Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-01-30
Incidents and Scenes from Travel in
HOnduras---The Fate Of Medina.

Contributed to the Ledger.l
In my last | spoke of the execution
of ex-President Medina. AS his is a
name destined to figure co~nspicuously
in Honduranian history, it would not
be amiss to relate some of the circum-
4. stances OF his unfortunate career and
caused him to lay down his youthful
life as a martyr to freedom.
A single individual of enlarged con
conceptions Of patriotism and Of burn
ing zeal for the nations welfare, is
sometimes able to communicate a new
spirit to a whole republic. Such was
the mission Of Medina man of a
great mind, imbued with liberal views
and possessing many Of those attrib-
utes which constitute true greatness.
Immediately upon assuming the chair
of president, he earnestly applied him
self TO the emancipation of the people
from the letters of papal usurpation.
which had become a most corroding
evil to the social and religious inter
ests Of the nation and a curse to all
enterprise. Though a Catholic him
self, he vas far from welding the
reins of power in the interest of the
church. He at once took a new
DEPARTURE ignoring principles and
policies, which no one had dared to
a~ntagonize before him, and set about
correcting this great error which had
usurped both political and religious
liberty. Prejudice and difficulty stood
before him to oppose his progress,
but his noble heart shrank
from no duty which he thought
was to the interest and general well
fare of the nation. Animated by con-
v%iction, he forsook the ignorant de-
Examinations Of authority and notwith-
standing the decree ofpapal hierarchy.
he drew a dividing line betwixt
Church and State and organized a new
system of government. Thus a new
aud prosperous era dawned upon the
country. Emigration flowed into the
State, a railroad was started to reach
from ocean to ocean, schools and col
leges were established and everything
gave token that the great idea ofMedi-
ma was being fully realized. But the
wounded spirits of the Jesuites. who
had been thus torn from authority.
did not long submit to the new regime:
the spirit of ssreyolt was breathed
into the willing ear of the religious
fanatic and the country was soon in a
state of revolution, and thus remained
until his term of Office expired. 1t
was not until, however, he had inaugu
rated some Of those schemes from
which the country is to-day reapinq
such b~enefcent results, and the great
aim Of his life is left for posterity 10
complete. He did not live to see the
triumph ofhis work, but his ideas will
still continue to work their influences
in the land. Though, as vet. he is
comparatively unknown, "the day will
come when the evil passions of fanati-
cism shall sleep in oblivion and all par
ties do justice to each Others motives.
Then history will speak with a clear
voice and do honor to the illustriou.
dead.
The papists here cannot be taken a,
a true type Of the church in other
parts Of the world, for among the
padres may be found some Of the mos,
immoral men in the country. While
| was there a Catholic priest fell dead
in the streets of Puerto Caballes IN a
state of drunken debauch. Most ol
the revolutions which have agitated
these republics Of recent years arc
said to be traced directly to thee
Jesuits. The mob who caused tn
bloody massacre of scores of good
citizens in San Miguel about two yeai.
ago, bent on plumber and rapine, was
headed by two priests, one of whom
was caught and hot by order of court
martial, together with twenty-sever
other ring leaders. / speak Of thes.
things out Of no bitter spirit to tho
church Gas ] am a member Of no secl
myself, but with Indignation toward
the men who are turning it into q DO.
litical machine, and who contamiuat,
the sacerdotal robes by their immora.
practices
CATTLE SECTION.
Leaving Gracias we passed into thc
great cattle section. VIZ often saw
herds Of 600 and 800 grazing in some
meadow, and all along our route fol
about ten leagues this was a frequent
sight. A greater part Of tho cattl,
are shipped frem here to Belize, wher,
they bring a good price. / should re.
gard this n Of the best cattle coun.
tries that could be found anywhere
inexhaustable meadows of fine gras,
upon which for them to feed, plenty
Of water and a climate suited to them
The cattle business is perhaps The
most paying Of any here at present.
though 1t is conducted upon a care
less scale, and could be made to Weld
handsomely.
dust twenty-five days from leaving
San Vicente, faded and weary. we Ar.
rived in San Pedro after an absence Of
forty-six days, and after travelling q
circuit of over 635 miles.
COCK FIGHTING.
Spending Sunday in San Pedro.