The New York herald., 1872-07-14
EXILED PRIESTS IN CALIFORNIA.

Thirty-nfne Frfars Arrive from Guate-
maIa-Thcir Distressed Conditioned
Hasty Departure COmpelled-The Gra-
nados Government and the United
States Minister.
Among the passengers that arrived on the steam
ship Sacramento at San Francisco the st OF July
inst. were thrty-nine Dominican and Franciscan
friars of the Capuchin ORDER who were banished
from Guatemala by the Granados revolutionary
government Of that country. The treatment re-
ceived by these clergymen as described by them
selves, and Judging by the account given Of their
condition after landing was certainly unworthy any
government claiming to be civilized. For enter
tanning supposed designs against the existing order
Of affairs they were, without moments notice,
hurried away from their houses and placed on
board the Sacramento. The singular appearance
of this body of in their religious garb attracted
marked attention in San Francisco, where they
were Hospitality received by Archbishop Alemany
and the priests of their orders established in the
metropolis of the Pacific. Among them Is one
clergyman who was the original founder OF the
missions in Guatemala and who is now seventy
two years old. Six of the party very sick and
had to be removed to hospital. The grief and dis
tress brought on by the sudden rupture OF all the
ties which bound them to the land to which they
had devoted their lives so seriously affected their
sufferers are of the opinion that several Of them
would not survive many days.
THE ARREST AND BANIsHMENT.
It appears that on the evening Of the 7th Of June
last the converts in which they were quartered
were entered by body Of soldiers, while the frars
were engaged at their usual vocations and they
taken into custody. The troops were commanded by
General Rufno Barrlos, Commander-in-Chief of the
army The lriars were not permitted to make any
preparations ior their departure, and with the
ceptiOn Of few blankets, hastily gathered up by
some OF them, took nothing They were then con-
veyed into the street, just as they were found and
there placed In line between files of soldiers who
had orders to fire upon any one attempting to
leave, or upon any citizen attempting to succ0r
them Thus situated they were marched to Cham
perico amid the tears and lamentations OF the peo
Pile. The picture drawn by the exiled priests
thus ruhessly deprived OF their spiritual advisers,
and the outcries against their banishment is OF
deep interest But despite these protests they
were placed on board the steamer, and I'm one hour
from the time OF their arrest were being carried
away from their homes and their people. They
speak in warm commentator OF the treatment
they received on board the sacramento.
CONrENDING POLITICAL PARTIES.
As may be supposed, the causes that led to this
harsh treatment OF the fathers rise out OF political
matters. Guatemala, In common with all spanish
American countries, has suffered and continues to
suffer from violent changes in the personnel
of its government Revolutions occur almost
each succeeding year, causing ruin to the
people. The issues seem to be. as far as they can
be understood, between moderate and orderly
government and one called progressive, which Is
about another name 1t Is said, Tor rank red repub-
lcanism. President Cena was at the head OF affairs
up to May, 1871, when revolution broke out which
placed in power Granados, who the year before
made a similar attempt which failed. He fell into
the hands OF Cena, who spared his life and ordered
him out Of the country. He retired to Mexico
Cena was conservative. Grenados, the present
President, is progressive. The first act OF the lat
ter on attaining power was to Danish the Arch
bishop of Guatemala and large number of clergy
men from the republic
UNITED STATES MINISTER HUDSON.
There are some circumstances connected with these
affairs which possess more or less interest In the
United States. Mr.. Silas A. Hudson Is our Minister
| 10 Guatemala, and on the defeat Of Granados the
latter asked for refuge In the American legation,
which was the only one respected by the govern
ment, which was refused Mr.. Corbett, the Eng
| nsh representative, interceded on behalf of the
| then outlaw, but our Minister remained irm as he
believed 1t to be his "duty to sustain the constitu-
tonal government in oil its just efforts to preserve
| Its authority" and stigmatized In his dispatches
Granados. the present President, as q "consum-