Page:Mexico and its reconstruction.djvu/61

Rh party was completely victorious. Its opponents have never recovered their prestige, nor indeed have they even attempted actively to enter political life. Juarez was elected President on the prestige of his leadership against the Conservatives and the European intervention. There was practically no opposition. A large minority of the people constituting the Conservative party had eliminated itself as a political factor.

At the next election the single group that was left divided into the supporters of President Juarez, Lerdo, and Diaz. The discord that had formerly existed between the parties invaded the organization of the Liberals. Even the general participation of the Liberal party in politics was soon to disappear. In the election Juarez was again declared President. Diaz appealed to arms in the so-called revolution of La Noria. With the revolution still in progress Juarez died. Lerdo, in accordance with the law, succeeded and later was elected without contest—and with very little popular participation. The Liberal party, so far as it had vitality, was breaking down.

In the election of 1876 Lerdo again declared himself a candidate. Diaz announced that an election would be a farce since Lerdo controlled the election machinery. His supporters took no part in the election but started the revolution of Tuxtepec on the platform "no reelection and free suffrage." The Lerdistas held their election in July, armed opposition being in full swing and the Conservatives not voting. The revolution headed by Diaz was successful and its leader ordered a new election for President and members of the supreme