Juarez

“ A whole year had been lost before Puebla fell, after an obstinate defence, and in June 1863 the French entered the city of Mexico. The early reverses and the long delays of the French greatly strengthened the position of Juarez. The invasion exalted the Indian leader of an extreme party into a champion of the dignity and the independence of the country, and his tenacity in upholding the cause did not allow this halo to depart from him even in the worst times. The capital was not fortified, and when the French appeared, Juarez carried the seat of his government to one of the Northern towns. ”

“ The character of Juarez, on the other hand, represents precisely the opposite qualities of the Mexican race, inherited from his Indian parentage,—endurance, patience, imperturbability. Calm in the midst of exciting elements, he knew how to stand and wait for his turn. These qualities, so useful to him in adversity were supplemented by executive ability, good sense, and prompt action, which, when he returned to power, enabled him to rule wisely without losing his balance on the giddy height of success, like many of his predecessors. ”

“ When Maximilian ascended the throne, Juarez sent his family to New Orleans, but he remained here until compelled to cross the frontier. The United States, which had always favored Juarez, interfered in his behalf. At the termination of the War of the Rebellion Maximilian was betrayed and shot, and Juarez was re-elected in 1871, and died in office June 18, 1872.
He has a daughter who is married and living in Mexico in greater style than the president. She resembles her father. A story is told of Juarez that is new at the very least. He had plenty of enemies, especially among the church party. ”

“ It is a long marble tomb. On it lies the life-size body of Juarez, partly covered with a mantle. Sitting at his head, with her hands on his heart, is a beautiful woman, representative of the nation mourning for its much beloved President. The whole is a perfect study, and was designed and executed by a Mexican.
The life of Juarez is a very romantic one. He is familiarly known as the "Lincoln of Mexico." He was born in the State of Oaxaca, 1806, and at the age of twelve years could neither read nor write. He was a full-blooded Indian, and could not even speak the Spanish language. ”

“ We listened to the old man's reminiscences as we passed the tombs of Zaragoza, Miramon, Mejia, and others; but welcomed the timely silence which fell on the party as we reached the tomb of Mexico's greatest statesman, patriot, and soldier, her Indian president, Benito Juarez. Here he lies, stretched out in majestic, marble dignity; so life-like, so realistic, as to cause a sudden thrill of awe in the beholder. ”

“ In October, 1909, President Taft and President Diaz, by mutual agreement, met for greetings and congratulations at El Paso and Juarez, and gave each other dinners on each side of the river. Physically splendid men, it is a compliment to each to say they resembled each other, both in physical appearance, in language, and in gesture. In Juarez, I was a guest of the Mexican Government ”

“ The stoical man at the head of the table smiled faintly at the storm of applause that followed this speech, and as Ruiz a few minutes later took his departure Juarez muttered to his neighbor, “That young fellow will bear watching. He has either a tremendous personal wrong to avenge, or he is striving to mislead us. I know him to be the godson of this very Ramirez, whom he thunders against. A Mexican may turn against, may even murder, his own father; but his godfather,—he must be a renegade indeed to attempt his destruction!” ”

“ But Juarez was more of a veteran and he kept his eyes open and he was rewarded in a few minutes by seeing a man's feet hanging over the edge of their bunk house and then he saw the figure of the mate slouch aft.
"You sly old rascal, you," remarked Juarez. "We will 'larn' you to try and be too smart with the Frontier Boys. We may be young but we are not fools."
Nothing happened for a while and the gentle plunge of the Sea Eagle into the long rolling swell soon lulled the tired Juarez into a sound sleep, so that neither he nor Tom were aware that the ship had suddenly changed her course. ”

“ We saw the post-office where Juarez kept up the government and existence of the Republic of Mexico during the whole of the Maximilian invasion. It was a close point to the United States for escape and liberty if he was molested. When Maximilian received his death-shot, Juarez went on with his presidency, taking no notice whatever of the usurpation as if it never had place. This man, of pure Indian blood, was certainly of heroic mould, and a stanch lover of light and liberty. ”

“ Juarez. Madam, it is the people and the law
Demand this expiation, not Juarez.
I grieve to see you on your knees before me,
But did each queen of Europe—ay, and king,—
Kneel in your place, I could not spare that life.
(Silence. Sobs. Juarez signs to Escobedo, who leads prisoners away. Dupin’s broad hat is pulled low. Miramon steps proudly. At exit Maximilian turns and salutes the people)
Max. Mexicans! Long live Mexico!
(CURTAIN)
ACT V. Scene I: Audience chamber, the Tuileries. Louis Napoleon alone.
Lou. Succeed or fail! However men may run
The goal is marked. ”

“ The French received mules and supplies from the United States; but war material, so much needed by Juarez' government, was not allowed to be exported thence. [15] Congress, on the 10th of December, decreed that French prisoners should be treated by the Mexicans as Mexican prisoners were treated by the French. [16]
The people manifested a determination to sacrifice everything for freedom and independence. Ortega's plan of defending Puebla was approved, and Comonfort, who had reached Mexico about the middle of October, was to aid him. Juarez seemed resolved to defend his country at all hazards. ”

“ Nothing like a slow fire for stewing the nonsense out of a fresh kid."
"How far is this cave of yours, you are taking us to, old salt horse?" said Juarez insolently, and utterly unwise.
This was too much for Captain Broom, and with an imprecation he turned to strike Juarez. This was what Juarez was looking for and as the furious Skipper whirled facing him, Juarez dodged his huge fist, and sent a fierce hook to the Captain's jaw. [234] There was anger, desperation and strength behind that blow and the Captain fell, striking his head on a rock. That time the Frontier Boys scored. ”

“ Juarez well knew what was coming. He glanced at the screws, at Pizarro, and shrugged his surrender; then, with apparent candor, he told of the conversation and of the growing discontent among the men. Pizarro ordered the prisoners into confinement, and they were marched away by the guard, their relief at escape from the thumbscrews marred by a vision of a courtmartial and the garrote on the morrow.
Cristoval was conveyed to his quarters, and Pedro immediately turned the management of the cantina over to Pedrillo, assuming the role of nurse as a matter of course. ”

“ Basch assumes that Juarez did not forget that Maximilian had refused to recognize him, giving the preference to Ortega. Erin., ii. 103. His letter to Miramon, ordering Juarez and officers to be judged by court-martial, if caught — at Zacatecas — is also brought forward as irritating. The Indian nature is certainly tenacious. Maximilian would no doubt have given guarantees to abstain from all claims, but promises have never had much value in Mexico. Pardoned chiefs used to rise again as soon as released. ”

“ Juarez now backed cautiously down into a depression and ran with all his might to give the news to Jim. He got to the hill just in time to warn Jim and Jo not to go up the gully.
“This is the way they will make their attack,” said Juarez. “We can station ourselves behind [Pg 226] these trees, and, when they come out of the gully, we will let ’em have it.” ”

“ Zuloaga decreed the dismissal from the army of the generals and other officers serving with the liberals, and believed his triumph secured, when a portion of the garrison in Guadalajara mutinied, with Lieutenant-colonel Landa at its head, and seized Juarez, whom the circumstances of the war had obliged to remove there from Guanajuato, together with his ministers and other officials. [46] The mutineers confined their prisoners in one room, threatening them with death, particularly Juarez, as the only obstacle to the triumph of the reactionists. ”

“ Marquez de Leon attributes the revolution to Juarez' attempts to retain power, and to the cruelties of government officers in that year, which had been unparalleled. The murders in Yucatan by Ceballos, in Sinaloa by Parras, and the executions at Atexcal had been the work of savages rather than of civilized authorities. Public opinion condemned them, but Juarez offered no redress, preferring to play the part of dictator. In San Luis Potosí, Sóstenes Escandon was chosen governor in spite of Juarez. ”

“ Juarez had no faith in the men who were at the head of the recent movement in Mexico. His opinion was expressed in clear and distinct terms, in his advice to the constitutionalists to keep themselves aloof from it, and to the soldiers fighting for the constitutional cause not to forsake their standard, but to continue the good fight till victory should crown their efforts. [28]
Robles appealed to the clergy for means to support the troops, and despatched commissioners to Governor Gutierrez Zamora at Vera Cruz, and other prominent supporters of Juarez, inviting them to second his plan. ”

“ No answer to these proposals was returned; but on the following day appeared an order from the minister of war to arraign the 'so-called' emperor and his two leading abettors, the 'so-called' generals Miramon and Mejía, before a court-martial, in accordance with the bloody decree issued by Juarez on January 25, 1862, against traitors and invaders. [27] This in itself was equivalent to a death sentence. Time had above all to be gained; and to this end Maximilian addressed Juarez for a postponement to allow the selected lawyers to arrive from Mexico. ”

“ In order to judge, as justice demands, of the public life of Juarez, it must be borne in mind that, sanguinary and fierce as was the struggle sustained by Mexico against the French army, and against the Church partisans who joined the foreign invaders, thanks to the energy of Juarez, worthily supported by the liberal party, that war terminated without the loss of one single inch of our territory, without recognizing on our part, any indemnity or debt to the enemy in the event of signing with him a treaty of peace. ”

“ They live by tilling the soil in the old-time honest way. The parents of Benito Juarez cultivated their few acres and tended their cattle with the rest, in happy equality. Amid these primitive surroundings the champion of Mexican independence and reform, on March 21, 1806, first saw the light. He never knew a mother's love, she having died at his birth, leaving him to the care of his grandmother and uncle. Here he lived until he was twelve years of age, and was so thoroughly an Indian that not one word of Spanish had ever passed his lips. ”

“ Juarez soon had possession of Queretaro, where Maximilian had concentrated his few remaining soldiers. The story of the execution of Miramon, Mejia, and Maximilian, on June 19, 1867, needs no repetition. For some time public opinion, especially outside the republic, censured the execution of these distinguished men; but in counting the cost of their venture, they must have anticipated death in case of failure. The memory of Juarez is undimmed by the shadow of aught that would detract from his glory. ”

“ But one fine morning, Zuloaga and his aides-de-camp, who had been appointed to guard, rather than do him honour, suddenly disappeared, and it was learnt a few days after, that they had taken refuge with Juárez, from whose capital Zuloaga began protesting again more than ever against the violence done him, and fulminating decrees against Miramón.
Juárez is a cautious, cunning Indian, a profound dissimulator, a skilful politician. He is the only President of the Republic, since the declaration of independence, who was not a military man. ”

“ When I passed through Mexico, the execution of the Emperor Maximilian and the unhappy fate of the Empress Carlotta, were subjects of discussion. It has often been a matter of surprise, that Juarez should have thought it necessary that the sentence of the court-martial should be carried out. The French troops, upon whom the stability of the empire depended, had been withdrawn, and the success of the National party was assured. ”

“ The most brilliant and interesting example of what the native Mexican can do when he has an opportunity for mental development is afforded by Juarez, a pure-blooded descendant of aboriginal ancestors, a lawyer by profession, who in the course of his career demonstrated himself to be a leader of great ability and a true patriot. ”

“ Vidaurri made some preparations, but dared not offer decided resistance, and Juarez entered on February 12th, amidst the sullen silence of the people. Reënforcements were approaching, however, to sustain the rebellious governor, who had persuaded Doblado to retire, and two days later the president found it prudent to return to Saltillo. [27] Deeply incensed at the humiliation, Juarez at once took steps to restore his prestige. Doblado was drawn closer by promises, and Uraga, Ortega, and Governor Patoni of Durango were ordered to send aid. Vidaurri
Nuevo Leon. ”

“ To the honor of Spain be it said, her rule in Mexico was firm and kind. The Indians became thoroughly incorporated into the national life, enjoying the opportunities of advancement as Spaniards. In the present Republic of Mexico the greatest name has been that of Benito Juarez, the president who upheld the national cause during the French-Austrian usurpation. ”