The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-25
DICTATOR AND A DESPOT.
Facts About Barrios, Who Seeks to Be-
como Autocrat of Central America.
Shocking Tales of His Abuse of Power as
President Of Observation-Disclosures and
Indignities Put Upon Citizens.


President of Guatemala to bring about union
Of the Central American States of Guatemala,
Honduras, Salvador and Costa Rica-presuma
bly, under his own dictatorship-lends peculiar
interest to a sketch of his career and his methods
In April, 1871, Barrios and Granados. with
4hirty-fve men, attacked 200 troops or the
Guatemalan Government and defeated them
The sentiment of the country was clearly
against the government. Granados and Barrios
were received with open arms. The government
sent increased forces against them, but were
defeated every time they came in contact with
BarTios. The rebel forces soon got large fol-
lowing, being joined by young men of good posi-
ton from all parts of the country. Within two
months Of entering the country with thirty -hve
mon Grauados and Barrios took possession of
the city of Guatemala, atthe head of 5000 men,
Cerna had fed and the ministers were in hiding
revolution against the new government
broke out in the eastern part of the country.
and it was evident that all its support in money,
arms and clothing was being provided from the
city of Guatemala The new government had
projected many reforms in the outlying districts,
in the shape of better roads and better means Of
communication with the seaports and capital,
and much of this would run the risk Of being
delayed by new revolution. Claiming that the
wealth Of the church was being used against
them, and that every projected reform was
openly denounced by the clergy, decree
was Issued ceniscating the property of the
church and dedicating the converts of the re-
1igious orders to purposes of secular education.
Granados found himself ultimately unable to
cope with the revolution and at the same time
carry on the work of reform, and he retired from
the presidency after about eighteen months oc-
cupancY and Barrios got himself elected by the
country. When he took the supreme command
the situation was grave in the extreme. The
rebels were well supplied with money, arms, and
ammunition, and i'll every encounter between the
government troops and them the former were de-
feAted, and no progress was made toward stopping
the civil war for some months. The policy Of
the previous governments had been to centralze
the power and wealth of the country in the city
of Guatemala, and the new government was GER
tainly weaker there than in any other part of the
country. The means Barr;os took to crush the
revolution were cruel. Men of wealth and refine
ynent, whom he suspected of aiding the revolu-
ton were treated with great indignity, and one
or two of them publicly logged. A protest was
made by the united foreign ministers then in the
city, but they were warned that they were ex-
ceeding their rights, and had better let things
take their course. In a very few days total
cnauge came over the country. The revolution
collapsed the rebels gave themselves up TO the
government and surrendered their arms and the
country was peaceful and quiet within two
months os Barrios's coming into power.
An American gentleman who visited Gaute-
mala in 1882 thus describes what he learned of
Barrios's methods
''The government of General Barrios presents
political problem which seems at first of diff
ficuit solution, but is very easily explained if we
consider the elements he disposes OF. and the
means he puts in practice. The government of
General Barrios is a constitutional REPUBLICAN
government but, considered such as ii is, and,
with acknowledge of his home policy, 1t can
only be called most complete dictatorship
surrounded by a thousand incidents Of
rules by no law but his will. The Guatemalan
people are accustomed to pay submissive obe-
dieuce to tyranny, the heavy weight of which
they have borne since the domination of Car
rera--that is to say, for forty years The Presi-
dent of Guatemala Is a man of quick and violent
temper, accustomed, as he himself asserts, to
despis6 the people whose destines he rules, and
convinced by experience, as he affrms, that the
Dnly means he can use to govern them Is
severity. Forgetting even the respect which he
owes to himself, he willingly makes himself not
only the ruler, but the executioner OF Guate-
nlala.
SHOCKING INDIGNITIES.
Whenever he thinks he has any motive to
reprimand any Guatemnlan citizen, whether an
official or private individual, whatever may be
his political or social position, he summons
him to his office; and then, after stating the
motive OF pretexts of complaint he may have
against him, before his aide-de-camp, he ad-
dresses insulting words to him. taking whip
aud cuts him across the face with it. 1t fire.
uuently happens that the victim is Frustrated by
che heavy kicks and blows he receives, and
after suffering subnissiyeiy such an ignominious
punishment he leaves resigned, bearing on his
face the principal marks of his shame, and in his
heart the conviction that only by silence can he
hope to escape finding himself again in this ter
rible situation. Usually he receives an order to
present himself again the following day before
the tyrant This order is faithfully obeyed, and
generally he Is kept waiting for long time at
She corridors of the presidency. After keeping
Aim four or five hours waiting Intentionally,
che President comes out as if by chance and
asks him: What do you wantP and What are
you here forF 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 SO
far back as the Dictatorship since General Bar
rios called himself constitutional President,
Guatemala has seen thus maltreated and humil-
lated an ex-miuister, son of another official OF
equal standing two attorneys-at-law, a young
man the owner of real estate aud the son of a
distinguished 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 declined an
invitation made to her by the project of one of
the provinces. General Barrios, being un-
friendly 10 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 decide ques-
ton of disputed rights between man of some
standing and one of his own followers. he con
oeived the idea of settling it by making use OF
D priest who some time before had been the vic
tim Of his cruelties, and who is at present an OBJ
1ect of his hatred de had the priest summoned
TO the Presidents house. where the interested
parties already were, who stated their respective
claims This exposition over, General Barrios,
addressing himself to the priest, said that he
had sent for him in order that he should &c,
acquainted with the matter and ordered him al
once to confess both parties and reveal to him
the secret OF the confession in order that he
might justly decide it. The priest indignant al
l. "a