Page:Mexico of the Mexicans.djvu/37

 Rh "El Presidente" was regarded as the personification of the State, as a being of almost superhuman omniscience sent by celestial wisdom to lay the foundation of progress, as was Quetzalcoatl, the ancient Aztec culture-hero of Mexico.

One of the most politic strokes ever made by Diaz was the fostering of the band of men known as Rurales, or the Rural police or gendarmes. These warriors, Rurales many of whom were at one time bandits themselves, were successful in rounding up practically all the brigands in the country. They were first of all levied by the notorious Santa Anna, and in their neat costume of grey and red piping, with sombrero and red necktie, looked very smart. On the death of Santa Anna, these thief-catchers turned brigands on their own account, and the most dreadful stories were circulated regarding their barbarous cruelties. There was seemingly no redress against them, and many government officials were in their pay. President Comonfort advised that they should be turned into regular troops on a special footing; they accepted his offer, and afterwards acted as the "Royal Irish Constabulary" or Bersaglieri of Mexico. They numbered 4,000, and in pre-revolutionary times were of immense service to the executive in the repression of not infrequent aboriginal disturbances, and the keeping of order in general among the more unruly element.

The festivities held in Mexico city in 1910, in celebration of the country's centenary as a Republic, marked a century of such visible progress as falls to the lot of few nations:and if the first three-quarters of that period were disturbed by internecine broils, the quarter of a century preceding the centenary richly atoned for them. One of the most pleasing features of the celebrations was the manner in which the old enemies of the Mexican Republic fraternised with her and rejoiced in her happiness at the arrival of this auspicious occasion. France dispatched a special ambassador, M. le Favre, and