Los Angeles herald., 1892-05-06
BCUADOR's PATRIOT,
Visit of General Alfaro to This
City.
Banished From Home For His Lib
eral Principles.
And Wanderer For Ten Years He
Speaks About the Galapagos Is
land Cession Very
Plainly.

A distinguished military man and a
patriot, Gen. Eloy Alfaro of Ecuador,
has arrived in this city and is the guest
of his old-time friend, Thos. L. Duque,
at 524 South Hill street. By reason of
his unswerving devotion to liberal prin-
ciples, as they are understood in South
America, the general has been a wan
derer from home since 1888, and the
malignancy of his enemies in the Con-
servative party has pursued him even in
the state of Colombia, from which he
was expelled twice, the last time being
during the month of January in the
present year. when he was forced to
leave Panama.
General Alfaro, who looks every inch
a soldier and determined foe, is man
of about 80, rather small of stature, we'll
proportioned, and fluent speaker, al
though he unfortunately is not ac-
quainted with the English language.
President Antonio Flores fears him,
and in 1888 offered to let him return to
Ecuador, providing he would enter into
a combination with him, and promised
that he would 80 manipulate the cleo
tions that Alfaro should be his successor
in the presidency. The general having
positively refused to listen to any COM
promise, has been followed by Flores
vengeance ever since, and thus he had
to become visitor to California.
In 1888, during a revolution against
the leaders of the Conservative party,
Alfaro, who was the commander-in-ch
of the Liberal forces, obtained supreme
control of the whole coast of Ecuador,
but his party suffered reverses and he
voluntarily left his native land. going to
Colombia. where the Conservatives, then
in power too, expelled him.
He returned to Panama later, and was
permitted to remain there until the
Vaccinations of Flores once more
caused him to be driven away. He then
went to Costa Rica and Venezuela,
whose presidents are his friends, and
thence came to California to be with Mr..
Duque for few days. General Alfaro
expressed himself delighted with the
climate of this state, the more go that
he had been under apprehensions that
it would not suit him after lifetime
passed under equatorial latitudes.
In an interesting half hours chat
granted a HERALD reporter, General
Alfaro reviewed the causes which have
produced so many revolutions in the re-
publics of South America. The primary
reason of the troubles was the unfair
way in which the government Of Ecua-
dor settled her share of the debts con-
tracted in England by Venezuela, New
Granada and Ecuador when they found
ed the great republic of Colombia.
The scandalous and unfair conduct
of President Caamai1o in the settlement
of the foreign debt, in the year 1884, by
which enormous quantities of public
land were to be stolen from the people
and concessions made to strangers,
caused the most violent indignation.
Resistance was stilled by Caamafio,
however, through means of persecution,
robbery, arson, murder, imprisonment
and confiscation of property. was we'll
justified when accused Antonio Flores,
the tool OF the president. of seeking to
enrich himself by running the state,
under pretense OF settling the British
debt.
"We of the Liberal party do not op-
pose immigration; on the contrary, we
should be willing to give land gratis to
such newcomers as intended really to
cultivate their sections, but in no wise
are we willing to let the land be stolen
in the scandalous manner which the
Conservatives advocate for the sole pur-
pose of their own aggrandizement.
but there is subject right here
upon which 1 wish to make few re-
marks. 1t is subject of Importance as
much to the United States as it is to
Ecuador, and it is the cession of the
Galapagos islands, as contemplat-
ed by Seflor Antonio Flores. The
Daily Star and Herald of December
9TH OF last year stated that there
was talk of granting the United
States coaling station at Galapagos.
which islands had been virtually aban-
doned by Ecuador. 1t also believed
that there was disposition on the part
of the Ecuadoran government to sell
them, and one on the part of the gov
ernment of Washington to buy them.
| do not know who inspired the article,
but l know that no Ecuadoran who is
not affiliated with the band of thieves
now in power would countenance such
sale. Such an event would for ever lose
to this great nation the sympathy of
Latin America, and would make us feel
that we Ecuadorans had been treated
shabbily and unjustly.
81 rejoice to know that the Liberal
party is again becoming strong IN the
republics where 1 have lived so long,
that it will soon be able to openly pro-
claim that it is tired of misrule, and
will take up arms for its rights and prin-
ciples. We do not seek personal re-
venge. We want principles to prevail,
those of liberty and honesty above all.
The moment the call to arms resounds
you may rest assured that 1 shall at
once depart for my home, to shed my
blood for right and country"
Found,
At the drug store, a valuable package,
worth its weight in gold. My hair has