No. 340.
Mr. Richardson to Mr. Evarts.
Mexico, April 2, 1878. (Received April 22.)
Sir: The general topic of comment in political circles for the past ten days has been a change effected by General Diaz in his cabinet. This change took place on the 29th of last month, General Pedro Ogazon, of of the War Department, being substituted by General Manuel Gonzalez, one of the most active leaders of the revolution and a personal friend of General Diaz.
The event has given rise to much newspaper speculation, and all manner of constructions have been placed upon the President’s action, and some of the papers have predicted a dangerous ministerial crisis.
The general understanding is, however, that the change is a concession on the part of President Diaz to the radical revolutionary or pure Tuxtepec elements in his government. It has long been known that the members of the cabinet have not been in perfect harmony. Messrs. Vallarta, Romero, and Ogazon have, since its organization, occupied a [Page 545] position strongly antagonistic to the pretensions and claims of the party known here as that of Tuxtepec. This latter party has been more especially represented in the cabinet by Messrs. Tagle and Garcia, Ministers respectively of Justice and Government, and is headed by Justo Benitez, one of the earliest and firmest friends of the revolution, and a man who is supposed to exert much influence over the mind of the President.
The measures advocated by this party are most of them violent. It makes the plan of Tuxtepec the highest law, and favors only the election to federal offices of pure “Tuxtepecanos.” The calling of General Gonzalez into the cabinet is supposed to be a concession to this element and a corresponding defeat to the more liberal faction, headed by Mr. Vallarta. It has been predicted that Mr. Vallarta would be forced to resign as the result of this change, but there are no indications of a step of this kind in the near future.
As indicative of the public sentiment on the subject, I inclose to you herewith copies and translations of articles from the Diario Official, Federalista, and Monitor Republicano, organs, respectively, of the government, the Lerdist, and independent parties.
I am, &c.,