and the way was once more open to the Constitutionalists. The constitution of 1857 became again effective fundamental law of the land, and, with a number of subsequent amendments, has continued in force to the present time.

AN OPTIMISTIC VIEW

After the retirement of General Diaz in 1910 and the assumption of power by President Madero, the optimistic business men of Mexico looked forward with great confidence to the future. One well-known writer expressed their views as follows:

"New times and manners have come to Mexico. New figures of national importance have stepped upon the stage to direct the destinies of the land which the clearheaded, unenthusiastic scientist, von Humboldt, called The Treasure House of the World.'

"New policies and processes of government have been inaugurated; although new to Mexico, they have stood the test of practice in the other great republics. By this proved standard they may be depended upon to impart fresh vigor and irresistible impetus to the progress and development of Mexico.

"The events which prefaced the administrative changes in Mexico were revolutionary. History records few important steps in the advancement of any nation which were not conceived and born in revolution. Instances are far less common wherein righteous and successful revolutions have not purified the national lifestreams and made for political, social and economic wellbeing.

"Mexico was at peace for thirty-five years. Neither foreign wars nor domestic turmoil had disturbed her tranquility and interrupted the wonderful material development fostered by the establishment and inflexible maintenance of law and order.

"This gave her unique distinction among the nations. While Mexico's sword was sheathed, the United States,

England, France, Germany, Russia, China, Japan and Spain, wasted billions of gold and sacrificed thousands of lives in wars.

"A hundred-fold more men and money than the revolution in Mexico cost, were expended by the United States since 1876 in Indian wars alone.

"What has occurred in Mexico was an anti-climax. Like most contingencies which are viewed in anticipation with profound apprehension, the prospect of the passing of the old regime in Mexico and the commencement of the new, when it became a reality, presented itself in far less ominous guise than it assumed when it was merely a vague, much debated possibility.

"It was an anti-climax because it came prematurely and unexpectedly. So swift was the march of events in the six months which compassed the duration of the revolution that the country was spared most of the prostration and disorganization that come with armed political movements.

"When the transfer of authority came, the vital elements of the government were substantially unimpaired. The federal treasury was intact; the cash reserves had not been drained to finance a long and costly war; business was interfered with but slightly; the country had not been stripped of able-bodied men; the lines of communication had been interrupted, but not destroyed, or even seriously damaged; the national credit continued high; federal revenues had fallen off to a surprisingly small extent, and the damage to public and private property in the cities and towns of consequence was limited.

"In the foreign money markets confidence in the national stability of Mexico and in her possession of inherent vital power to survive political shocks that would cripple a less wealthy, resourceful country, was shown in impressive fashion.

"The public funds and many of her standard railway, banking and industrial securities were not seriously

affected, and in a majority of cases either maintained their price, or were given higher quotations. A month after peace was declared London was buying National Railway securities at from $2.25 to $2.50 higher than the prices quoted before the revolution.

"In every fibre of her being Mexico, in 1911, is a thousand times stronger and better buttressed to maintain and enhance her financial, political and industrial respectability and place than she was in 1876, when Porfirio Diaz came to government. Now she has everything with which to do. Then she had virtually nothing, save her inexhaustible natural resources, which were sparsely developed.

"Thirty-five years of peace and prosperity have sped her too far along the road of progress to warrant fairminded, competent critics in assuming that she will retrograde, or that her affairs will not be patriotically, competently and profitably administered. Mexico will press

on.'

CHAPTER XI

MEXICO UNDER DIAZ

In an election under the Constitution of 1857, held in 1871, four years after the City of Mexico had surrendered to General Diaz after the execution of the Emperor Maximilian, the opposing candidates were the then President Benito Juarez, Lerdo de Tejada, and Porfirio Diaz. Juarez was elected December 1, 1871, and took his seat for the third time, the result of which was a slight revolution, occurring in various parts of the country. These were headed by Porfirio Diaz on his hacienda of La Noria, in Oaxaca. A manifesto was issued proposing a convention and assembly of notables, to reorganize a government with Diaz as commander-in-chief of the army, until the establishment of such government. The movement was interrupted by the death of Juarez and the succession of the president of the Supreme Court, Lerdo de Tejada. The administration of Lerdo was peaceful, and he was elected president December 1, 1872, continuing in office for three years, during which time the railroad between Vera Cruz and the City of Mexico, called the Mexican Railway, was opened on January 1, 1873.

DIAZ PROCLAIMED PRESIDENT

Another revolution occurred in Oaxaca, January 15, 1876, and once more the country was in the midst of a strife. Lerdo was forced to leave the country, and General Diaz entered the City of Mexico November 24, 1876, and was proclaimed president; on the 6th of May, 1877, he was declared constitutional president, in which office he remained until November 30, 1880, during which time

he put down small revolutions and executed nine revolutionists on June 24, 1879.

On the 25th of September, 1880, Congress elected General Manuel Gonzales president. During the administration of General Gonzales the celebrated Nickel riots of 1883 occurred, the common people refusing to accept nickel coin in the place of silver and copper, entailing on them considerable loss. The national debt of Mexico was also greatly increased, and his administration was practically a financial failure.

General Diaz was again elected president and took the oath of office December 1, 1884, and at each recurring election to 1910 succeeded himself.

A MAN OF ACTION

On taking the office in 1884, says the noted authority on Mexico, Mr. Reau Campbell, Diaz found an absolutely empty treasury and a country without credit. It was a condition and not a theory that confronted Diaz-a condition that theories alone could not ameliorate. Urgent and immediate action was the only remedy for the deplorable state of the country. General Diaz was the man of action, man of the hour, and delayed not till the morrow. To perceive a need, with him, was to act at once, and to promote the prosperity and peace of his country was his only aim. The railroads and the telegraphs had only been proposed; the commerce of the country was in a state of lethargy. Diaz' quick, restless, active disposition called it to life, and his liberal, wise and efficient administration of the government made it possible to complete the enterprises of communication and commerce, and it so promoted the internal improvements in every direction that his own acts have placed President Diaz among the foremost statesmen of the world. A patriotic Mexican writer says: "With the restless, inconstant character of our race, the

long tenure of office

by one man is one of the greatest dangers of the peace