Page:Vol 6 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/481

Rh Gonzalez, unaccompanied, walked the streets, day or night, among the crowds, by whom he was constantly cheered as a homage to his reckless courage. He retired to his own house only upon the day that he retired from the national palace.

His administration will ever be a memorable one in the history of Mexico. Though it is true that he left the treasury heavily burdened, the fact stands that he caused the execution of a number of public works which completely changed the face of the country. The debt he incurred represents the progress oi Mexico, and continued the reorganization of every branch of the administration before begun.

Among the persons most efficiently coöperating in the labors of the administration of Gonzalez, especial credit should be given to Carlos Rivas, who, for his intelligent and successful discharge of commissions intrusted to him, obtained the respect and consideration of the president, and of all his fellow-citizens.

Diaz, succeeding Gonzalez, found himself at first in a most difficult position financially, because the treasury was exhausted, owing to the large obligations contracted by the former ruler. He issued the decree of June 22, 1885, suspending the payment, not only of the floating debt, but also of the subsidies which he had himself granted during his former term to railway companies and others, he consolidated the internal and external debts into bonds of the treasury, and paid with regularity the salaries of public officials, less a discount of twenty-five and later ten per cent.

Peace for the most part followed, though there were communistic uprisings in Mexico and Córdoba in 1885, and a revolutionary movement in Nuevo Leon and Coahuila, and later similar revolts elsewhere. Then there was the Yaqui war in Sonora, the arrogant chief Cajeme being the cause. Lareta Molina, with twenty-two Yaquis, endeavored to suppress him, but the federal government was at length