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186 remarkable book entitled The Presidential Succession, in which he mercilessly attacked the Diaz régime and the "Grupo Cientifico," or "Knowing Ones,” whose policy of "graft" had excited general distrust and discontent. In this straightforward work, he launched his thunders against Señor Limantour, the Minister of Finance, a man of French extraction, who had never had the confidence of the Mexican people, and who was, therefore, a mark for their special disapprobation. He also fulminated against the great land-owners of Mexico, those veritable hidalgos of the soil, whose pride and exactions have done much to arouse a hatred of the upper classes in the breast of the Mexican peon.

The reactionary movement of which Madero was the head was at first not levelled so much at Diaz himself as against his satellites, Limantour and Corral. But when it was announced that President Diaz would seek re-election, public feeling was strained to breaking point; and Madero, although almost unknown, speedily found himself surrounded by a party of resolute men who had fully determined to exclude the bureaucracy from another prolonged sojourn in office. They had before appealed to General Reyes—Madero's recent opponent for the Presidency—to combat the Diaz party, as his dislike to their methods was notorious. But he refused to lead an insurrection against constituted authority, and, indeed, before the Presidential campaign commenced, was sent to Europe on a military mission, so that the malcontents had perforce to be contented with Madero.

Madero was nominated, and at once commenced an active campaign, denouncing the Diaz administration, promising to examine and rectify abuses, and indicating to the people the danger of again permitting the aged President to hold office, because of the want of integrity of those who surrounded him. Madero lacked nothing of the energy, rhetoric, or courage of the typical demagogue, and quickly made himself popular with the masses, many of whom, smarting under the abuse of peonage and outrage, hearkened to his speeches as to those