Porfirio Dias. By Jose F. Godoy. (G. P. Putnam's Sons.
10s. 6d.)—" The Master-Builder of a Great Commonwealth" is the sub-title which Seiler Godoy uses, and the description is not misapplied. What a world of difference there is between the Mexico of Santa Anna, who was President for the last time in 1855, and the Mexico of Porfirio Diaz ! And it is the man who has made the difference, as far as such changes are ever wrought by individual effort and character. Porfirio Diaz was elected President by "a nearly unanimous vote" in 1877. At the end of his term he handed over his power to a successor ; this peaceful transmission happened for the second time in Mexican history. In 1884 he was re-elected, and he has held office ever since, his seventh term ending in the present year. What ho has done in this period can be read here. It will not be pretended that the estimate is wholly impartial. In fact, it is a sort of official statement, for it has been submitted to the President himself. As such we may accept it while we readily acknowledge its interest.
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