eyond it; others, to move slowly onward;
and a few to make little or no progress.

The most remarkable feature in the new era was the rise of four
states--Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, and Chile--to a position of eminence
among their fellows. Extent of territory, development of natural
resources, the character of the inhabitants and the increase of their
numbers, and the amount of popular intelligence and prosperity, all
contributed to this end. Each of the four nations belonged to a fairly
well-defined historical and geographical group in southern North
America, and in eastern and western South America, respectively. In
the first group were Mexico, the republics of Central America, and the
island countries of the Caribbean; in the second, Brazil, Argentina,
Uruguay, and Paraguay; and in the third, Chile, Peru, and Bolivia. In a
fourth group were Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela.

When the President of Mexico proceeded, in 1876, to violate the
constitution by securing his reelection, the people were prepared by
their earlier experiences and by the rule of Juarez to defend their
constitutional rights. A widespread rebellion headed by Diaz broke
out. In the so-called "Plan of Tuxtepec" the revolutionists declared
themselves in favor of the principle of absolutely no reelection.
Meantime the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court handed down a decision
that the action of the Congress in sustaining the President was illegal,
since in reality no elections had been held because of the abstention
of voters and the seizure of the polls by revolutionists or government
forces. "Above the constitution, nothing; above the constitution, no
one," he declared. But as this assumption of a power of judgment on
matters of purely political concern was equally a violation of the
constitution and concealed, besides, an attempt to make the Chief
Justice President, Diaz and his followers drove both of the pretenders
out. Then in 1876 he managed to bring about his own election instead.

Porfirio Diaz was a soldier who had seen active service in nearly every
important campaign since the war with the United States. Often himself
in revolt against presidents, legal and illegal, Diaz was vastly more
than an ordinary partisan chieftain. Schooled by a long experience,
he had come to appreciate the fact that what Mexico required for its
national development was freedom from internal disorders and a fair
chance for recuperation. Justice, order, and prosper