The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-05-01
The Two Cabreras.

Inc Two OhDIoEab'
A few years ago ESTRADA CABRERA
had an excellent reputation as the Presi-
| dent Of Guatemala. He still has many
supporters and apologists at home, but
Of late he has lost ground in the esteem
Of the outside world. Some Of his own
comtrymen are submitting, in the shape
Of bombs and bullets, limitations that
he has outlived his usefulness.
During the earlier years Of his expert
ence as Guatemala's chief Executive
ESTRADA CABRERA was lauded as a man
Of peace and progress, He was a civil
ian, a lawyer by profession. Before en-
tering the Cabinet of President BARRIOs
he had been Mayor Of his native city,
Quezaltenango. He had served as Reg
istrar, Judge, Magistrate and member Of
ass blies. General BARRIos was as
sassinated in 1898, and in september Of
that year CABRERA was chosen to fill
out the Presidential term ending in 1905.
The regular election of 1904 gave him
the Presidency for the term ending in 1911.
He has therefore held the Office for ten
years.
During the earlier years Of his in
cumbenCy he achieved some distinction
by his introduction OF numerous admin
istrative reforms, by a reduction Of the
public debt, by encouragement Of in
dustrial enterprise and by a special
attention to education and public works.
He adopted a comprehensive railway pol
icy and displayed an ambition to elevate
in every possible way the social, political
and industrial life OF his people. We now
hear Of him as a dictator offending many
and as an object Of attacks by assassins
and conspirators,
There is evidently a flaw somewhere
in the Guatemalan situation. On the
occasion Of a New Years reception in
1905 the American Minister to Guatemala,
Mr.. COMBS, speaking for the diplomatic
corps resident in that country, said 70
President CABRERA: THE wise base their
hopes Of the future upon their expert
ences Of the past, and we look to the peace
and order maintained by your Admin
istration in the past seven years as a
guarantee that your people may expect as
much in those that are TO follow" A few
months later Guatemala became a CEN
tire of disturbance followed by open revo-
luton and by war with it's neighbors,
Particularly as a result Of the Barillas
affair, relations between Mexico and
Guatemala were heavily strained. The
treaty signed on board the M~arblehead
on July 20, 1905, terminated a strife which
for a time threatened a general upheaval
in Central America. Hostilities ceased,
but friction and no little international
i'll feeling remained,
Whether the animosity is or is not prop
erly justified, Mr.. CABRERA has incurred
enmity at home and ~displeasure abroad.
We accept this fact with reluctance be-
cause Of an earlier high opinion Of Mr..
CABRERA's usefulness. II is also 10 be
recognized that he did not at all help his
position by his refusal to accept uncondi.
tionally, as did the other Powers, the terms
of the convention of last fall by which pro-
vision was made for a Central American
Court Of Justice. We believe that he has
weakened his position by the
summary execution Of those who have
attempted his assassination. Such meth
DDS in a Latin American republic are
more likely 10 excite than to suppress
opposition.
Whether it would now be possible for
Mr.. CABRERA by any means to reinstate
himself, to recover his earlier position and
prestige, we are unable to say. The pol
icy adopted by President ZELAYA Of
leaves Mr.. CABRERA the
doubtful figure m Central American
affairs. Tenure Of Office by mean Of the
infection of exile, seizure Of property,
Imprisonment on political charges and
summary execution is little conducive TO |
peace and national progress.