THE REPUBLIC OF GUATEMALA. 295 
irresponsible politicians who use popular votes simply to 
forward their private ends. 
The organic law of Guatemala is the Civil, or Roman. 
The code is the result of careful study and adaptation to 
the needs of the country, and not the result of the tink¬ 
ering of village Solons and the decisions of wiseacre 
judges, as is that heterogeneous mass, amorphous and 
illogical, the common law. Wherever especial needs 
have arisen, the code has been supplemented by decretos 
conforming to the system. The judiciary is appointed, 
and the members hold office for four years. It cannot be 
denied that some of the lower judges are not always men 
of considerable legal attainments; but it will be remem¬ 
bered that they do not usurp the legislative function, as 
is too often the case with judges under the common 
law. 
Although the country is of the Roman Catholic form 
of religion, the Constitution allows full liberty of worship 
to other sects, within their respective churches, but for¬ 
bids acts subversive of public order, or which might 
invalidate any civil or political obligations. 1 Notwith¬ 
standing this liberty, there is, I believe, but one Protes¬ 
tant congregation worshipping in the republic. It seems 
that the offices of religion are used most by women and 
by the dying. Guatemala certainly cannot be called a 
religious community. The ruined churches, crumbling to 
dust and serving only as cemeteries of the dead,, are 
monuments of a departed worship. Perhaps some day a 
1 “ Art. 24. El ejercicio de tod as las religion es, sin preeminencia alguna, 
queda garantizado en el interior de los templos; pero ese libre ejercicio no 
podra extenderse hasta ejecutar actos subversivos 6 practicas in compatibles con 
la paz j el orden publico, ni da derecbo para oponerse al cumplimiento de las 
obligaciones civiles y politicas.” 
