DIAZ, teens, PORFIRTO 1530-). A President of Mexico. Ile was horn at Oaxaca, of Spanish parentage, and was studying law in his native town when the war with the United States broke out. Young Diaz entered a militia regi ment in 1847 and thenceforth devoted himself to a military career. In 1854 he commanded a bat talion under Alvarez in the contest against Santa Anna. Two years later he identified himself with Juarez and the Liberal Party, and in 1861 was elected Deputy to the National Congress. He soon resigned to take the field, and won a victory over the reactionist Marquez at Jalat lam During the French intervention he won 71 high reputation as one of the most skillful and courageous of the patriot leaders. In May, 1803, while directing the defense of Puebla, he was forced to surrender, but escaped shortly after and went to Oaxaca, where he raised a new force and made considerable headway against the French. In February, 1SI5, he was again captured, but es caped once more, and once more reappeared at the head of an army he had brought together at Oaxaca. lie gradually forced the invading troops to adopt the defensive, and after the evacuation of Mexico by the French. he advanced to Puebla and took the city, April 2, 1867. On June 21 he entered the City of Mexico. In the same year be was a candidate for the Presidency against Juarez. lint being defeated, withdrew to his es tates. lie never ceased plotting against the Gov ernment. however, and his intrigues occasionally
broke out in the form of armed revolts against Juarez and his successor, Lerdo de Tejada. He was twice forced to flee the country-in 1872, and again in 1876. Returning quickly on both occa sions. Diaz succeeded in the hitter year in defeat ing his enemies at Tecoac (November 1600. He finally drove Lerdo out and in May, 1877, he be•nine ]'resident. Order was restored in a remarkably short time. Diaz soon managed to Win the confidence of European the country was oiwned up, industries were devel t ped, and the modern period of prosperity was firmly established. As the _Mexican Constitution provided that no man should hold the office of President for two consecutive terms, Gcneral Druz was succeeded in IsSO by his close personal friend. General Gonzalez. It soon became evi dent, however, that only one man could win the trust and support of the Mexican people and of Cie foreign capitalists upon whom the welfare t f the nation depended, and so, after Diaz had bten again .petted President in 1SS4, the Consti tutit n was amended, in order to provide for hi continuance in that 'take. The form: of election by popular vote have been duly complied with at tack recurring period since, but Ito seri011- oppo sition to 'Don holitio.• as he i; affectionately called by the lexican populace, has developed.