New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-14
THE FALL OF BARRIOS.
GUATEMALA IN REVOLT AGAINST THE
DICTATOR's CORRUPTION.
LEADERS OF THE REVOLUTION WHO THREW
AWAY THEIR CHANCES OF SECURING
pRFSINENCY

THE PRESIDENCY.
San Francisco. March 10 (SpeciaD.-This city Is the
headquarters Of Central Americans and naturally
one hears much of the causes which led 70 the re-
volt against President Reyna Barrios and his assas
sinatinn The revolution vas not a sudden outburst
OF a mercur.al people who longed for change, but
the result OF deep Indignation against man who
had plunged the country into debt and when called
to account for his waste and extravaganza had
boldly cast aside the checks 70 arbitrary rule and
proclaimed himself Dictator. With the army-small,
but well drilled and fathful-any Qua temalan Pres
!dent may be able to maintain himself for some
time against Widespread disaffec.ion. This Is what
Barr.os succeeded In doing but the cruel and indie
fensble murder OF Juan Aparico. the richest coffee
planter IN Guatemala. proved TO be the undoins Ok
the Dictator as an old employe o, Aparicio. Swiss
named zollirger swore to Kill Barros and carried
out his oath
Barrios after his seven years OF exile IN San
Francisco was welcomed by the Guatemalan people
and began his Presidency with the highest pros
poets. But he attempted at TO convert his
capital into American city and 20 crowd into
I'VE years what should have been the slow and
enormously expensive railroad between Guatemala
city and Puerto Barrios. on the Gulf of Mexico
side. which. II completed. would have diverted the
entire coffee trade OF the country from San Fran
cisco to New-York. The scheme was good but the
the resources OF Guatemala: yet Barrios plunged
into another project scarcely less cosily-the build,
Ing of a breakwater which would make protected
harbor for shipping al San Jose de Guatemala now
only an open roadstead.
A CORRUPT BOND ISSUE.
railroad was built to carry material and several
hundred thousand dollars were expended before any
material advance was made In the work. Then
Barros found his funds getting low and he began
the series Of bond issues which has mortgaged tho
country for twenty years 70 come. lie also I'm
proved Guatemala City introduced the electric light
and caDle-cars. laid out parks and bouevaris. On
these large sums spent and every fresh enter
riSp pLteJ h, tno Of
Schwartz 81 Co, firm OF German Jews. handled
They also introduced scheme Of coffee purchases
by bonds, on which they made large commissions.
The general opinion in Guatemala that Barros
divided these profits with the Schwartzes, as he
allowed these brokers the monopoly OF all bond
issues.
The end came when Barrlos opened the Guate-
success II II had been carried on honestly but
thlev!ng carried on and the whole thing was a
failure. While the exhibition was in progress Con-
lures. All the Presidents old friends were p' now
Sa him. as he had rejected her advice and
Stahi. who acted fpr the brokerage firm OF Schwartz
q Co. Prosper Morales and Daniel Fuentes
cities. Barrios then dissolved Congress declared
himself Dictator and stuffed the ballot-b boxes 80
that only his personal friends chosen FOR Con-
OF rule '''' '''' '"''' 'V"'S
JUAN APARICTo REvoLTs
Then Barrlos began to squeeze the rich men o,
the country for money which he needed He began
Old days had been liberal contributor. Aparlcio
refused, and when Barrios threatened enforce his
demands Morales and Fucnes started the reyolu.
ton. Aparc!o was prominent in his declarations
for Fuentes. and his action angered Barros who
sent Rogue Morales. an ADVENTURE TO Quezalte-
mango TO govern the city. with orders to XIII Ana
ricio and Aguar. another prominent planter ~
there should be any trouble The Insurgents under
Fuentes advanced on the city. when Rogue Morales
warned them II they attacked the place he would
Kill Apar!cio and Asuilar. Fuentes did not dream
that he would dare TO do cruel and cowardly a
thing so he gave orders for the attack Morales
kept his word. ana had the two prisoners shot
down 10y file OF soldiers. Tho city was captured by
the insurgents who received many recruits from the
surrounding country. Flushed with success
Fuen,es and Prosper Morales started FOR the cant
tai. but when they heard that the Government
army was coming TO meet them they the
lnsurgent force under petty officers and remained
behind they afterward explained. to secure arms
and ammunition. without the stimulus OF their
leaders the revoutionlsts fought badly and were
defeated. Thus the revolt collapsed In a day and
Fuentes and Morales fed TO Mexico.
II Is the opinion OF all who have followed Guate-
maan affairs closely that had Fuentes avoided a
battle with the Government troops and allowed the
Barrios could not have held out.
A. II vas. his success was shortilved. for soon
after the revolution was ended he was assassinated
by Zollinger In the very presence OF his guarda.
Who will DO elected President 10 . puzzle which