art of revolution, which had reached such perfection among them, is now well nigh forgotten.

THE SECRET OF IT ALL

President Diaz once appointed a young man to a government position in order to assist him in his studies for the bar. Not long afterwards, the complaint reached him that the young man was so fully occupied with his government duties that he had no time to study. "Let him do as I did," said the President grimly, "study until two or three o'clock in the morning with a wet towel wrapped around my head." In this remark President Diaz revealed one secret of his success-unflagging industry. To go to bed at ten P. M. has been his rule for years. He gets up at six and immediately goes to work. He takes no relaxation until every duty of the day is disposed of. Exacting, keeping personal control of the affairs of every village; he surveys his country every morning, as the owner of a vast estate upon whom rests the responsibility for the prosperity of the land, and the happiness and comfort of all the people. Over all he maintains a web of secret service which covers everything as with a fine net. An unfriendly move is known at the National Palace as soon as it is made, and it is as quickly checked by such stern, repressive methods as are possible to a ruler of a country which is republican in name only. In these later days the system has become more preventive than oppressive.

With the day's work disposed of, a horseback ride or a drive is the President's recreation; and two or three times a year he goes to the mountains to hunt big game. His home life is an important part of the existence of this man of action. Donna Carmen, his wife, is beloved by all who know her, and she is credited with being a strong factor in the softening of the rugged outlines of her husband's character. He still pursues a purpose, an enemy, his work or his pleasure, with the same relentlessness with which he pursued the Presidency until it was his.

Born in Oaxaca, of Indian and Spanish descent, he has the admirable traits of both races, and in his development the defects of both have been eliminated. He is calm and deliberate of speech, business-like in his manner, and he always keeps the topic before him well in hand. He has a keen insight into.

human nature, and a wonderful readiness in grasping the details of the practical affairs of life. Experts who have appeared before him. to advocate the adoption of some feature of a more civilized life than is found in Mexico have been driven to renewed study to enable them to parry his intelligent and searching questions.

A REPUBLICAN DESPOT

But for nearly four score years General Diaz has drawn upon the resources of an iron constitution until it now shows signs of wear. To this day he has held all power jealously in his own hands. Governors and ministers have become prominent and have achieved even international reputations, but they have instantly vanished if it was so willed by the Chief Executive. He is a self-constituted President in a country which, though provided with a constitution guaranteeing freedom of suffrage to the people, has never witnessed the exercise of this privilege. With all the progress made in the arts of peace and science, no progress has been made by the masses in the art of self-government, other than the acquisition of a better self-control, which is the necessary concomitant of peace and prosperity. The President has been blamed for this lack of progress. Those who believe that the hope of Mexico lies in her Indian people assert that in the past fifteen years they could have been taught local self-government. These people believe that President Diaz could have put into motion the machinery of republicanism provided by the law of Juarez, but with which the people have never been familiarized. Whether there be blame or not, the fact remains that this has not been accomplished. President Diaz does not believe a Latin American people can be governed under a constitution modeled after that of the United States. Personal, military, centralized government, is his recipe for success with SpanishAmericans. Who shall say in the light of what he has done that he is wrong?

If a Diaz could live forever, then there would be no flaw in this system. But who is there to take the leadership after him? Two men now occupy the public eye, General Bernardo Reyes, Minister of War, and José Yves Limantour, Minister of Finance. latter is now well known internationally. teen years ago he was unknown even to Mexican politics. Young, rich, a capable

The

Fif

lawyer and economic student, President Diaz brought him forth from his comparative seclusion and placed him in the cabinet. Keenly intellectual, highly educated, and with a personal knowledge of all the principal countries of the world, this man presents a unique figure in the group of Central American statesmen. After a long and hard day's work in his department he finds his recreation in the library of his palatial home which is crowded with treasures of art, or he seats himself at the piano and demonstrates his familiarity with the work of the great masters of music. He is a Mexican, but of French descent. Inspired by enthusiasm and ambition, and aided by his unusual mental equipment, he has done more to modernize the national finances and the fiscal policy of his country than all his predecessors together.

A new banking system, an annual public surplus, the abolishment of many obnoxious schemes of taxation, a stable paper money, greater freedom for foreign capital-these are a few of the things accomplished by Minister Limantour. During the recent illness of President Diaz this minister acted as provisional President. He is favored by the financial interests of the capital, and foreign investors find full protection under his administration. He is ambitious. Why should not Why should not the provisional become the real President of Mexico?

THE RULE OF THE MILITARY

The answer to this brings into clear relief the difference between the republic of Mexico and a real republic. There is a constitutional way of filling the office of President by referring the matter to the people, should that office suddenly become vacant. But this course has never been, nor is it likely to be followed. Should President Diaz die suddenly, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, now Senor Mariscar, well known in the United States, would call congress together at once to select a new President. Congress would in form order an "election," but in fact whoever controlled the situation would be declared elected. The people of the class called in the United States, "the mass of voters," would not be consulted. It would seem natural that Minister Limantour should step into the Presidential office, but Mexico is a military country, and the Mexican people are imbued with a sentiment which demands an element of the

spectacular in their leaders. Limantour intellectually commanding, is yet deficient in personal magnetism, and lacking the military instinct. He is accused by some of showing French sympathies.

It is General Bernardo Reyes, the idolized leader of the army, to whom the popular fancy now turns. The favorite of President Diaz, the hero of the student colony of the capital, the dashing soldier who has raised the pay of every man in his army, impetuous, fiery, poetic and sentimental, he is the man of the day, and no considerations of caution can stem the tide of popular approval. He is the man-on-horseback come again. That he will meet the opportunity and the responsibility, should they come to him, as they were met by the present ruler, is now the prayer of the Mexican people, and of the hosts of foreigners who live in the country.

THE NEW MEXICO

Should President Diaz still live to a greater old age, the people of Mexico would wish him to select his successor, to install him in office, and to start the new government in the right direction. Limantour and Reyes both have strong followings. They are both men of the world, familiar with modern conditions. They are both intimate with and friendly to the Americans. They are fully aware of the importance to Mexico of continuing the Diaz policy in the treatment of foreign capital. Limantour is not a strong man physically, and many doubt his ability to carry the executive load for a long period even if it should be placed upon his shoulders. The general opinion among the leaders of the Mexican people is that the succession to President Diaz will be accomplished with the minimum disorder possible by a short term for Limantour as provisional President, to be soon followed by General Reyes, who holds the key to the present political situation in his control of the army. The people of Mexico have been educated by President Diaz to the value of tranquillity, and irresponsible agitators would now find it difficult to create serious disturbance. The weight of public opinion. favors a peaceful solution of the political crisis that draws nearer, and in this the people will probably have their way. The future safety of Mexico lies in the growth of the middle class, which has sprung into existence with the recent adoption of modern methods.

INDIA

BY

RUINS OF A MOSQUE

Ο 3

N the present map of Asia, re-colored by what has happened lately, Russia's purpose is written big and plain. It can scarcely be misread any longer. The frontal line of Russian control extends in a huge crescent from the foot of the Persian Gulf away around to Port Arthur, and it is

being drawn closer day by day ever a completer cordon about India. All the western horn of this crescent has been added in the short time since the Russian loan was made to Persia. At one stride Russia has passed forward from the Caspian to the Arabian Sea, and throughout the entire length of the line she will be ready, before very long, to move at a moment's notice. Her purpose is so large that she dare not, and so enduring that she need not, act until preparation is complete.

In China the time was ripe. For a year and a half the railroads had been packing Russian troops and supplies down to the Manchurian border. We have seen the sequel. On the West, the Muscovite machinery is not yet perfected; therefore she avails herself of peace and England's preoccupation. In the West of Asia, as well as in the Far East, Russia is making hay while the sun shines. Only the methods differ in the two regions.

A look at the way of the Russian in Persia does not leave upon the mind any such grim picture of marching legions, of assault and pillage as in Tien-Tsin and Peking, but rather the fascinating image of the prestidigitator. The hand he displays to the audience is seldom the one more essential to the trick. In the absorption of Western Asia violence has been set studiously in the background; outward evidence of the ancient conflicts is put away. Nevertheless there is maintained a cogent and continual reminder of potential power. Down the long military road which traverses old Armenia spurs forever the Cossack, silent, suspicious, in peace eminently prepared for