the expected formation of a new cabinet. No one doubted that the ministers of Juarez, who had shown themselves the persistent enemies of Lerdo, would be removed;[1] but to the surprise of every one they were retained. To the demands of his party for a new ministry, expressed through the medium of its journals, Lerdo paid no heed. It was thought that, regarding himself as only acting president, he intended to let things remain as they were until the elections should decide who should be chief magistrate. By taking no step which might cause alarm, his own election would be the more certain.[2] Such was the general opinion; but Lerdo was a man who could keep his own secrets. He delighted to mystify, to place men in equivocal positions; and to involve political affairs in a mist of doubt and uncertainty, he regarded as the height of administrative ability.
Sebastian Lerdo de Tejada y Corrial was born in Jalapa, in 1825, and his education began at Puebla. In the first years of his studies he was inclined to adopt theology, under the patronage of Bishop Pablo Vazquez; but he afterward abandoned it for law, and completed his education at Mexico. While still young he was, by reason of his great attainments, chosen president of the college of San Ildefonso in Mexico. Later he was made magistrate of the supreme court. During the administration of Comonfort he received his appointment as minister of foreign affairs. The reader is already familiar with his political career since that time. He was a man small in
- ↑ The cabinet ministers were: of relations, José María Lafragua; of war, General Ignacio Mejía; of the treasury, Francisco Mejía; of public works and development of industries, Blas Barcárcel. Contrary to the constitution, there was neither a ministro de gobernacion nor a ministro de justicia, the duties of these being performed by the oficiales mayores of the respective offices.
- ↑ The position of the ministers was somewhat anomalous. With the death of Juarez their former relations had ceased; yet Lerdo retained them in office without forinally reappointing them. They themselves reported that they had sent in their resignations, and that they had not been accepted. By retaining their portfolios, they exposed themselves to the attacks of the periodicals of every political view; 'los periódicos de todos los colores políticos seguian haciendo guerra mas ó menos franca al Ministerio, tachando de poco delicados á los ministros de Juarez que continuaban al lado de Lerdo.'
