The supporters of Porfirio Diaz, popularly called Porfiristas, refused to recognize Juarez as lawfully elected, resolving to gain by force of arms the victory they claimed to have been robbed of by the government's influence and money. Revolutionary movements followed one another in quick succession; and finally Diaz, who had been residing at his hacienda of La Noria, after declining to countenance any revolutionary movements, gave way to the suggestions of Ignacio Vallarta, Zamacona, and Marquez de Leon — deputies respectively for Jalisco, Sinaloa, and Puebla — General Ogazon and others,[1] and now about the 8th of November, 1871, issued from La Noria a manifesto to the Mexican people, setting forth the grounds for the revolution, which was to have for its battle-cry, "Constitucion de '57 y libertad electoral," and for its programme, "Ménos gobierno y mas libertades," and embodying a plan for the reconstruction of the government. The reconstruction was to be effected by a convention composed of three representatives for each state, chosen by the direct votes of the people, which body was to form an organic law, meantime choosing a provisional president, who upon no consideration should be the commander of the revolutionary forces.[2]
The revolution presented a threatening attitude; but though seconded in many places of more or less importance, it had the germ of self-destruction. Its
- ↑ "Cediendo el Gen. Diaz á lo que le proponian Vallarta, Ogazon y demás oposicionistas á aquel gobierno, se retiró para Oaxaca con el propósito de iniciar y encabezar la revolucion.' Diaz, Datos Biog., MS., 359.
- ↑ The other bases of reconstruction were the following: The election of president of the republic to be direct by individual vote, excluding from candidacy any citizen who during one year preceding the date of election had, if even for one day, held any authority or office whose functions extended over the whole national territory. Congress was to exercise electoral powers only in economic matters, and never in designating high public functionaries. The appointments of secretaries of state, or other officials having a yearly salary of $3,000 or upwards, must be submitted for confirmation to congress. The Mexican union must guarantee to ayuntamientos rights and means of their own to secure their independence and freedom of action; trial by jury to be established; the odious excise tax to be abolished; and the regulations of custom-houses to be amended. Diario Ofic., Nov. 13, 1871; Riva Palacio, Adm. Lerdo, 30; Caballero, Hist. Alm., 57-9; El Monitor, Nov. 14, 1871.
