AFTER DIAZ—WHAT?

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1073, 11 March 1911, Page 5

AFTER DIAZ—WHAT?

SOME MEXICAN POSSIBILITIES. Tho Presidency of Mexico, said tho correspondent of "The Times" in a recent dispatch, will devolve on Don Ramon Corral, the Vice-President, if anything should happen to Don Porftrio within the next six years. This gentleman is not a soldier, lie does not enjoy tho almost legendary reputation of his chief; but he is an administrator, gifted with exceptional strength of will, and, if one may judge from rather brief acquaintance, ho would not bo colourless as a President. Will ho havo to pit himself Against another man? As for tlioso who possibly could captivate the peoplo wo liavo Madero and Reyes. It will bo admitted that the Mexicans aro capable of being carried off their feet by some theatrical Boulanger, and Sonor Corral is. by no means theatrical. There was a moment when Bernardo Reyes, nicturesque, beloved of tho army, beloved as tho Governor of Nucvo .Leon, successful as the Minister of War, might perhaps have had the highest prize, though it is vory doubtful if lie wanted it. Anyone who has tho army has tho. country, but General Reyes, if ho should return from France, would nrobablv discover that his moment has gone by, and, unless his character is deceiving", ho would not dream of any purely selfish civil war. Madoro likewise is abroad. The Government had caused proccedings to bo taken ajraiust him for nlleged conspiracy against tho State. Madero, it will be remembered, was the opposition' Presidential Candidate, and at the time of the election tho authorities thought it necessary to imprison him. He is a member, of a wealthy and respocted family in Northern Mexico. It is not easy to commute the number 01 ndherents to "his causa; the 2 per cent, of votes which lie is said to have obtained tells us nothing, for the bread and butter question caused many to conceal their politics. Most undoubtedly he is courageous; to are those who up and down the country publish little newspapers in bis support, and whrn ono sheet litis been suppressed start another one.

Popular Feeling. You will learn, in opposition circles, that the country is riddled with discontent, that after Diaz there will come the years of revolution. Discontent there is, and ono great peril is the muzzling of the press; another peril—and _a double lies in the absolulo position of authorities. A village is administered by its alcolde, who, to long as ho does not displease tlio persons over h'/.i, can practically nlease himself; a higher functionary is tile j ofq politico, who rules the oauton, and is equally despotic; abovo him is tho Governor of the Slate, wliostf powers aro extremely wide. There is a Congress, to be sure, for every State, but its deliberations do not usually give the Governor as much anxiety as the remarks of shareholders give to the.chairman of a company whose dividends are at the rate of 100 per cent. While the President of t it. United States of Mexico is satisfied the Governor can go 1115 way. lie is practically appointed by the President, and tins is wlioro the Constitution is it Jittlo strained, for it is written that the Governor shall be elected by the people. It would be an impossibility, at present, for a single State to chooso a Governor, llio patriarchal sway o£ General Dinz supervises nil such matters; he is like a sun which sends a ray to every Slate. Ho knows his people supremely well, and from the fact that they possess 110 adequate experience iu governance it seems to follow that his svstem is tlio best. Before they can be trusted to select tlie:r Governor they must havo had some sort of voice in" choosing their aleoldo and their iefe politico. Then Mexico will be liepublican. -