New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-10


PATCH ANNOUNCING THE AFFAIR SAYS
CALM PREVAILS IN GUATEMALA
-os,,,eton Feb 9-Senor Lazo Arriaga, the
...o.o,,alan Minister TO the United States. this
N,.nrnoon received an official cable dispatch from
.. sinister OF Foreign Affairs of Guatemala,
,ouncing the assassination Of President Bar
,os and the succession to the Presidency OF
,,,rs, Vice President Manuel Estrada Cabrera
No details whatever were given.
The dispatch came from Guatemala City, the
..rtal where President Barros has lived and
,,e Government departments are carried on
=, added that entire calm prevails This last
..surance. coupled with the immediate success
,,on Of the First Vice-President, in accordance
nth the constitutional methods Of the country
,s special source of qualification 10 the ofh-
",o,s of the Guatemalan Legation here, and to
come extent alleviates the shock with when
.snv received the news of the tragedy The re-
,,,ons between the late President and the
cuatemalan Minister TO Washington. Senior La
,rriasa. were much more than Of an official
character They close. personal friends
nd ,be death Of the President at the hands or
81, assassin comes as a personal bereavement
N The Minister. Senor Arriaga said PRESIDENT
RsrrIos was man Of wide attainments ana
marked executive ability. He was compara-
,,velv young being only forty-two years oiu
Tho six years term of service for which ne was
.,ao,ad terminated on March IL next. but the
National Congressional Assembly ALREADY had
extended this term for further four years
-. ,,or,a peina Rarrlos was born in San Mar
,os Guatemala m 1856 and educated abroad
waking a trip around the world while youth lie
was only thirteen years old when he marched
with the small troop OF patriotic volunteers
rho were led by his uncle. Rufno Barrios. In MS
g., bu, unsuccessful assault upon the Govern
~. ~ President Carna. The young volunteer
took refuge in the territory OF Soconusco' Mexico
"a no Dartcipated in the several attempts 10 free
bs country from tyrannical government Relna
R,,rios won his military grades on the batteheds
NJ Retalhulou TERRA Blanca, san Lucas ana
o,he-s Under III. Presidential Government of his
uncle Rufno Barrios. General Reina barrlos oc-
cupied high places in the army and had especiai
charge Of the artillery.
He was rewarded with the grade OF division gen.
e-al bv the National Assembly, after the death OF
Runno Barrios killed in 1885, at the battle oil
Chalcuapa by the Salvadoreans and other central
Americans opposed to his scheme OF restoring the
ancient confederacy under Guatemalan- influence
and moral direction. President Barillas appointed
him little later Minister Of War; and the congress
elected him for Its NicePresident His popuari''
excited the jealousy Of the Government ana ne
was arrested on somc pretext. but was soon
released by an order from the Supreme Counci OF
War General Barios went then 10 San Francisco
New-Orleans and New-York He was married IN
the latter place ten years ago 10 Miss Algerie BEN
ton Of New-Orleans. He was elected President OF
the Republic on March -. 1892. and his term wouid
have expired next March on May 81 last ne me.
With the most serious IL no: ths frs opposition OF
.he National Assembly. This happened about Gov
eminent bill proposing 10 make in Europe loah
OF f3onODD destined TO finish the Northern tall
road Of <S1atcrusla end promote other enter
prises 1t was impossible to get quorum TOT sew
eral sttinfs and finally the President was COM
relled 10 dissolve the Assembly and TO assume
himself all the powers which the Constitution gave
him.
President Rena Barrios had proclaimed last
spring a general amnesty for political exies, VINO
hurried TO return TO Guatemala. He was popular
among his countrynen notwithstanding the fact
that he favored the introduction Of European ana
American ideas. inventions and products into his
country