New-York tribune., 1908-11-29
PRAISE FOR CABRERA
PROGRESS IN GUATEMAL4.
Former Adjutaut Defends President
against Critics.


staff OF the Guatemalan army formerly adtutant TO
President Manuel Estrada Cabrera Of Guatemala
who is visiting this city. talked TO Tribune
reporter yesterday the political and economic
situations in his country and the accomplishments
and aims OF the chief executive. President Cabrera
Colonel Duran said. has misunderstood and
abused and vigorously defended his chief
The President OF Guatemala said Colonel Du-
ran the object Of so much slander the part Of
his political enemies. and so shamefuly branded by
those who. account of their failure in governing
people had been placed in the pillory, to he sub
jects Of such ridiCule to reduce them merely 70
the ranks Of beings minute to be indiscerntbe
even under the microscope is in reality grand
character. a man of intrinsic merit a whose
mind contains all those elements in the right pro
portion from which gengs is built and which Is
necessary for undertaking enormous tasks and for
accomplishing them with the tranquility which in
variabIy follows from the satisfaction of having
fulfilled a patriotic and humanitarian duty.
In governing his country Manuel Estrada Ca
brera shows unusual aptitude. powerful initiative
force. and he is fortunate in selecting his meas
in spite Of those who SANDER him. AS
statesman and in his administrative capacity his
name is daily becoming more Respondent, and.
while guiding his people along a well conceived
path of progress. without stirring from his Office,
where he clears up and solves the most intricate
problems Of government. M spreads dismay and
disintegraton IN the camp Of those nstilled with
what may be permitted to call perverse hos
tility. amazing his enemies and disarrning them
with the evidence of his initiative powers. which
are at all times boldly prominent He is indeed a
and ruler.
EDUCATIONAL. DEVELOPMENT
The material development Of Guatemala IS by
no means the only task accomplished by Estrada
Cabrera The dream which from the very begin
ming of his administration spurred him vas 70
further the moral progress Of those over whom he
| rules. The school, the institute the academy, were
the powerful factors he estab bshed 10 provide his
fellow citizens with the means of obtaining edu-
/
| abling them 10 meet the requirements OF times
and thus to stand equal footing with the
! most advanced nations
Although these merttorous efforts not
vet fully appreciated abroad because they still
| Of too recent origin TO have become known be-
yond the borders of his country, it is undenable
truth that without his efforts progress would have
| been impossible and no solid foundations could
have been laid which to place the cornerstone
| on which national wealth is built up l. 9. good
and convenient means Of communication. which
| open up q great future for trade and traffic and
| make enormous sources of wealth accessible TO the
hand Of man. since they open 10 traffic vast re-
/ gions whose utilization not only proves profitable
| to those who employ them. but profitable to the
! country in general
This object has been partly attained by the rail-
way line connecting the capital Of the republic with
/ the Atlantic Ocean and which provides q outlet
for the expectation Of the chief products Of the
country. Will have been fully plishei with
/ the completion of the railway lines n the
course OF construction namely, the line which next
/ year will connect Guatemala with the Mexican
railway system and that which will provide rail
| way connection with the adjoining Republic Of
/ Salvador
ENEMIES SHOULD LAY DOWN ARMS
! In view of such display Of initiative power
would rightly entitled to expect the enc
| mics of so progressive ruler to lay down their
arms? It appears to US that such impressive les
/ sons would prove quietus TO his enemies, De 50
| powerful compel them to drop the arms they
raised against him, at least TO induce them
not to oppose him in the performance of his la
borious task. though they should not lend
him their assistance This is what love Of country
and correct conception of the duties OF citizen
ship should impel them to do.
While giving his attention to public works and
education Estrada Cabrera by means neglects
the other important issues Of his country. He is
granting concessions to agricultural and Industrial
enterprises and all such will result the de-
veI1pment Of his country, and takes care to have
/ his government further the same by all available
| means To this end wise laws have been enacted,
which will bear rich fruit ny increasing the pro-
duCtiOn. the prosperity and the Wellbeing Of the
! people of Guatemala
AT the present time the President OF Guatemala
| is moreover, engaged in working out definite
! luton Of the problem Of placing the country in
! sound financial condition, enduring basis
With the patriotic cooperation Of his ministers he
is evolving a method of reconstruCting the paper
currency with the least possible disturbance the
agricultural interests, and this shall
/ have been accomplished Guatemala viii strengthen
her sources Of wealth, and Following the example
Of other nations this continent, the country will
its financial wea kness, which prevents it
from reaping from the progress made within the
last few years the full advantage to which it is
entitled
President Estrada Cabrers's administration.
composed Of the most cultivated and influential ee
ments Of the republic. maintains the most cordial
relations with all the nations of the earth 1t has
at all times tried 70 be on an equally cordial foot
ing with its neighbors, the Central American
tries and the relations maintained with gov
erument at Washington were never more friendly
| than at the present tine"