CHAPTER XVIII
LERDO, IGLESIAS, AND DIAZ.
1874-1876.
Political Troubles in the States — Affairs in Yucatan — Religious Uprising in Michoacan — Condition of the Country — Progress of Protestantism — The Stamp Act — Prerogatives of the Supreme Court Attacked — Decline of Lerdo's Popularity — Political Persecutions — Reelection Schemes — Diaz Leaves Mexico — Insurrection in Oajaea A Revolutionary Blaze — Plans of Tuxtepec and Palo Blanco — Diaz in the North — His Return to Oajaea — Fraudulent Elections — Lerdo Proclaimed Reëlected — Iglesias Protests — He Assumes the Executive Power — Diaz Defeats Alatorre at Tecoac — Flight of Lerdo — Constitutionalist versus Revolutionist — Diaz Enters the Capital — Proclaims Himself Executive — Iglesias Leaves the Country — Diaz at the Head
Peace was now almost established in Mexico, and during the next two years no military opposition of im portance was offered to Lerdo's administration. There were disturbances, it is true, in different parts of the republic, but they were local; and though the federal troops were employed in restoring tranquillity, the demonstrations were not generally directed against the government. In August 1873 difficulties had arisen between the diputacion permanente of Coahuila and the governor, Cepeda. The latter was accused of malversation in office, of usurping the prerogatives of the judiciary and legislative powers, and attacking the personal rights of citizens. Cepeda's friends in the legislature, being in the minority, absented themselves from the sessions, thereby preventing a legal quorum in the assembly.[1] Nevertheless, the remain-
- ↑ The diputacion permanente consisted of eleven members, four of whom
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