Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-07-12
CENTRAL AMERICA.
Views of Dictator Barrios' Nephew on
the Situation.


SAN FRANCISCO, July 11th.-The reports
of an impending conflict in Central Amer.
leo over the proposed union, to which the
death of General Menendez, of Salvador.
gave some color, furnishes some interest
to the interview a Bulletin reporter had
this afternoon with General Jose Reyna
Barrios, of the Guatemala army. and a
nephew of Dictator Barrios, who was killed
in battle five years ago. The General is
stopping at the Occidental, having come
up from Monterey last night. He is of the
typical Spanish type, very courteous and
OF distinguished appearance, and is sppar-
emily about 35 years of age. He speaks
English with great fiuency.
Il have seen with great interest said
the General, "all the reports in your papers
concerning the rumored troubles in Gem
tral America, bat l am not able to give any
definite particulars further than what is
known here, as have been in this coun.
try since last January. | have received
nothing since the arrival of the last steam
er, and at that time everything was quiet
in my country. General Menendez. of
Salvador, who was poisoned, was great
and good friend of mine, as is
also General Esceta, who hastened to
the capital, San Salvador, when he
heard of the event, and formed a
provisional government. This event will
prevent the proposed union from coming
to pass. But ] am convinced that there
will be no trouble or bloodshed in any OF
the Central American Republics. more
especially my country, Guatemala. The
President, Barilios, is not man of war,
and would not take up arms to further the
ends of others. The capital of Salvador is
in the hands of the Provisional Govern
ment. / think this occurrence most un-
fortunate. The union of the Central
American States meant the happiness OF
the entire country, and strength to cope
with powerful neighbors. Where country
is divided, no matter how rich it is, it can.
not be developed, aud its resources
languish. Zaldeva was the man who
caused General Menendez to be poisoned
Salvador is in peace just now. General
Esceta is able to suppress any attack. and
at last advices no party had risen against
the Provisional Government. My uncle
General Barrios, labored all his life tc
bring about a union, at first by peaceful
measures. and, as a last resort, by force
He died bravely on the field OF battle il
support of the cause he had long leboreC
for. In fourteen years, by his energy anC
wisdom, he converted Guatemala from
comparatively savage State to that Of
civilized one.
"Guatemals, continued the Oeneral, II
the largest of the Central American Re
publics. II contains about SOC, 900 people
of whom about 100000 are foreigners. ant
the rest evenly divided between the fndi
ans and the descendants Of the Spsnisrds
OF the foreigners the Germans are the mos
numerous. They have brought grea
amount Of capital into the country and ar
greatly liked on account of not meddlinI
with the politics of the country. Tn
Americans are gladly welcomed every
where in Guatemala. In fact. my countT,
is the most Americsnized of all the Span
ish-speaking countries. The Guatemala
Government before this reported treubl
was preparing 10 develop the resources 9
the Atlantic slope by the building of rail
way from the capital to ST. Thomas on tn
Atlantic ocean, for which il had given
concession to a French syndicate for 2l
O00,000 pesos. These troubles will stop an
kind of work in that way. Everything wa