Paradoxical as it may seem, his overthrow is the result of a revolution mainly pacific in its nature, and in substance a revolt of public feeling against abuses that have become stereotyped in the system of government by the too long domination of one masterful will.  The military rising was but its head, spitting fire.  Behind was an immense body of opinion, in favor of effecting the retirement of the President by peaceful means, and with all honor to one who had served his country well.

In 1908 General Diaz had stated frankly, in an interview granted to an American journalist, that he was enjoying his last term of office, and at its expiration would spend his remaining years in private life.  There is no reason to doubt that this assurance represented his settled intention.  The announcement was extensively published in the Mexican Press, and was never contradicted by the President himself.  Then rumors gained currency that Diaz was not unprepared to accept nomination for the Presidency for an eighth term.  The statement was at first discredited, then repeated without contradiction in a manner that could hardly have failed to excite alarm.  At length came the fatal announcement that the President would stand again.

Hardly had the bell of Independence ceased ringing out in joyous clang on September 15, 1910, in celebration of free Mexico’s centenary, hardly had the gorgeous fetes for the President’s birthday or the homage paid him by the whole world run their course, when the spark of discontent became a blaze.  He had mistaken the respect and regard of his people for an invitation to remain in office.

By the time the Presidential election approached, signs of agitation had increased.  A political party rose in direct hostility, not so much to General Diaz himself or Limantour, as to the Vice-President, who, as next in the succession, in the event of the demise of the President, would have been able to rivet the autocracy on the country.

Corral was the Vice-President.  What little I saw of him I liked; but then he had hardly taken up the reins of power.  He did not make himself popular; in fact, a large part of the country hated and distrusted him.  But for that, probably nothing would have been heard of the troubles which ensued.  As the party anxious for the introduction of new blood into the Government increased in vigor, the people showed themselves more and more determined to get rid of Corral.  They wanted a younger man than Diaz in the President’s chair:  they wanted, above all, the prospect of a better successor.

But the official group whose interests depended on the maintenance of the Diaz regime was, for the moment, too powerful, and it succeeded in inducing the President to accept reelection.