Page:Vol 6 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/396

376 conditional pardon came from all quarters, and he was released on the 14th of October One of the great difficulties Juarez had to contend with was the constant demand from the liberal party for a change of policy, and consequent change of ministers, to which he paid no heed. He was also greatly censured for having his salary account adjusted, and the balance due him paid by the treasury.

The presidential election for the next constitutional term, to end on the 30th of November, 1875, now came again to throw the country into turmoil. The chief candidates were Juarez, Lerdo de Tejada, and Porfirio Diaz, Juarez had in his behalf, besides his great prestige with the puro' wing of the liberal party, a large following of office-holders. He encountered much opposition, however, on the part of the strict constitutionalists, who honestly believed that successive reëlections were against the spirit of democracy. Nevertheless, disregarding these considerations, Juarez exerted himself to the utmost to secure his reëlection, which was a grave error on his part. Indeed, had he shown a disinclination to appear again as a candidate, the opposition would have been disarmed, and in all probability the great national party would have insisted on his continuing at the head of affairs another term to complete his work.