The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-05-29
PREsIDENT CABRERA or GUATE'
MALI.

MILL
WASHINGTON, May 2S.-It is usually
difficult and often impossible 10 measure
with accuracy the political conditions ex-
listing at any given time in any Of the Latin
American republics OF TO estimate cor
reotly the personal qualities and special
qualifications of Latin American rulers, 4
moment OF thought will at least suggest
that the same statement might be made
regarding this country. its individual States
and It's political leaders. There is no clearly
marked unanimity OF view regarding polti-
cal conditions in Ohio or Wisconsin, and
there is ne absolute harmony OF opinion
concerning such men as Mr.. Roosevelt and
Mr.. Bryan. or Mr.. Taft and Mr.. Foraker.
1t is much to be regretted that there 10
in thisc country a strong tendency TO believe
the worst that can be said about our Latin
American ~neighbors and their rulers. This
disposition is not at all TO our credit. II
has long stood and it still stands as a barrier
in our relations with the ~siIty-odd millions
Of people occupying the Western Henri
sphere south OF our boundary lines. Ashort
time ago Castro of Venezuela was an OBJ
ject Of special attack. To-day it Is Cabrera
OF Guatemala. The general sentiment OF
this country toward all the countries OF
that region is at all times ~lamentably I'M
charitable.
There is little room for doubt that an
a~nti-Cabrera cabal is actively at work. 1t
would probably be very difficult to locate
definitely its leading spirits. but it may
safely be assumed that some are among
his opponents in his own country, some in
Mexico, some in Salvador and some in
Nicaragua. Mexico. for various reasons,
is unfriendly toward Cabrera; Salvador is
Guatemala enemy, and 30 is Honduras;
and there are many who believe that Zelaya
of Nicaragua would be pleased for reasons
OF his own to repeat in Guatemala his
recent experience in Honduras. The I'm
fortunate gentleman is thus menaced by
| those OF his own household and practically
surrounded by opponents and enemies.
In the clamor made against him by these
various groups the defence made by Cabre-
ra's friends sounds only as a faint and feeble
note. His Minister in Washington and his
Consul General in New York assert his
popularity among his people and deny
the charges preferred against him. II is
seldom that any other voice is heard in his
defence. The forces arrayed are too I'm
equal for the fair play TO which he is surely
entitled.
Manuel Estrada Cabrera is not one OF
the master minds of the age. He Is a prod
uct of Central American conditions and
in many ways stands we'll above the average
Of the Central American Presidents OF the
last thirty or forty years. He was Secre-
tary of Government and Justice in 1893,
when President Barrios was killed. and
became acting President under the law
until a new election could be held. At
that election he was chosen as President
by a practically unanimous vote. He was
reelected in 1904. He has effected a number
Of important reforms and his administra-
ton has been on the whole one Of
achievement.
Under his rule the financial condition OF
the country has been improved, important
public works have been carried out and
others nave been started. the laws have
been reformed aid liberalized, agriculture
has been fostered and new systems Of
sanitation have been introduced. His
greatest achievement has been along the
line of a new public school system. In a
special report on the subject OF technical
education in Guatemala Consul-General
Winslow has said: There are few villages
in the country where there are no schools.
There are in the city OF Guatemala ~(popula-
ton 10000 twenty-five public schools.
eight institutes and three colleges. 1t is
his [Cabrera'sl ambition to establish firmly
an educational system modelled after that
in use in the United States. where the
watchword shall be industry, promptness
and honesty" This is the testimony Of
an American official.
Regarded with strict impartiality, there
is much that is highly co~mmendable in
| I.L-z-.t, -I,atz,,t-o,,2 Tnrort,.ntnIr
there is also much that is open to some
! criticism and even to denunciation. He
has doubtless o%Yerplayed the game OF
ION with his head" fguratively and
literally, when dealing with political oppo-
nents. He has exiled some and has caused
others to be removed" In some respeots his
political methods have been those OF the
Spanish Governors-Genera of two or three
centuries ago, While his experience and
| his methods are far from unique, even in
the present day and generation. they do
undoubtedly furnish his opponents both
within and without the Guatemalan boun-
diaries with a powerful and effective
weapon against him. With those who
wish to get rid OF him his sins and his errors
of judgment overwhelm the good that he
has done. \
The immediate and the ultimate political
future of Guatemala are alike beyond pre-
diction. There may come revolution. act
ing from within and excited and supported
from without, and there may come Mexican
Intervention. In the latter event the
United States could not well deny TO Mexico
the right to say to Guatemala very much
what Mr.. Mckinley said in 1898 about the
Cuban trouble. There are disturbances at
Mexioo's very door and because OF her
endangered interests she may say that
it must stop.
Paraftiu Here and In England.
TO THE EDITOR or THE SUS-tSir, The clipping