National Republican., 1888-05-16

missions, which resulted In divcrtng the
Rev. John e.. Hill, of Chicago, who was Ell
route to China, into this field Of labor. Mr..
Hin, returning with the president to Guate-
nala, received n cordial welcome, and
shared all the attentions given to his dis
tingushCd patron; So that the blushing
young parsuu found himself again aud
again ON public platforms with the
president of Guatemala leaning upon his
shoulder aud Introducing him to the people
as his friend. This demonstration had its
purpose. and resulted precisely rs Gen.
Barrios intended It should. He meant that
the people should know that he had taken
the missionary and the cause he represented
under the patronage of the government aud
expected them to show the same respect
and honor rs he bestowed himself. He went
still further. lie placed Mr.. Hi In one Of
his own houses, and there the school and
chapel were opened. He sent his own chill.
dren to the new sunday school and induced
members of his cabinet to follow his exam.
pie. lie issued decree TO the collectors Of
customs TO admit free Of duty all articles
which Mr.. Hill desired TO import, and IN
every possible manner showed his interest
IN the success Of the work The Protestant
Mission became fashionable and was known
rs the "prcsidcnt's pct The Catholics
looked askancc at the rapidity with which
the breach was widcnod in the walls they
had been nearly 400 years IN erecting but
they dared not utter even remonstrancc
against those favored by the potent force
behind the military guard. They saw the
monks and nuns expelled, the churches
sold at public auction for the benefit of the
public treasury, and with NUT
tered curse against the power By
which all these things were done. submitted
scrvilcly to its will for fear of losing even
that which they had 50 far been able to re-
tain.
Gen. Banios was always dramatic. lie
was as dramatic In the simplicity and frii-
gality Of his private life rs he was in the
display he was constantly making for the
diversion Of the people. In striking con-
trast with the customs of country where
mems garments aud manners are the objects
of the most fastidiOus attention. lie was
careless In his clothing, brusque In his man
nor, and frank IN his declarations, II is
said that the Spanish language was framed
to conceal thought, but Barrios used none
of its hOncycd phrases, and had the candor
Of American frOnticrsman. lie readily ac.
ceptcd suggestions, but was naturally
secretive. lie had no cOnfldanS, made his
own plans without consulting any one, aud
when he was ready to announce his pur-
poses used language that could not be mis-
understood In disposition he was sympa-
thetic and affectiomatc, and when he liked a
man he showered lavOrs upon him, when he
distrusted he was cold and repelling, aud
when he hated his vengeance was swift and
sure.
Diplomatic negotiations looking to a con-
soidatiOn of the five Central American re-
publics extended over period of several
years, but were frutless because of local
lealousics. The leading politicians in the
several states feared they would lose their
prominence and power, and distrusted
BarIios, although lie assured them
that lie was not ambitious to be
dictator. lie thought he was the right
man to carry out the plan, but proposed to
retire us soon rs II was consummatcd, in
order to permit the people to frame their
constitution and elect their executive, prom
ising that he would not be candidate. As
he told the writer shortly after his coup
d'ctat, he desired to retire from public life
and reside in the United States, which lie
considered the paradise Of nations. He had
already purchased u home and invested
money in New York, and was educating his
children with view to residence there.
Sending emissarics into the several states
to study public sentiment, he became as
surcd that the time was ripe for the con-
summation Of his plans. lie believed that
the masses of the people were ready to Join
in a reunion of the republics, and had the
assurance Of Ialdivar, the president of San
Salvador, and Bogran, the president OF Hon
duras, that they would consent to his tempo
rary dictatorship lie determined upon a
coup d'etat. Moral suasion had failed, SO he
decided to try force, with the cooperation OF
San Salvador and Honduras, which, with
Guatemala, represented ilye-sixths Of the
population OF Central America. lie be.
lieved he could persuade Nicaragua and
Costa Rica to accept manifest destiny and
join the union.
On the evening of Sunday, Feb. 2S, 1885,
the aristocracy of Guatemala were gathered,
as usual, at the National Thcater to witness
the performance of "Boccaccion bya French
opera company. In the midst of the play
one of the most exciting situations was in
terrupted by the appearance of n uniformed
officer upon the stage, who motioned the
performers back from the footlights and read
Barros's proclamation declaring himself
dictator and supreme commanuer OF all Cen
tral America, and calling upon the citizens
OF the five republics to acknowledge his au-
thOrity and take the oath of allegiance.
The people are accustomed to earthquakes,
but no terrestrial cOmmotiOn ever created
so much excitement as the eruption OF this
political volcano. The actors fled in surprise
TO their dressing rooms, while the audience
organized into AN impromptu mass meeting
to ratify the audacity of their president.
Few eyes were closed that night in Guate
mala. Although every one knew that Bar
| rios had long aspired to restore the old
union Of the republics, no one seemed to b'
| prepared for the coup d'etat, and the an
nounccment fell with Il force that made tn,
whole country tremble. The next morn
ing, rs If by magic, the city seemed
filed with soldiers. Whence they came o
| how they had arrived so suddenly the peo
| pie did not seem to comprehend; and wheI
the doors Of great warehouses opened to dis
| close large supplies of ammunition and
arms the public eye was distended will
amazement. All these preparations ha(
been made SO silently and secretly that th
surprise was complete. But for three o
four years Barros had been preparing 70
| this day and his plans had been laid with
success that challenged even his own ad
miration. He had ordered all the soldier
IN the republic to be at Guatemala Cit
ON Mar. !, but the commands had beei
given secretly. and the captain of on
| company was not aware that another wa
expected. 1t was not done by the wand q
magician, as the superstitious people ar
given TO believing but was the result of
long aud carefully studied plan by on
who was born a dictator, and knew how Il
pc rform the part.
But the commOtion was even greater i
the other republics, over which Barrios ha
assumed uninvitcd control. The night o
which the official announcement was mad
kilograms were sent to the presidents q
Honduras, San Salvador, Nicaragua, an
Costa Rica, calling upon them to acknowl
edge the temporary supremacy of Die
tator Barrios, and to sign art
cles of confederation of the Ccntra
American union. Messengers had bee
sent in advance bearing official copies q
the proclamation, in which the reason
for the step We're set forth, but wit
directions not to deliver them unit
notified by telegraph. The president {
Honduras welcomed the dictatorship, hay
ing been In close conference with Barrie
on the subject previous to the announce
mcnt. The president of San salvador, ID
Xaldivar, who was also aware Of the intel
tions of Barrios and was expected to fall |
with the plan us readily as President Bogral