BarbarousMexico JOHN KENNETH TURNER

DIAZ HIMSELF 305
soldier and almost continually in the field. The wars
of those times were by no means unnecessary affairs.
Mexico did not fight simply because it is the Mexican
character to be looking always for trouble, for it isn't.
Diaz fought in the Three Years War, in which the throttling
grip of the Catholic church on the throat of the
nation was broken and the nation secured a real republican
constitution. Afterwards he fought in the War
of Maximilian, which ended in the execution of the
Austrian prince whom the armies of Napoleon Third
had seated as emperor.
During these twenty odd years Diaz fought on the
side of Mexico and patriotism. He probably fought no
more wisely nor energetically than thousands of other
Mexicans, but he had the good luck to have become
acquainted in his youth with Benito Juarez, who, years
later, as father of the constitution and constitutional
president, guided the destinies of the country safely
through many troublous years. Juarez remembered Diaz,
watched his work and promoted him gradually from one
rank to another until, at the downfall of Maximilian,
Don Porfirio held a rank which in our country would
carry the title of major-general. Note how Diaz repaid
the favors of Juarez.
Following the overthrow of Maximilian, peace reigned
in Mexico. Juarez was president. The constitution was
put into operation. The people were sick unto death of
war. There threatened neither foreign foe nor internal
revolt. Yet the ambitious Diaz wantonly and without
any plausible excuse stirred up rebellion after rebellion
for the purpose of securing for himself the supreme
power of the land.
There is evidence that Diaz began plotting to seize
the presidency even before the fall of the empire. Dur-