The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-29
EXTLES HERE FROM COSTARICA
EX-PRESIDENT SOTO AND OTHER
LEADERS ON FORCED VOYAGE.
As They Tell II. They Are Peace Loving
Friends Of The People. Victims OF a
TyPant With an Army at Ills Back
EonsnI.o,ors dave thc Consul.f,enePnl

Sibiria. They are here, n Of them said
very gravely, for their health. In the
party are Bernardo Soto, ex-President oil
Costa Rica, and his son, Maxine Fernandez,
Senior Soto's right bower; Sonora Fernandez
and their six children; Ootayio Garcia,
editor of the San jose Republicd, and Abel
Pacheoo, a lawyer and a friend OF the peo-
pie.
They will not be home in time to take part
in the selection OF the new President OF
Costa Rica, which will take place on April /.
President Asuncion Esquivel invited them
to take a sea trip, saying considerably that
the time Of fevers was rapidly approaching
and the country did not care to run the risk
of losing its patriots.
As a mark of further honor the President
had them escorted to a train by $50 Of HIS
army, all in red and green, and to make sure
that his friends would not miss the boat
at Port Limon he started them for 1t at 4
o'clock in the morning although the steamer
did not sail until 5 in the afternoon.
When the little party collected its luggage
at Pier /, North River, and the friends OF the
people had kissed and embraced some half
dozen dark complexioned and mysterious
gentlemen who met them, they climbed into
carriages and travelled northward, heading
for some obscure dwell ing in the Exiles'
Belt around Fourteenth street.
Senior Soto is a small man with an a ir OF
distinction. He is perhaps o5 years old.
His black hair is streaked with gray. His
gray mustqches are worn In the military
fashion. He holds himself ereotly. He was
President of Costa Rica so long that 1t
got to be a habit. 1t vas President Esquival
who wrested the honor from him.. Senior
Soto was asked about these matters, but
declined to talk. Struggling his square
shoulders and curling his mustaches. One
Of the friends OF the people, however,
spoke freely in English until Senior Soto
checked him with a swift glance and an
almost imperceptible movement of the
right shoulder. From the remarks of this
statesman these things were gathered
The Senior Soto was a statesman pure
and good, who had spent a long life laboring
for the interests of the people OF Costa
RIGA. He was President for eight years, the
idol OF the people and ruled wisely and
benevolently. He was the mainstay OF the
Conservative party.
In 1889 there was a little political whlrl-
wind which blew Soto out of the Presi-
dents chair and whisked him into private
life. The Liberals, Of which Esquival is
leader, came into power. They pleased the
army by increasing ~rations OF cigarettes
and adding more gold lace to the uniforms.
They a unused the populace and we're care
ful about such mat tiers as taxation and ex-
penditures.
1t wasn't long before the name Of Soto
was in danger of Icing forgotten The
patriot, however, was not inclined 10 remain
obscure. Last No yemfer lie ian for Presi-
dent against Esquival. Fernandez managed
his cam paign. Garcia smote Esquival
with editorials. PacEeco swatted him from
the rostrum The Esouiyal electors, how
ever, seemed to he in tie ma jority when the
votes were a II IN,
The PEOPLE, said the patriots of the Peo-
p les party, had heen bamboozled. They
would see. All was not lost yet. On April
l the electoral votes would Re counted.
Lots of things might happen before April
l. They were sure that the people were
with them at heart, but were o%yerawed by
the army. There was much doing at the
head quarters of the Peoples party.
President Esquival got worried. He
had the leaders of the Peoples party a r
rested at San Jose, the capital, and gave
them the alternative OF a tel IN prison or
a sea voyage that would take them from
home until after the electoral votes were
canvassed He suggested that the first
steamer leaving would he an excellent one
for them TO take. They were placed on
board a sIecial train at San Jcseat 4 o'clock
in the morning Of March 10 and $50 soldiers
went with them to Port | imon, whence
the Sibiria was about to sail. The Govern
ment tried to get its hands on other leaders
of the opposition. The Government nabbed
some Of Them. but others escaped. one
statesman fed in his wife's party gown, a
mantilla wrapped about his brow.
The news of the arrest sprea d fast and
hours before the Sibiria was ready to sail
there was a crowd at the pier in Port Limon.
The Government massed soldiers about
the pier and no persons were allowed on II
unless they had a passport from the Minister
of War. The special train did not approach
by the regular route. 1t came by a branch
line and stopped behind a train OF banana
The Peoples Party leaders we're unloaded.
Everything was done to give the popuiace
an impression that the Government was
The soldiers cheered, waved their hats and
presented arms. Certain ones In the pay
of the Conservative p rty formed a claque
and shouted hoa Tsely for Senior Soto ana
Senior Fernandez, The people We're de-
monies. They allowed the Sibiria to depart
without making an effort TO spoil the little
game.
And, without doubt continued the
small and black eyed young man who re-
lated these things in a voice which clearly
expressed his emotion. -Sehor Soto would
have been elected President if a fair count
could ha We been secured Of the electoral
votes. We are exiled because we loved
the people and the right, beca use we strove
against a tyrant. There, ] cannot say
more. Our leader counsels silence and
discretion =,
Dr.. Jean j. Ulloa, who is Consul-General
for Costa RIGA at this city, tells a somewhat
different story. Apparently he does not
take the exiled patriots very seriously.
at il true" said the Consul General,
that these persons have been exiled, Do
| know where they are? Certainly not;
nor do | care. Is it likely they would leave
their addresses? They are merely CON
~spirators. They were engaged in a con-
spiracy against the Government. They
wished to bring about a revolution. Now
revolutions are annoying, They interfere
with ones dinner and they sometimes mess
up the streets. Therefore the President,
a most estimable man, decided that Soto.
also a most estimable man, would be better
of outside the country. So he sent him
away That's all. He sent away Tovias
Zuniga also. | do not know where Zuniga
IL except that he is not in Costa Rica.
sour elactions are pretty much like YOURS.