THE REPUBLIC OF GUATEMALA. 
291 
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 Consti¬ 
tution, Dec. 9, 1879, the expulsion of the Jesuits, the 
confiscation of much Church property and its appro- 
