The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-06

talents and his success in every work he
had undertaken?
So Casas Nuevas, who had left Guate-
mala practically as an exile, returned as
an archbishop. Barrios was still in power
as president but the whirigig Of time had
brought its revenge. The man whom he
had forced into the priesthood because he
feared his power had by that very act, be-
come the greatest man in the country.
In Guatemala the church is the dominant
power. So great is the clerical influence
that even the President, the Cabinet and
the Congress do the archbishops bidding,
when he wills it. The church is the rich
est and most powerful in all Central Amer
lea and the people are devoted to it. With
the possible exception of Colombia. Guate-
mala is the chief stronghold Of the Roman
Catholic Church in Latin-America.
Casas Nuevas welded his power to the
uttermost. and he yields it to this day. At
first Barrios tried to stand against him.
but was soon glad to make peace. He rec
ognized that the archbishop was the ablest
man in the country and that his counsel
and assistance In the running of the gov
eminent were essential to the national well
fare. Barrios was a good Catholic. too. and
sincerely DESTROYS of preserving harmony
between church and state.
When Barrios was assassinated by one
of his numerous political enemies his sue
cessor, from the same motives, fell just as
thoroughly under the same sway OF the
archbishop of the church militant.
The archbishop is now over seventy years
of age, but a foreign military officer who
stayed with him recently in Guatemala
City reports that he is still as fiery and
autocratic, as full of life and energy as he
ever was. He Is a tall. stately old man,
with a handsome, swarthy face. deep-set,
piercing eyes. and a military carriage. A
stranger would take him for a soldier rather
than a priest, and. indeed, he prides himself
on being a member of the church militant.
He still maintains his own little standing
army, just as he did in the days when he
fought Barrios for the presidency. When
he became archbishop he obtained author
| ity from Rome to establish an archbishop's
| guard on the lines of the Papal Guard. The
uniform is practically the same. No regi-
! ment of the Guatemalan army is half SO
we'll equipped or half so carefully trained
as this little force. 1t is the archbishop s
| pet hobby; he takes the greatest delight in
| inspecting and drilling his men.
Casas Nuevas jealousy guards every jot
| and title of his power, but. like many great
| men, is careless of the outward signs of his
| dignity. He may often be seen going about
the country. or even walking In the streets
| of Guatemala City. attired liz diiapidated
| Panama hat and an old white linen suit.
The humblest peon or the poorest washer
woman does not hesitate to stop him in his
daily walks in order to present petition or
| relate a grievance. The archbishop listens
/ sympathetically and always sees that JUS
| tce Is done in the case. whatever may be
/ the personal inconvenience to himself. He
| Is beloved throughout Guatemala as the
| friend and protector OF the people, the man
/ who remedies abuses, Furnishes oppression
| and cares for the welfare of the peasant.
| The archbishop has a great business head,
| too, and is a real statesman, The legisla-
| ton and commercial policy for which he has
been responsible In recent years have made
| Guatemala the most prosperous OF the Cen
/ trail American states.
Copyright, 1903. by Z. B. Warnerl