Banished men are always dangerous, and Granados was no exception. Seeing his opportunity in some dissatisfaction with the governmental policy, he invaded Guatemala, and was at once joined by General Barrios. The march from Mexican territory was almost a triumphal procession, and on the plain between Quezaltenango and Totonicapan (the Esdraelon of Guatemala) the decisive battle was fought. Cerna could not trust his generals, and so took the field in person. For a time the battle was with him; but Barrios brought up his troops in good time, and the national army had to give way. President Cerna rallied his forces at Chimaltenango, only to be again defeated; and after making a final stand at San Lucas, a small village between Antigua and Mixco, fled to Chiquimula, where he advised his followers to submit to the conquerors, while he went over into Honduras.
On the 30th of June the “Army of Liberators” entered the capital, and Granados was proclaimed President pro tempore. The new President found an empty treasury, and called upon the merchants for a loan. The authorities were very careful to say that this was not a forced loan; but the method was very much of that character, for a list was made out of all the merchants in the city, and the proportion each one was thought capable of paying set against his name. The “subscription paper” was then sent around, and few dared to refuse. No wonder that Central Americans do not wish to be thought rich or prosperous! Granados was nominally President; but no one doubted that the man soon to become his successor was in reality acting in that capacity even then, although it was convenient for him to have Granados arrange the finances as well as the disturbed politics. Several reforms were proclaimed, as freedom of the press, and the abolition of the monopoly of distilling aguardiente. Before three months had passed, the clergy began to make trouble, and in September, 1872, the Archbishop and the entire Order of Jesuits were banished the republic for inciting insurrection at Santa Rosa. The San Franciscans, Capucins, and Dominicans were expelled the following year. This was briefly the story of the beginning of the reign of Barrios.
On June 30, 1871, General J. Rufino Barrios was elected President of the independent republic that Carrera claimed to have founded; and from that date Guatemala began to make real progress. His iron will determined that Guatemala should indeed be chief of all the Central American States, so that when the time came to renew the union of all the States,—a cherished scheme of Barrios,—there could be no question of her leadership. He so far succeeded that his country has undoubtedly made more material progress in the ten years of his administration than the other Central American Republics have made in half a century.
Without going into even a brief history of the politics of the republic under Barrios, certain important acts must be mentioned, such as the adoption of a Constitution, Dec. 9, 1879, the expulsion of the Jesuits, the confiscation of much Church property and its appropriation to the uses of public education, as well as for hotels and government offices,—acts which have greatly advanced this once priest-ridden country. I would not have it thought that in speaking of the sequestration of the churches and monasteries I undervalue the offices of religion, or am at variance with the particular branch of the Church whose property was so treated. Guatemala needs more religion, not less; and could some of those pure and devoted priests of the Church of Rome whom I have rejoiced to meet in many a remote region, turn their energies to Central America, it would be well. It cannot, however, be too clearly stated that what was called the Church in these lands was a church for any other purpose than those truly religious men could approve. The evidences of corruption are too clear to admit a doubt that the clergy had ceased to do the people any good: they failed to do their duty, in their eager struggle for temporal power; and to-day the splendid churches they built are in ruins, or left to the ministrations of some itinerant priest. There are in Guatemala church edifices enough to contain the entire population, not a tenth part of which ever enters for worship, since the majority has been repelled rather than attracted by the unfaithful padres.
The legislative power is in the Asamblea Nacional of Guatemala, which convenes on the 1st of March annually; and its ordinary sessions last only two months, although it may continue in session another month if necessary. Owing to the adoption of a code, the republic is generally saved the “hayseed” law of the Northern legislatures and the “judge-made” law of the courts; and the work of the Asamblea is greatly lightened. The deputies who compose the Asamblea are elected on the basis of one for every twenty thousand inhabitants, or for a fraction exceeding one half of that number. Each is elected for a term of four years; but the terms are so arranged that one half of the deputies is changed every two years. To these deputies the various Secretaries of State make formal reports regarding the matters usually contained in the President’s Message to the Congress of the United States.
The President of Guatemala is elected by direct popular vote for the term of six years; and the Asamblea elects two persons to succeed him in turn, should he die or cease to act during the term for which he was elected. Profiting by the example of the older republic, Guatemala has rejected the farcical election still used in the North, where the people are supposed to elect electors to elect a President. The President appoints the following Secretaries of State:—
| Relaciones Exteriores | Foreign Affairs. |
| Gobernacion i Justicia | Government and Justice. |
| Hacienda y Credito Publico | Treasury. |
| Guerra | War. |
| Fomento | Interior. |
| Instruccion Publica | Public Instruction. |
These officials, with nine Counsellors, form the Council of State. For the purposes of government the republic is divided into twenty-three Departments, which are subdivided into sixty-one Districts. In these Districts are eleven cities (ciudades), thirty-two towns (villas), two hundred and ninety-nine villages (pueblos), fourteen hundred and six settlements (aldeas), fifty-nine shore hamlets (caserios litorales), and three thousand seven hundred and forty-two interior hamlets (caserios rurales). The Departments, with their chief towns, are as follows:
| Departments. | Chief Towns. | |
|---|---|---|
| Guatemala | Guatemala | (ciudad) |
| Amatitlan | Amatitlan | ” |
| Escuintla | Escuintla | ” |
| Sacatepequez | Antigua | ” |
| Chimaltenango | Chimaltenango | (villa) |
| Sololà | Sololà | ” |
| Totonicapan | Totonicapan | (ciudad) |
| Suchitepequez | Mazatenango | (villa) |
| Retalhuleu | Retalhuleu | ” |
| Quezaltenango | Quezaltenango | (ciudad) |
| San Marcos | San Marcos | ” |
| Huehuetenango | Huehuetenango | ” |
| Quiché | Santa Cruz del Quiché | (villa) |
| Santa Rosa | Cuajinicuilapa | ” |
| Jutiapa | Jutiapa | ” |
| Jalapa | Jalapa | ” |
| Chiquimula | Chiquimula | (ciudad) |
| Zacapa | Zacapa | (villa) |
| Izabal | Izabal | (puerto) |
| Livingston | Livingston | ” |
| Baja Verapaz | Salamà | (ciudad) |
| Alta Verapaz | Coban | ” |
| Peten | Sacluk | (pueblo) |
The Executive appoints over each of these Departments a Jefe politico, or civil governor; and, like the Secretaries of State, they must be men in whom he has implicit confidence. I may add that I met fifteen of these Jefes in the course of my journey, and found them, with two exceptions, men of character and intelligence, who would compare favorably with the governors of any of the Northern States; nor is this surprising, since they are appointed for their fitness, and not elected, as the United States governors often are, by a handful of irresponsible politicians who use popular votes simply to forward their private ends.