The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-04-17

and intelligence Of her people. She has adj
vanced whilo the others have stood still, and
one sees through the republic signs and Incl
dents OF our latest Nineteenth century civil
zation. The country is an illustration Ct the
fact that good can come out of evil, for all
that Guatemala is today she owes to the des-
potisIn, the tyranny, the cruelty of BarriOs.
Indeed, there are not lacking indications of
TetrOgressloR since he was slain. The land and
the people seem TO need his strong character
to direct and govern them, and until another
Bar1.ics shall arise Guatemala particularly,
and Central America generally, will not live
up TO their possibilities.
Barrio5 found Guatemala as Rjchelieu
found France, weak and lettering fabric,
and in brief time he regeDerated her. His
methods were decisive, perhaps inhuman, but
the results he achieved almost justify the
agencies employed. He saw about him q SUI
perstltious, densely ignorant and slavish peO-
pie, barren Of hope or ambition, little re
moved from the animal and wallowing in the
darkness. Almost a majority Of the common
people acted. Us beasts OF burden. By means
OF straps or thongs fastened 20 their heads
they carried all the stores and products of
the country to and from the coasts. Pack
mules were scarcely known, for the Indians
and half breeds did all the carrying in city,
town or hamlet Like the crab the country
was going backward, and the dark days Of
the Spanish conquest continued. Barrios at
oHce changed all this. He became dictator,
absolute ruler, despotic chief, whose viii was
law, whose word no man dare gainsay.
Il VIII not rule over animals, but human
beings, "he declared, and straig htway ordered
that the people cease from making of them
y,pI l.
ship. In their dense ignorance they knew Of
no other mode OF gaining an existence and
looked upon the importation of mules from
Honduras and Nicaragua as their absolute
ruin. Barrios then pointed to the rich vir-
gin land and commanded that each man till
a small section Of soil, plant 50 many coffee,
rubber and banana trees and make Guate-
fnaIa largely productive. His order was alb
Eolute, and they sullenly obeyed. It was re
quired that they report their labor at the end
Of each season. Those VINO had disobeyed his
commands were brought in and hoggcd.
At the end Of the second year, if they still
6isObsyed his directions, they were brought
before him. Then, in that dramatic way
which this famous son Of CASTLE affected, be
would silently step to his desk, dip two fingers
in the inkstand, and, walking to the cuIprit,
his forehead and order him put to immediate
death. II this way he struck terror to the
hearts Of tho tclinquents, and Guatemala be-
gan tafloUTlsh Ike n well kept garden. There
was no5tgpporiziug, no hardening, no judge
or jury, but, cold and piliIess and ineIorable
as fate he carried ont his VIII, and heaven
alone knows how many hundreds of men
have been done to death in the great prison
at Guatemala City.
Not only in the matter Of planting, but in
eli other wall-s Of life, did B2rrios push his
methods and force improvements He com
handed the separation OF church and state,
established schools, made education compul-
sorry, while even me suspicion Of dlsioy2lty
to him or tbestaJe was the cause for prompt
execution. His strong via permeatad the en-
tire social and political fabric. At first hated
and feared, ne began to be respected. The
inasierIu mind and strong character, the
physical bravery and brilliant theatrio dis
play, quite won at last this really emotional
people, and the passion Of hate slowly turned
50 the sentiment Of admiration.
They saw their country blossom like the
rose under the heroic ana terrible treatment
adopted They saw rirn coffee lncas, large
rubber groves, extensive sugar plantations
takeJho place of the aCldwastes and siavlsh
slothfulneSs supplanted by busy intelligence .
The revolution was slow. HUndreds-yes thou
EanGs-had to die and TeinoVseiess cruelty be
pracuced before it would be acknowledged;
but the nlateriaiist win admit, looking at the
Guatemala BarriOs found and the Guatemala
he left, that the END justified the means.
Gradually his country r0Sc from the least
prouinehtt0 the most progreSsiVeCf Spanish
American states and when Ee finally reach
ed position which he deemed impregnable
Qess than five years ago, he suddenly de-
clared himself military dictator and presi-
dent commanding Of Central America.