THE MEXICAN REVOLT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 284, 24 April 1911, Page 5

THE MEXICAN REVOLT

THE LANDING OF BRITISH BLUE-, JACKETS. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. New York, April 21. Senator Stone, speaking in the Senate, condemned the landing of British bluejackets at San Quentin, as an act of war on the part of Britain. Any foreign hostile demonstration in Mexican territory would be unfavorably regarded by the American people. Senator Stone proposed a resolution authorising President Taft to use the army and navy in any way advisable to protect American interests. The resolution was referred to the Foreign Affairs Committee, and is unlikely to be heard of again. The Senate did not favor Senator Stone's attitude. PEACE NEGOTIATIONS BROKEN OFF. PRESIDENT DL4Z WILL NOT RETIRE. Received 23, 5.5 p.m. Mexico City, April 22. All the peace negotiation have been broken off, President Diaz refusing to en-, tertain the rebels' demands for his retirement. Madero announces the postponement of the threatened attack on Juarez. THE END IN SIGHT. AN ASSURANCE REPEATED. Received 24, 1.5 a.m. Mexico City, April 23. The belief is generally expressed that the end of the revolution is in sight. ;diaz in his dotage, "did not know when to quit." An American journal, in reviewing the situation in Mexico some little time ago, said: "In our opinion, the aged President did not know when to quit. He has made Mexico. What was the neighboring republic when the revolutionist Porfirio Diaz took up arms against President Benito Juarez and his two immediate successors, Lerdo dc Tejada and Iglecias? At home, Juarez ruled the country as be might have ruled the few bucks and squaws of his native village; abroad, the Government was discredited. What Juarez might have done to restore the prestige of his country we do not know, for be was taken away almost suddenly by a fatal malady at the time his former pupil at Oajaca and his most efficient military leader was in open war against him. Thus did Porfirio Diaz gallop up to the presidential chair. Utterly sick of warfare, wasted fields, highwaymen, and kidnappers, the people welcomed him and changed the Constitution a few times to please aii(l' l retain him in office. He responded to their hopes and expectations. Mexico began to thrive. Foreign capital came in, because under Diaz it was safe; valuable concessions were granted to the foreigners who came to develop Mexico's immense buried wealth, to make the country more prosperous, and incidentally to enrich themselves. The people murmured, for they thought that the best of everything was rapidly passing into the hands of Englishmen, Germans and especially Yankees; but the I strong arm of Diaz was at the helm and the threatened storm subsided.

''Diaz was growing old. A man born in IS3O is no longer a youth in 1904. He wanted a vice-president, and the people obligingly .made room for one in the Constitution, Long tenure of office made the old man eager to name the vice-pre-sident and obstinate in sticking to his choice. Again the people fretted, but he had his way, and Corral of Sonora was duly elected for a term of six years. Corral was not well liked nor favorably known. Still he was the old man's fairhaired boy and that had to suffice. ''When the Presidential election of 1010 approached, General Bernardo Reyes, then Governor of Nuevo Leon, was loudly acclaimed as the next vice-president; but, as is commonly the case, advancing years had made the aged President even less supple in his limbs and in his will, and he clamored for Corral ns children cry for some favorite plaything. Reyes, dashing, gallant soldier that he was, seeing that valor's liest part was discretion, resigned and slipped off to Europe. He went with a Government appointment to spend plenty of time in studying the cinches used in the French army, or words to that effect. "Francisco I. Madero offered himself to a small but admiring group as a candidate for the presidency, and began to deliver campaign speeches. He was charged with inciting the people to sedition and was lodged in gaol, where he spent election day. After seven weeks as the guest of the Government, he was icleased on bail, and was finally told to go in neace, if he would leave the country. He went to San Antonio, Texas, it is said, and there found some malcontents who had preceded him. The present activities are inspired by him, if common report be trusted, and their object is not so much to depose poor old General Diaz, who is travelling so speedily towards the setting sun, as it is to oust the unpopular heir apparent, the hated Corral. What lasting glory would have been that of Diaz if he had recognised the signs of the times and had gracefully bowed himself off the stage while the audience was still good-natured, or at least tolerant! For a time he was necessary; the people waited for him to outgrow the childish hallucination, but they waited to little purpose. And now, in bitterness of heart, he hears the hurrah of vesterdav changed into the curse of to-day. His dream of greatness has outlasted the real greatness that once was his."