St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1885-03-26
The Trouble in Central America

Among the war dispatches with
which the newspapers are filed now
a-days, there have recently appeared
brief paragraphs relating to u distur-
bance among the republics of Central
America, caused by the precautions of
Barrios, President of Guatemala, to
jurisdiction over the whole territory of
Central America.
Barrios is full blOOded Indian, a
man of extraordinary energy, ambition
and persistency, combining the pas
sionate and unfolding nature of the
native, with the diplomatic ability
and acumen of the old Spanish rulers
of Guatemala. He is by far the most
able and aggressive President which
this little republic has ever had.
When he assumed the Office of Presi-
dent, the people of the republic were
in IL condition little better than that of
savages. IndOlent, unenlightened, SUI
perstitiOus, degraded in their habits
and adverse to innovations of every
kind, they seemed to be in a state of
almost helpless barbarism. But Bar
rios took hold with the energy for
which he is distinguished, and wrought
such II complete social and material
revolution as is seldom seen i'll SO short
IL space of time, and under such unfa
vOrable circumstances. One of his
first acts was to drive out the Jesuits.
He established a strong standing army,
introduced reforms in the government
of which he had been appointed head,
lightened the burden Of taxation,
brought in civilized customs and in
trOduced the products of civilized
countries, and developed the resources
of the country by arOusing the people
to a sense of their opportunities and
the natural wealth of which they were
the unworthy stewards. Guatemala,
with its million and Il quarter of popu
lation, now stands at the head of the
Central American republics, thanks to
the energy and executive power of this
man Barrios.
Is it to be wondered at that man
of such ambition, and resources and it
may be added, such success, should
have visions of power and dominion
not circumscribed by the narrow limits
of il small republic, surrounded by
others of equal territory though I'M
equal pOwerP What more natural
than that he should conceive the pro-
.ject of consolidating the Central Amer
lean republic into Il nation of states,
of which he himself should be the die
tatorial head? This, then, is Barrios
plan and the method which he has
adopted for carrying in out is force,-
subjugatioH. Nor is there much doubt
of the outcome of the struggle, unless
his project of conquest is opposed by
some stronger power. Should Mexico
interpose, as there is SEINE reason to
suppose that she will, the war will be
one of more uncertainty. Barrios has
as his ally Honduras, next to Guatema-
la the strongest of the Central Ameri
can republics. He can put into the
field an army in every respect except
superior to that of his allied
enemies, and, inspired by his strong
purpose of conquest, he will undoubt-
edly make a very strong and persis-
tent fight. At present there is no like
lihood that the United States will be
drawn into the struggle, as it might
easily have been if the Nicaragua canal
scheme had not fallen through. AS it
is, this country is not bound to pro-
tect any interest in Central America,
and it would be foOlishness indeed to
interfere in the battle of the pygmies
for the mere sake of having a hand in a
fight so near home.