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.