conditional pardon came from all quarters, and he was released on the 14th of October[1] 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.[2]
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.[3] 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.[4] 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.[5]
- ↑ He published a card expressing his gratitude to the people who had manifested so much interest on his behalf. Id., Oct. 16, 1870; La Estrella de Occid., Dec. 2, 1870.
- ↑ A sum exceeding $60,000. Rivera, Gob. de Méx., ii. 683.
- ↑ Congress adopted, April 22, 1871, an amendment to the electoral law of 1837, prescribing that, in the event of no presidential candidate obtaining the requisite constitutional majority, it should choose one of the two most favored candidates, voting not by deputations, but by individual members. This was looked on by some as contrary to the true spirit of the institutions which called for equal representation, in such cases, of the 'entidades federativas.' Mix., Diario Ofic., Apr. 23, 1871. Another amendment, May 8th, had for its object to insure greater freedom of election. Dublan and Lozano, Leg. Mex., xi. 495-9. This last law was repealed Oct. 13, 1873. Diario Debates, 7° Cong., i. 1269.
- ↑ They were considered by many thinking men as a source of danger, even though the reëlected president should be a man of acknowledged virtues, 'hubiera sido la encarnacion de la reforma, y se llamara Benito Juarez.' Riva Palacio, Adm. Lerilo, 28.
- ↑ It has been alleged in support of his course that he was filled with the
