proclamation of general diaz., November 19, 1871

proclamation of general diaz.

Citizen-General Porfirio Diaz to the Republican troops:

Companions in arms: When, filled with the noble pride of patriotism, we divided together the adversities and glories of the colossal task to turn out from our soil the audacious French and Austrian armies, in order to guarantee definitely the independence and liberty of our adored soil, we never suspected that we should soon have to see our brothers face to face as enemies. But a disloyal government, despotic and parricidal, and to which the country did not owe the triumph of its holy cause, has cunningly deposited in your noble hearts the germs of division, in order to make the great and generous liberal party the laughing-stock of the nations that observe us, in order to perpetuate in power those who disregard the law and the universal voice of the nation. Shall this venomous plant germinate in your pure hearts, palpitating with glory, and even now agitated by the vivifying sun of the 5th of May? Answer your sincere friend, your brother. Why are you going to tight against my men? Why say we are traitors? Do we by chance invoke monarchy? Do we call to a foreign prince to govern the country of Montezuma? Do we beg for the humiliating protectorate of the United States, like Juarez and his clique of degraded Cubans and cowardly parasites? O, never! Like you, we carried five years since the tri-color standard in one hand and our constitution of 1857 in the other. With the first we wished to affirm our nationality, removing it from the bastard influences of every foreign country. Do you hear it? We wished to be free Mexicans, not pupils. With the second we wished to consolidate our means of being liberal, free, and progressive, indeed, and not by means of vain promises, which are being converted into positive military dictatorship. What are you going to sustain? For what are you going to shed your blood and that, of your brothers? Why perpetuate the power of Juarez, who has dreamed of being a prince; who invites us to cowardice by his stupid despotism, or by the Yankee whip, with which he will scourge our people, as was done in 1847; thanks to the division, which, then as now, was the normal state of our unhappy soil. And do you accept this offering; you, the invincible sons of Hidalgo and Iturbide? Do we accept it; we, the brothers of Zaragoza and Salazar? O, do not believe it! It is a lie! Mexico will never give use to such a stupid scandal, without outraging its good liberal sons. Comrades: There are but two roads; either that of the infamy sustained by Juarez, or that of glory, binding us, as before, to save our country; in such a dilemma, we prefer yielding with glory than to live covered with ignominy. Choose, my friends; here is my hand, as ever, and conquering or conquered, you shall never despise your brother.