No. 221.
Mr. Richardson to Mr. Fish.
Legation of
the United States,
Mexico, September 7, 1876.
(Received September 28.)
No. 442.]
Sir: On the 31st ultimo the President of this
republic removed several members of his cabinet and made the following new
appointments: Manuel Romero Rubio, minister of foreign affairs; Mariano
Escobedo, minister of war and marine; Juan José Baz, minister of the
interior; and Antonio Tagle, minister of public works. I inclose herewith a
translation of the official notification which I received of these changes,
and also a clipping from the Two Republics of the 6th instant, giving a
personal sketch of the new appointees.
This action of the President has thrown the community into a high state of
excitement. The oppositionists, particularly, are disgusted, and their
organs have been filled for the past few days with inflammatory and
threatening articles. The removal of General Ignacio Mejia from the war
department weakens the expectations of the revolutionists of carrying the
army with them after the 30th of next November, and renders necessary new
tactics and combinations.
Among the friends of the administration the measure is considered a wise one;
but that it is bold and somewhat risky they do not pretend to deny.
Public feeling at present is one of suppressed excitement, both parties
waiting anxiously for the crisis which is approaching. The President’s term
expires on the 30th of next November, and if in the meantime he
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is declared legally elected and
attempts to enter upon his new term of office, it is believed the revolution
will break out again with more fury than ever. That Mr. Lerdo will be
declared legally elected there is no doubt, and the main efforts of the
revolutionists are now directed toward collecting evidence which will prove
to the people the illegality of the elections in spite of the declarations
of the electoral college.
I am, &c.,
[Inclosure 1 in No. 442.]
Mr. Arias to Mr.
Richardson.
[Translation.]
Department of Foreign Affairs,
Mexico, August 31,
1876.
Sir: The President of the republic has
considered it proper to appoint Mr. Manuel Romero Rubio, minister of
foreign affairs; the general of division, Mariano Escobedo, minister of
war and marine; Mr. Juan José Baz, minister of the interior; and Mr.
Antonio Tagle, minister of public works, which gentlemen have to-day
entered upon the exercise of their duties. In communicating these facts
to your honor for your information, I have the honor to reiterate to you
the assurances of my distinguished consideration.
[Inclosure 2 in No. 442.]
The new ministers.
[From the Two Republics,
Mexico, Wednesday, September 6,
1876.]
Minister of foreign relations.—Sr. D. Manuel
Romero Rubio is a gentleman of fine talents and of considerable
political experience. He has served many years in Congress, and was
always an able leader. At the time of his appointment in the cabinet he
was president of the senate. His talents and business abilities qualify
him for an efficient minister of the department under his charge. Where
he will lack experience in the routine, he will find able co-operation
in the experience and diplomatical erudition of Sr. D. Juan D. Arias,
the worthy and experienced official mayor of that department.
Minister of war.—General Mariano Escobedo is a
skillful and experienced officer. Rendered valuable services previous
to, and became distinguished during the war of the intervention; and is
justly called “the vanquisher of Maximilian.” During the attempted
revolutions against President Juarez, and the one which is now on its
wane, he was an active pacificator of the interior and in the north; he
handled the few troops which were at his command, over a large extent of
country, with great skill and success; and proved himself to be an
excellent organizer under the most depressed circumstances of limited
materials and resources. He is undoubtedly well qualified for the
important position to which he has been called.
Minister of the treasury.—Sr. D. Francisco Mejia
has served several years in the treasury department, and has contributed
to the thorough re-organization of the customhouse, producing an
efficiency, promptness, and honesty in the discharge of the business of
those establishments—a reformation which was greatly needed, and a work
which Mr. Romero, his able predecessor, had inaugurated. He was an
original Juarista, and was first appointed to the treasury department by
President Juarez. Sr. Mejia has proved himself to be an able financier
and custodian of the treasury, and has earned a high reputation as a
minister of finance.
Minister of the interior.—Sr. D. Juan José Baz has
been a prominent politician for many years, and adhered to Juarez until
the death of that distinguished patriot; but has given a warm support to
President Lerdo, from his advent to the executive chair. He entered the
capital with the advance of the republican army, after the downfall of
Maximilian, with a commission from President Juarez, as governor of the
federal district, which post he filled with great ability, and at a time
when a firm and active governor was greatly needed. Sr. Baz is a man of
great activity and firmness, and is well suited to the ministry which he
fills. He was a member of Congress many years.
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Minister of public works.—Sr. D. Antonio Tagle has
been governor of the State of Hidalgo, and was at the time of his
appointment a member of the senate from that State. He is considerable
of a politician and an influential leader in the upper house. As
governor, he was active, vigilant, the protector of industry, and
inaugurator of numerous enterprises.
Hidalgo is the most important field of mining, and Sr. Tagle is fully
alive to its importance, is familiar with the requirements of that
branch of industry; and as this is one of the most important departments
of this ministry, he is peculiarly fitted for the position.
Upon the whole, the new cabinet is excellent, and the country has much to
hope from their co-operation with President Lerdo.
change of ministry.
On the 31st ultimo the cabinet was re-organized as follows: Foreign
relations, Mr. Manuel Romero Rubio; war, General Mariano Escobedo;
interior, Mr. Juan José Baz; public works, Mr. Antonio Tagle; treasury,
Mr. Francisco Mejia, (continued;) justice and public instruction,
(vacant,) in charge of Mr. Diaz Covarrubias, the official mayor.