The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-09-30
sr.x,su.AMEn1oAS RErUBLrcs.

The success which attended the uprising ID
Chill Of those who could no longer endure 'n"
tyrannical methods Of the BalmaceoA uo'-
eminent and who staked their lives ana ior-
times 10 put an end TO 1t. has encouraged
large numper of the citizens OF Guatemala
20 begin an instruction against the authof'V
Of BariIlas. the president OF that country.
man who seems TO have abused tho privileges
of his Office as openly and unoiusningly aS
his prototype at Valparaiso.
The outbreak in the city Of Guatemala was
marked by unusual violence. as II the con-
ceutrated hatred of the people, long repressed
by fear of the military power OF Barilias, nao
finally found expression. in defiance OF every
hostile influence and totally regardless OF al
consequences.
Much as We may condemn aud depore the
disorder and confusion which distinguish all
of these uprisings in the South and Central
American republics. disheartening as the fre-
ouencv of their recurrence is to persons every
where who arc hopeful that the Spanish
Americans will gradually develop capacity
for self-government, nevertheless we cannot
withhold certain measure Of sympathy from
the people who are engaged in them. With
hardly an exception, the Spanish-American
presidents are men who have elevated them
selves to power by moro or less questionable
means, and who when they are once indicted
into Office utilize every opportunity to smass
great wealth. and in doing 30 are indifferent
to the oppressiyeness Of the measures which
they inaugurate Indeed they seem TO derive
a savage pleasure from tyrannizing over
the people by whom they are supposed TO
have been elected and upon whose good will
they are in theory dependent for the positions
which they occupy.
Government in Central America even moro
than in South America is not even Republi-
canism tempered by assassination, as was said
of despOtsm in Russia. The fate OF so many
OF these Central American rulers who perish
by the pistol or tho poignard. does not APP
pear to have a restraining influence upon the
conduct of their SUCCESSORS. Barrios. man
Of enlarged ideas but OF an arbitrary nature
was assassinated in Central America. few
years ago. after having led very much the
same career as Barillas lie accumulated a
princely fortune and he governed with very
INSCRIPTIONS hand This is what Barillas IS
now doing, and if he has any prudence and
self control in his character, he will take
warning in time from the closing scehe in the
life of Barrios.
In the nature of the Spaniard. however,
certainly Of the Spaniard who has been de
veloped under the tropical skies. there seems
TO be no moderation, no conservatism. no
temperate and self-denying public spirit. It
is too much TO expect that the South and
Central American states will become orderly
and stable until the foreign interests have
grown 50 important. and the infusion Of
foreign population 50 large. that inside %
well as outside influences will he created
which will not tolerate tie confusion and
ruin which the tyranny of presidents and
the exctability OF the pOpu.ace are always
causing in that part Of the Western Hemis-
phere. Either the English OF the Americans
will IN time take financial control OF all these
South and Central American Republics, and
when this contamination is reached it will
signify that presidents will not be permitted
10 Cypress the people. and the people will
not be permitted 20 overthrow just and
legitimate governments.