The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-05-14

HELD GOVERNMENT OFFICES


Col Guy Longstreet. nephew Of Gen.
x,ongstreet Of civil war fame, returned to
his native city yesterday after an absence
o: several years in Central American
states. Mr.. Lonestreet II . young man of
about %. tall and of military bearing. His
skin 10 Drowned from the southern climes.
though he attributes his tanning In part
to = fever that IL stu In his bones.
He came direct from the city Of 0uate-
'malA, where he has principally resided
since he left Los Angeles. He was In the
employment Of the government under
President Barrios. who was personal
friend Of his. and he was also colonel Of
artillery. He was in the city during the
assassination Of the dictator. He con-
verses Interestingly of the conditions and
circumstances that brought about this
homicide and the events that followed,
when there was an uprising of the adher-
ssnts ct Barrios against his enemies. The
revolution that followed the death Of the
leader was a bitter one. Mr.. Longstreet
said, and cost many lives on both sides, IN
spite Of the fact that the world thinks
lightly OF Central American wars.
Most Of the matters In connection with
me death Of President Barrios," said he
last evening. ''were told in the American
napefs, and the people are therefore more
e less familiar with them. But the pri-
mary cause seems to have been lost in the
general number Of reasons advanced. You
will remember that about two years ago
President Barrios, against the advice and
wish of many prominent citizens. proposed
to hold an exposition in the city Of Guate-
mala, which he hoped would compare ia
~ An1A lu h. Tn3f oA
States and other countries. The opposl-
tionists saw that objection was useless. and
said nothing more, some even going so far
Is to assist the affair with money.
"All went we'll while the preliminary ar
rangements were in progress and after
they were completed, because. in the gen.
eral hope that the enterprise would be
successful. the majority Of the original
pbjectors forgot that they did not approve
Of It. However, the exposition proved a
failure, the old thoughts we're revived. and
u told you so could be heard everywhere.
The people were angry at Barrfos for hav-
ing made failure of his effort and angry.
furthermore, because he did not take their
advice.
I'm the face Of this discomfort he issued
several million dollars worth of bonds 10
defray the expenses Of the exposition over
and above the moneys then on hand, the
bonds to be known as exposition bonds.
TO be sure they would be purchased he
sent forth an edict that coffee planters
would have to pay their export duty by
buying these exposition bonds and paying
the revenue to the government in that
way.
Then 1t was that the people rose up in
arms, Barrios. foreseeing this, banished
his principal enemies from the country.
several spent the winter in San Francis
100. The mode Of warfare of the Spanish
PAGES is Of peculiar kind, and while these
refugees were in this country they were
from distance planning the overthrow of
the government IL 1t took the life of Bar
rios.
"Barrios was killed by a zealot Of the
opposite side, and then there was little
diniculty for the revolutionists to get in
and take the country and appoint man
to the presidency that suited them better.
All the followers of the leaders OF the side
now in power are holding good offices and
making money. But these are the for
tunes Of war. held good and lucrative
positions under Barrios. but was deposed
from the last one when the other party
came in.
1.-THE Central American states are pros
porous and prospecting. Business Is a bit
dull there, as hear 1t is everywhere. In
spite Of Its age, 1t is still practically new
eountry, and money Is to be made. think
D man who can converse in Spanish and is
$of average intelligence can do well there.
II will 60 to the springs in day or two
TO try to get rid of this fever that Is an
noying me. / may return to Guatemala in
Q few weeks. though I cannot speak ecfi-
uitely Of my plans for the future"