his
there is nothing quite like Mexico in the world modest home the city, with his young,
in
for variety and loveliness. But it is the gen- beautiful wife and his children and grand-
tle, trustful, grateful Indian, with his unbe- children by his first wife about him, or sur-
lievable hat and many-colored blanket, the rounded by troops, his breast covered with
eldest child of America, that wins the heart decorations conferred by great nations, he
out of you. After traveling all over the is always the same —simple, direct and full

world, the American who visits Mexico for of the dignity of conscious power.
the first time wonders how it happened that In spite of the iron government he has
he never understood what a fascinating coun- given to Mexico, in spite of a continuance
try of romance he left at his own door. in office that has caused men to say that he
It is the hour of growth, strength and has converted a republic into an autocracy,
peace which convinces Porfirio Diaz that it is impossible to look into his face when he

he has almost finished his task on the Amer- speaks of the principle of popular sovereignty
ican continent. without believing that even now he would
Yet you see no man in a priest's attire in take up arms and shed his blood in defense
this Catholic country. You see no religious of it.

processions. The Church is silent save within Only a few weeks ago Secretary of State
her own walls. This in a land where I have Root summed up President Diaz when he
seen the most profound religious emotion, the said:
most solemn religious spectacles from the — " Ithas seemed to me that of all the men
blanketed peons kneeling for hours in cathe- now General Porfirio Diaz, of Mexico,
living.
drals, the men carrying their household was best worth seeing. Whether one con-
goods, the women suckling their babies, siders the adventurous, daring, chivalric
to that indescribable host of Indians on their incidents of his early career; whether one
knees at the shrine of the Virgin of Guada- considers the vastwork of government which
lupe. his wisdom and courage and commanding
I asked President Diaz about it while we character accomplished; whether one con-
paced the terrace of Chapultepec Castle. siders his singularly attractive personality,
He bowed his white head for a moment no one to-day that I would rather see
lives
and then lifted it high, his dark eyes looking than President Diaz. If I were a poet I
straight into mine. would write poetic eulogies. If I were a
"Weallow no priest to vote, we allow no musician I would compose triumphal marches.
priest hold public office, we allow no
to If I were a Mexican I should feel that the
priest to wear a distinctive dress in public, steadfast loyalty of a lifetime could not be
we allow no religious processions in the too much in return for the blessings that
streets," he said. "When we made those he had brought to my country. As I am
laws we were not fighting against religion, neither poet, musician nor Mexican, but only
but against idolatry. We intend that the an American who loves justice and liberty
humblest Mexican shall be so far freed from and hopes to see their reign among man-
the past that he can stand upright and un- kind progress and strengthen and become
afraid in the presence of any human being. perpetual, I look to Porfirio Diaz, the Pres-
I have no hostility to religion; on the con- ident of Mexico, as one of the great men
trary, in spite of all past experience, I firmly to be held up for the hero-worship of man-
believe that there can be no true national kind."
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