The nation expected that a new cabinet composed of Lerdistas and Porfiristas would be formed at once. A change of ministers would be a pacific revolution, effected by the pressure of public opinion, and without resort to arms. According to the principles proclaimed by the leaders of the late revolution, Lerdo had no legitimate right to assume the position of president ad interim on the death of Juarez. The latter was regarded as having usurped the presidential chair, and it was illogical to allow that he could have a successor. But neither Lerdistas nor Porfiristas were inclined to raise objections: the former, because their leader was now in power, and their aspirations were fulfilled; and the latter, because they believed that the change in affairs for which they had been contending would presently be effected, now that one who was politically opposed to Juarez stood at the head. They preferred ignoring the principle which they had proclaimed to protracting a sanguinary war. Thus a league was established between the two parties, and the Porfiristas proved the sincerity of their intentions by casting their votes in favor of Lerdo. A coalition of the two factions would constitute an overwhelming majority, and each party confidently anticipated such a union. Nothing, indeed, was wanting to cement their friendly relations but the formation of a ministry composed of the most eminent Porfiristas and Lerdistas. But this was not done. The dissatisfaction which he caused by neglecting to remove the ministers of Juarez from office during his ad interim administration had been appeased by the confident expectation that the change would be effected when he was constitutionally elected president. These hopes, however, were converted into exasperation, when Lerdo, at a feast, in reply to one of his stanchest partisans, who indicated to him that a change of the ministry was necessary, stated that he owed his
posed to the government as a suitable citizen on whom to bestow one of the European appointments.
