Page:Margaret Shipman - Mexico's Struggle Towards Democracy (1927).pdf/40

 some time prior to 1910 conducted a covert campaign through Masonic lodges and Reyes clubs. His following was particularly strong in several states in north-central Mexico where he had held political office. Shortly before the presidential election, Diaz adroitly sent Reyes to Europe on a mission and Madero inherited his following.

The remnants of the corrupt old creole aristocracy, mostly rich non-resident hacendados, who lived riotously in the capital or in foreign cities, took little active part in the government, but approved of it since it protected their interests.

The church which had been allowed to evade the constitution and reform laws, and had thus regained huge tracts of land, became increasingly arrogant and oppressive. The masses still bowed before it in superstitious reverence, but many of the educated middle class deeply resented its encroachments. During the revolution the church organized politically as the Catholic party, stored arms in its places of worship and used all its influence, religious and economic, to support the old regime.

The greatest economic power in Mexico, the foreign investors, were divided and shifting in their stand at various stages of the revolution, always, of course, with the idea of advancing their immediate interests. Accurate estimates of the various foreign investments in Mexico are impossible. One most often quoted for this period places the total wealth of Mexico at approximately 2,434 million dollars, of which United Statese investors owned 1,058 million, Mexicans, 793 million, English 321 million, French, 143 million, and all other foreign-