1898 - Manuel Estrada Cabrera
On the night of February 8, 1898, President Reina Barrios was assassinated by Oscar Zollinger, an alien criminal. In accordance with the Constitution, it fell upon Manuel Estrada Cabrera as Vice-President to assume the Presidency of the Republic. Scarcely had the tragic event taken place, when in the presence of the corpse of the unfortunate President, the members of his cabinet were in consultation seeking means to thwart the Constitution and place in the high office some one selected from their own coterie instead of the one designated by law-in order that they might keep on enjoying the benefits and privileges of power.
The Conservative Party, up to that moment in a state of half slumber, thought this a good opportunity to strike the mortal blow, conquer and crown its ambition to establish its retrograde system, by demolishing with ruthless hand the work of progress inaugurated by General Justo Rufino Barrios and re-establishing the old system of domination over the people by the privileged and aristocratic class and exploitation and servitude of the natives.
Elected to a six-year term in 1898, Estrada organized fraudulent reelections every six years and thereby remained in office until 1920. Although he continued the developmentalist policies of his predecessors, Estrada gradually became a repressive, corrupt. and mentally erratic dictator. Like his Mexican contemporary. Porfirio Díaz, Estrada believed in development on the basis of Indian labor and foreign investment. The expropriation of Indian communal lands on various extra-legal pretexts continued. The Boston-based United Fruit Company established extensive banana plantations. having secured land on highly favorable terms.
The highways of communication, without which no progress can be made, because they are the arteries through which the blood and life of a nation flows, that was the flow of its productions, commerce and intercourse with other nations of the world, were in February, 1898, in a deplorable state of dilapidation and neglect. Manuel Estrada Cabrera finished the great task of building the Northern Railroad that connected the Pacific with the Atlantic and which constitutes the real foundation for the greatness and prosperity of the country. Upon the completion of this extensive and costly line which connects the Capital City with the sea ports on both oceans, he devoted his energies to the construction of other lines and by these means shortened the distances and brought the more important towns into communication with each other, to the advantage and development of industries and commerce. Likewise, he ordered the reconstruction of roads and highways to make traffic easier between the villages and smaller towns, thus facilitating intercourse between farmers, merchants and travelers. A company affiliated with United Fruit, International Railways of Central America (IRCA), greatly expanded the country's railroad network and penetrated into neighboring countries. The IRCA system included over 1,400 kilometers of track by 1930.
One of the most praised measures was the one that provides for the adjudication of agricultural lands to persons without means: through the operation of this law many have been saved from misery and the lands have provided sustenance for numberless families, contributing to increased national production.
Upon his ascension to power in 1898, Manuel Estrada Cabrera encountered a very difficult financial situation, which he ameliorated in the best way possible, aided by the great resources of the country and through his own ability and honesty. By amortizing and paying all foreign interest charges punctually this debt had been reduced to insignificant proportions as compared with the immense production of this prosperous country—one of the richest and most beautiful on the American continent. By reason of this fact the credit of Guatemala was so well established both in Europe and in the United States. Local officials cooperated with landowners in their enforcement of the debt peonage system. and Estrada ruled through a system of informers and political assassins.
Able-bodied males were made subject to conscription. and a large standing army was developed. El Salvador, encouraged by the weakness and inactivity of the preceding administrations of Barillas and Reina Barrios, continued systematically its former acts of provocation; accordingly it became necessary to take precautions for the maintenance of national interests and honor which had been confided to his care by the nation. Soon he found himself obliged to accept the challenge sent to Guatemala and took steps to repel the outrage by armed force. In a few days the Guatemalan army was able to demonstrate its strength, indomitable valor and fine discipline by defeating the insolent invading army which had to flee, leaving behind it to the victors their banners, cannon, and even the corpse of the leader who had provoked the conflict.
On March 15, 1911, the presidential period for which President MANUEL ESTRADA CABRERA was elected terminated. The Federal Congress, therefore, decreed, on May 4 last, in accordance with the laws of Guatemala governing the election of the Chief Executive, that a presidential election should be held on April 11, 1910, for the period 1911-1917. A convention was held in the city of Guatemala to nominate a candidate for the presidency for the new term, and Licentiate MANUEL ESTRADA CABRERA, the presentable and patriotic President of the Republic, who had done so much for the inauguration of good government, the material development and moral advancement of the nation, was again unanimously chosen as a candidate for election to that high office.
The election returns showed the election of President CABRERA by a sweeping majority for another term of six years, making in all three successive periods, or eighteen years, that the people of Guatemala honored him with the presidency of the nation. The continuancé of President CABRERA in power guarantees the uninterrupted development of the vast resources of the country, which, under his administration, had developed more rapidly than at any other time in the history of the Republic. Corporations, capitalists, and investors have confidence in President CABRERA and his Government, and an era of unprecedented commercial activity was predicted for Guatemala during the next few years.
Repeated assassination attempts and revolts were unsuccessful until 1920, when Estrada was deposed after bloody street fighting in Guatemala City. The opposition had managed to get a majority in the legislature to agree to the appointment of a committee of doctors to pass on the president's sanity; in a decision as much political as medical, the committee decided that Estrada was indeed insane.
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