Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-07-28
BRUTAL BARRIOS.
How a Dessstism Can Be Run in the
Disguise q q Republie-some I'm.
pleasant Facts
About the Iriernal Policy Of the Presi-
dent Of Guatemala and the Ad-
uinistration.

An,.r;csn government and people should
Ian ~, ,o, as a man but SO = ruler A
c 49, OF the New York World gives
A. cards the internal policy OF the presi-
a., - Gn.,smala, / will relate some facts
Gh;oh Ill make known 10 you the manner
in wh;cb this ruler interprets and applies the
IibersI principles in the constitutional law of
hi country The government of General
Rarrios presents q political problem which
sem, At first OF difficult solution. but is
yery easily explained ii we consider the ele-
ments he disposss Oh ana Inc means he puts
R,rr;os ia a constitutional republican COW
ernmen,. but considered such as il il and
with the Knowledge of his home policy.
!. can onIv be called a most comnlete
d;c,.,orsb;n surrounded by, tbonsand
incidents OF cruelty andidespotism. General
Rarrios rules BY no law but his will.
The Gnatemalsn people are accustomed TO
nav submissive obedience TO tyraupy. the
basvv WEIGHT Of which they have horne
sipca the domination of Carrera-that is TO
saw. for forty years. The president of Gina.
femala i a no an OF quick and violent temper.
socustomea.. as be himself asserts, to despise
the people whose destinies he rules, and con
WINGED by experience. az he afirms, that the
ONLY means he can use to govern them is
severity. Forgetting even the respect which
he owes to himself, ne willingly makes him
self not the ruler but the executioner of
Guatemala. Whenever in his personaI and
private judgment be thinks, with or without
Justice. that be has any motive 10 reprim and
any Guatemala citizen, whether an official
or a private Individual, whatever may be his
political or socisl position, he SUMMONS him
10 his Office; and then, after stating the mo-
tive or pretext Of complaint he NAV have
against him. before his ais-de-camp. he adj
dresses insulting words to him, takes whip
and cuts him across the face with it. 1t fire.
quently happens that the victim is Frustrated
by the kicks and blows he receives, and after
suffering submissively such an ignominious
punishment he leaves resigned, bearing on
mia face the principal marks of his shame
and in his heart the conviction that only BY
silence can he hope 10 escape finding him
self again in this terrible situation. Usually
he receives an order to present himself again
on the following day before the tyrant. This
order is faithfully obeyed, and generally he
is kept waiting for a long time at the cor
ridors of the presidency. After keeping him
four or five hours waiting, Intentionally, the
president comes out as il by chance and asks
MIN: "What Dc you want?" and "What are
you here forr' The unfortunate man an
swers. @To obey the order which you were
pleased to give me yesterday" This second
trial over, the citizen withdraws. Without
going as far back as the Dictatorship, since
General Barrios called himself constitutional
president, Guatemala has seen thus NAL
treated and Inundated an ex-minister, son
of another official OF equal standing, two
attorneys at-law;ss young man, the owner
of real estate and the son OF distinguish
family: an old man respected for his
social position and worthy conduct, and,
lastly, an honest father of family whose
crime was that one of his daughters had de-
clined an invitation made to her by the pre-
feet Of one of the provinces. General Bar
rios being unfriendly to the better class of
society, upon which he looks with particular.
dislike, he avails himself of any opportunity
which may present itself to injure decent
people. Four months ago, in order TO settle
a question of disputed right between q man
Of some standing and one OF his own followers,
be conceived the idea of settling it by making
use OF priest who some time before had
been the victim of his cruelties, and who is
at present an object OF his hatred. He had
he priest summoned to the presidents house,
zhero fhs Interested pa tis~--als-sey were,
who stated their respective claims. The ex-
position over, General Barrios, addressing
himself TO the priest, said that he had sent
for him in order that he should get sc-
with the matter, and ordered him at
once to confess both parties and revealto him
The secret OF the confession, in order that he
might justly decide it. The priest, indignant
at this order, refused to do il, Directing that
such an order was impossible to be
obeyed, and adding that the simple state
ment OF the facts was enough 10 show clearly
not only the injustice, but the bad faith and
worse intention with which one of the parties
had made his claim. Notwithstanding the
president had the same conviction, few
hours later the true proprietor was insulted,
ll-treated in the presidents house and
obliged 10 pay an amount of money which
be did not owe. General Ba.rios tramples
On all the individual guarantees and public
liberty and publicly degrades, thinking it
natural and proper, the dignity of the ser
rants of his administration, even that of
he chiefs of the army, which is the most
important support of his government.
lives in Guatemala, not for long
lime but for month only, will have occa-
hon to see daily on the squares, streets and
the aids de-camp of the presi-
lent, officers of high grade, descending from
heir elevated dignity to the humble posi-.
ion of jockeys, riding on the left side Of the
Presidents carriage and not wearing the
inform OF their grade and their insignia
Is coioneis, ms1ors, captains and SO
IN. 1t is truly painful to see mill
airy chiefs open the door, and with
heir hands on their swords, standing
,efore the carriage in front of the
loors of HOUSES for the presidents wife to
ome out to make calls The liberty of the
,ress has been decreed in Guatemals. But
he unfortunate type-setter of printing Of
ice, for having set up an article which did
lot praise the conduct of the president, re-
eived more than Eve hundred flashes, which
aused mis- death. This incident, taken to-
ether with the utter lack Of public spirit
nd civil strength among the Guaiemalan
,eople, sufficiently explains how it happens
hat we hear of the constitutional republi-
an form OF government in Guatemala and
ever OF the dictaforial, auiocrat essence OF
he system. 1t should be known that the
punishment of the lash is suffered in Qua.
emala by hundreds of people. 1t is daily
Inflicted all over the republic and on all
lasses OF persons, without any distinction
Thatever as to their standing in society and
ever az the result OF trial. 1t is made
se OF sometimes as a means to investigate
ny matter, and more often as a vent of the
niger and revenge Of the president or of come
n - NJ.