A MAN OF DESTINY. How Barrios Lifted Himself From a Ploughboy to a President. His Great Plot to Unity the Central American States and Become the Dictator of the United Country.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 99, 25 April 1885, Page 5

A MAN OF DESTINY. How Barrios Lifted Himself From a Ploughboy to a President. His Great Plot to Unity the Central American States and Become the Dictator of the United Country.

Barrios is looked upon by the great mass of the people of Central America as a man of destiny. His friends and enemies alike admit that the successof the present attempt to unify the five Central American republics depends solely upon this half-Indian, who has pushed his way up from the ranks of the lowest labourers in the fields to the Presidency of Guatemala. His friends say that Barrios is sincere in his efforts to promote the welfare of the five little republics that constitute Central America ; that heis not prompted by a greedy ambition to install himself as dictator of the federation. His enemies are quite as positive that Barrios desires the unification only to become the autocrat of the united republics, as he has already become the despot of Guatemala. Barrios is the most conspicuous figure that has appeared in Central Ameripa history for many years. His career is full of exploits, and it attracts that interest that always attends a brilliant series of dashing movements that lifts a man from the lowest to the highest rank in a country. He was born July 19, 1835, in a little village called San Lorenzo in Guatemala. His parents were labourers on the plantation of one of the wealthy and aristocratic land-owners of the country. There was a weak strain of Spanish blood in his father and mother, the Indian element largely predominating in their characters. It was the custom then as now for the Indians of the country to be employed on the estates of the aristocratic land owners. The Barrios family laboured like all other poor Indian families in the fields, andlived in the village made up of the huts occupied by the labourers on the estate. There was little chance for a boy born in such conditions to become anything better than a toiler in the fields or a herder of cattle. But Serapio Cruz, who became a great General, was once a pig-driver near the home of Barrios, and his euccess no doubt kindled the ambition of the Indian ,

AMBITIOUS FOR LEARNING. After working on the plantation, where his father wurtempioyed, for a few years, he decided to go to the capital of the State and pick up an education. His intelligence at once attracted attention, and he was assisted to enter the University of San Carlos He graduated antf became a lawyer. His life at the capital of jruatemala was during the stormy period of Carrera'a Presidency, In 1867 he began his struggle to get control of the country. Gathering a new friendß about him, he attacked tho garrison stationed in the little town of San Marcos and captured it. The news flew over the country that a halfIndian, who had been educated in the University of San Carlos, had begun a revolution. The common people heard the newa gladly, for the Government was for the rich and by tho rich. But Cerna, the President, paid little attention to Jiarrios in his first cftbrte. Helooked upon the young man as a daring brigand to be killed or bought off, and he regarded his folio were as a band of plunder-seekere. Barrios continued his attacks with great vigour and rapidity. Village after village fell into his power. His ranks were swelled by recruits from the Indians and half breeds. Iv a few months he was at the head of an army flashed with success, and ready to follow where erer he led. The Government seized his brother and father, and held them as hostages ; but Barrios continued his advance. His career wns brought to a sudden step by a dangerous wound that he received at this time. He was taken to tho mountains, and cared for by an Indian named Nicolos, whom Barrios has since rewarded munificently for the attention he gave him while a wounded soldier.

UK RENEWS HIS CONQUEST. After recovering, he again began his insurrection, which spread so fast and at every point was so successful that upon Juno 1, 1871, he entered the Capitol at Guatemala without resistance. His general, Granados, was declared President, although Barrios was the real power, and directed the Government. In the following year he was elected President, and he has retained that office ever since. Barrios is a man of middleheight, with broad shoulders and deep chest. Hisfeatures arestrongly marked with Indian characteristics. His cheek bones are high, his complexion awarthy, and his hair straight and black. He hasa finely moulded head and a ftashin q eye. He married the loveliest woman in Central America. She was famed far and wide for her beauty, and attracts asmuch attention now, when sheand her husband appear together, as the dark, strong face of Barrios. The oldest son of Barrio* is at 'f/est Point, his father evidently preparing him to take the government when he lays down the reins of power. Such is the man who now aspires to unify the five republics of Central America under one Government. The administration of Barrio 3 as President of Guatemala has been solely in the interests of the common people. He has established schools for their benefit, and encouraged the building of railroads and telegraph lines. He is the sole power in the State. He collects the revenue and disburses it as he sees fit.

HIS SCHEME OF FEDERATION. He announces that the object of the war be has begun is to unite Honduras, Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and his own country, Guatemala, under one republic, each country retaining the right of local self-government, but surrendering to the confederation the rights of nationality. In the earlier years of the century Central America was part of the Mexican Government. In 1823 it separated from Mexico and formed a confederation of the five provinces. In 1838 the jealousies of the leaders in the States brought about a dissolution of the republic. There have been repeated efforts since that time to reunite the five States. In 1842 and 1847, and again in 1882, there were attempts made to bring the countries of Central America together, but at each time one or the other of the States refused to surrender any of its rights, and the federa tion failed. Two years ago Soto endeavoured to unite the States, but Barrios opposed his plan, and Soto left Honduras and came to the United States to get means to wage a war against Barrios and coerce him into joining the proposed union of states. But Soto failed in his mission, and is now living in New York. It is supposed by those who are intimately acquainted with the dritt of affairs in Central America that Barrios has been suddenly deserted by Dr. Zaldivar, President of Salvador. It is said that Barrios used his influence to secure the election of Zaldivar. He performed a similar service for General Luis Bogran, President ot Honduras Bogran is the only ruler in Central America besides Barrios who favours the union of the five States.

DESERTED BY ZALDIVAB. It is probable that Barrios counted upon I the assistance of Salvador and Honduras, and intended* with the aid of these two

States, to compel Nicaragua and Cost*; Rica to join the confederation. Theysudden desertion of Zaldivar at the moment when the plan of conquest was announced has placed Barrios in a difficult position. Zaldivar at once appealed to Mexico for assietance, and President Diaz notified Barrios that Mexico would take steps at once to prevent the conquest of Central America. Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica are arming to resist the invasion of Barrios, and Mexico, on the north, is leading an army to the boundary Jine offtuate* , mala, ready to march'into tne territory of Barrios if he' proceeds to cross into Salvador. This state of affairs^ must be considered as a aurpriae to Barrios. It is not probable that he would carelessly bring his country between two powerful enemies, the one on the north and the other on the south. It is regarded as much more probable that he relied upon the assistance of Zaldivar, the President of Salvador. Barrios has two States at his back—Gua1 temala and Honduras. Guatemala is the wealthiest and most populous of all the Central American States. It had a population of 1,252,497 in 1883, and a standing army of about 10,000 men. It is well equipped with munitions of war. Honduras is a rough mountainous land, with a scattered population, numbering not more than 350,000. It has little force, as a military power, the people being chiefly Indians and not living together in towns and cities, but scattered over the mountains tending herds of cattle. Barrios must draw his entire strength from these two countries. Opposed to him are Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. Of these Salvador is the smallest, yet it is the most formidable.

A STRONG FORCE AGAINST HIM. The Salvadorians are the most warlike people in Central America. They live in the valley 8 along the coast, and are intelligent and wealthy. They have always taken a conspicuous part in the military affairs of Central America. With these people at his back, Barrios would probably have had an easy victory over Nicaragua and Costa Rici ; but with the Salvadoriona as enemies his undertaking has been made tenfold more difficult. Nicaragua is one of the most fortunate States in the whole group of five. It is entirely out of debt, has a firm, liberal government, and is happy in its situation, for the proposed canal is projected across its territory, for which it will receive a handsome sum if the water-way w built. Costa Rica is the southern of the five States, and has always proved the most obstinate in resisting the attempts of military adventurers to consolidate the five countries. A number of motives are assigned to Barrios in his present project. One is that he covets the plethoric treasury of Nicaragua, and the fair prospect that country has of being made still richer by a large bounty for the right of w&y across her territory for a ship-canal. If Barrios could now obtain oossesoion of Nicaragua, he would receive the benefit of whatever gain there will be to that country through the construction of the canal. It is most probable that this is but one of the rich results he aims to obtain by becoming the dictator of the whole country. An international question will be raised if he persists. The United States has interests in Central America, and especially large prospective interests in Nicaragua. Mexico also has a profound interest in such a scheme. Barrios's attempt at coercive federation will excite the hostility of Mexico and the opposition of the United States.