The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1889-01-03
A BRUTAL RULER.
How President B trrios of Guatemala Was
ir the Habit of Treating His People.

The late President Barrios of Guate-
mala, who is said to have made the
best ruler his state ever had, was fair
specimen of the Central American ex-
ecutive, says letter from Costa Rica.
His ways of enforcing allegiance were
as cruel as effective; he ruled by no
law but his own will, and the people
having borne the might of tyranny for
nearly half century--rendered the
most abject obedience.
A case i'll point is that of Senor GuZ-
man, merchant of 1nezaltenaugo,
who had served us colonel. under
Maximilan in Mexico, and had subse-
quentlv dabbled Il little in politics, but
never Extensively. This merchant was
one day walking on the highway, in
the regular course of lis business,
when he chanced to meet President
Barrios riding in his carriage. The
two gentlemen saluted one another
with politpness and each passed on his
way. An hour later Guzman was ar
rested by order of the president and
thrown into prison. and until after
Barrios' timely taking off (more than
two wears afterward. though he had
no trial and no charges had even been
preferred against him and he himself
was entirely ignorant of the nature Ct
his offense-he was still incarcerated
and had been made to suffer the most
atrocions treatment. A chain was
riyetcd to his leg which had actually
worn into the flesh, and at Barrios'
command more than one thousand
lashes had been administered to him
from time to time.
An American gentleman who had
spcnt much time in Guatemala tells me
that when BarriOs had any motive for
reprimanding citizen, whether an
editor, an official, or IL private indi.
vidual, whatever his political or social
station, he summoned the offender tC
his office; then. after stating in the
presence of his aides-de-camp the
cause OF pretext of complaint, he would
address the most insulting words tC
the victim of his displeasure and GU
him across the face with rawhidt
that was always at hand. If the mar
resisted, the aides-de-camp pitched il
also, aud it frequently happened tina
the unfortunate fellow was nearl,
killed by the heavy kicks and blows IN
received, and after the ignominOu
punishment bore on his face the mark
of shame and in his heart the convic
ton that only by silent submission
could he escape Il repetition of the in
dignities.
Among hundreds of stories that ar
told concerning the methods of thi
model president is one about II lawye
named Don Juan Andrue, who wa
employed by the government to d'
fend the poor. He was applied to by
political prisoner who had alread
passed fifteen months in Jail, no chal
ges having been paferred against hir
- during ali that time, and who was aC
vised to make an appeal for his libert
when the new 'liberaf' constitutio
went into effect. He did so, gettin
Andrue to draft the appeal, and askin
only for a trial, Two days afterwar
Andrue was summoned To appear b.
fore Barrios, who asked him:
why did you interfere in this ma
q ter9"
BY the constitution the man has
right to appeal to-" replied the lawye
= Il am the constitution" said Il
= president, Il am the law" and, seizin
l. the evcr-present horse-whip, he lasht
u the lawyer across the face, afterwaI
i kicking and beating him in Il furiO'
n passion. Next day lie mad AndrI
y publicly whipped, aud the high-spiri
& ed Young ariStorrat took the disgra
s. so deeply to heart that lie lived but
d week. The poor prisoner. iu WHO
,r behalf he had interfered, was reno
!. ell to the prni!eniiary, where. for thr
successive days, he was ilnggrd in t
= most brutal manner, until after I
= third whipping he, too, died.