Percy F. Martin

Biographical—The President, Dr. Manuel E. Araujo—The ex-President, General Fernando Figueroa—The Cabinet—Dr. Francisco DueÑas—Don Rafael Guirola, D.—Dr. Teodosio Corranza—Dr. Manuel Castro, R.—Dr. Cecilio Bustamente—SeÑor JosÉ Maria Peralta Lagos—Dr. JosÉ A. Castro, V.—Dr. E. Bracamonte—Dr. Miguel DueÑas—SeÑor Carlos G. Prieto—Dr. ArtÚro RamÓn Ávila.

Dr. Manuel Enrique Araujo, President of the Republic of Salvador, although a comparatively young man, has long been regarded as one of the most distinguished scholars and politicians of his time. Born at Jucuapa, he came at a very early age to the Capital, in order to study medicine and surgery, and very soon he secured a wide reputation—extending, indeed, beyond the confines of his own country—as a great authority upon special medical and surgical cases. While still quite young, Dr. Manuel Araujo was married to SeÑorita Maria Peralta, the beautiful and accomplished daughter of a former President of the Republic, Don JosÉ Maria Peralta, a man who enjoyed universal respect and affection.

The young politician was always a strong Liberal in politics, but he never permitted party spirit to prejudice him in respect to his public actions, which have, both before and since his occupancy of the Chief Magistracy, been characterized by complete independence of judgment and commendable broad-mindedness. Besides being the selected occupant of the Presidential Chair by practically all political parties alike, Dr. Araujo is regarded as the representative of both the culture and the scientific professionalism of the country. As already mentioned, he is a very distinguished surgeon; he has also invented some very delicate and useful surgical instruments, many of which may be found in the Paris and Continental hospitals. The Chief Executive occupies the position of President of the Salvador Branch of the Spanish-American University. In social as well as in educational circles, Dr. Araujo is highly respected, apart from his exalted position; and to foreigners he is especially persona grata, on account of his broad sympathies and general charm of manner. It will be entirely contrary to general expectations and present appearances if, during his tenancy of the Chief Magistracy, Salvador fails to enjoy a great industrial peace and prosperity, as well as a financial regeneration, such as has long been devised to place this State in the fore-rank of Latin-American countries.

While politics in Salvador, as in so many other countries north and south of the Equator, have come to be regarded as a profession, Dr. Araujo has shown that he has considered them as accessories rather than expedients, and has carried out in principle the axiom that "he serves his party best who serves his country best." Inasmuch as Dr. Araujo occupied the position of Vice-President of the Republic in the Government of General Fernando Figueroa, it may be assumed that he has been in thorough accord with his policy; and now that he himself occupies the same exalted office, no great change in the Government's projects or methods of carrying them into effect will result. That some of the youngest men have proved the greatest statesmen history clearly shows; and the instance maybe cited of our own brilliant countryman, William Pitt, himself a son of the great Earl of Chatham, who made his first speech in the House of Commons when he was but twenty-two years of age, and became Prime Minister at the age of twenty-three. It is the young blood and youthful activity which are helping to mould a successful future for the Salvador of to-day.

By authority of Article 68 of the Constitution, the National Legislative Assembly elected, last May, SeÑor Carlos Melendez, Dr. Fernando Lopez, and General Juan Amaya, First, Second and Third Designates respectively, to succeed to the Presidency of the Republic in case of a vacancy occurring during the present term.

General Fernando Figueroa, President of the Republic of Salvador 1907-1911.

General Fernando Figueroa, President of the Republic from 1907 to 1911, was born in San Vicente. Even when a small boy his disposition led him to a military career, and while still in his teens he enlisted in the ranks of the Salvadorean Army, during the memorable struggle with Guatemala of 1863. Under the command of General Bracamonte, he became a Lieutenant, and speedily distinguished himself in the field. He was on this occasion very severely wounded, and also was specially mentioned in despatches. After the death of General Gerardo Barrios, and the election of Dr. DueÑas as President, young Fernando Figueroa was given his captaincy. He was mainly instrumental in organizing the militia, and in 1871 he put its capabilities to the test when the war in Honduras broke out. Upon the overthrow of the Government of Dr. DueÑas, and the selection of Marshal Santiago GonzÁlez as Provisional President, peace was proclaimed with Honduras, General Medina being recognized as legitimate President, and young Figueroa's services were temporarily unneeded. In 1872, however, Captain Figueroa was again fighting in territory belonging to Honduras, namely at SÁbana Grande and Santa BÁrbara, his gallant services at the first-named place gaining for him his lieutenant-colonelcy. In the following year, 1873, Colonel Figueroa distinguished himself in a third expedition against Honduras, at which time the President of the Republic was SeÑor Celio Arias, but who, by Salvador's aid, was dispossessed of the Chief Magistracy in favour of General Ponciano Leiva. Colonel Figueroa's bravery at the Battle of Amapala, and his gallant support of General Juan JosÉ Samayoa, have become important facts in Salvadorean history.

This same year he was appointed Governor of his native Department, San Vicente. In 1876, after fresh exploits in the field, the rising young soldier became a General, and with this military advancement he assisted the same year at the Battle of Pasaquina, in which he was once again seriously wounded. The events of 1876 led to further civil war, which continued with but few important intervals of peace until 1885, and during which period Marshal Santiago GonzÁlez fell from power, and Dr. Rafael ZaldÍvar replaced him as President. At this time, also, General J. Rufino Barrios died on the battle-field of Chalchuapa, and General Figueroa was given the supreme command of the Government troops against the Revolutionists, who were headed by General Francisco MenÉndez. The latter having succeeded in attaining position as head of the State, General Figueroa retired temporarily; but he returned with the inauguration of the administration of General Carlos Ezeta, and was again appointed to his former post of Governor of San Vicente. Later on he was nominated Minister of War, which position he resigned upon becoming candidate for the Presidency. He was duly and constitutionally elected in November of 1906, took office on March 1, 1907, and retired automatically with the fresh elections of 1910, to give place to Dr. Manuel Enrique Araujo, the present Chief Magistrate.

During his long and honourable career, General Figueroa has been distinguished as much for his brilliant soldier-like qualities as for his personal work and high sense of probity. He has had—as have all great men—his enemies and his detractors; but none among them can bring—nor ever have brought—any charge against his personal honour or integrity.

It was his keen patriotism and shrewd diplomacy which arrested the three-cornered armed conflict in which Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua, were concerned in 1907, and but for General Figueroa's tact and good sense, coupled with his masterly grasp of the situation, these three sister States would have exhausted themselves over a dispute which was practically worthless, and would have proved just as fruitless.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs is Dr. don Francisco DueÑas, a barrister, and a very distinguished member of the profession. Born in San Salvador, and forty-three years of age, Dr. DueÑas has occupied several important positions in the legal profession, and he is looked upon as one of the soundest authorities on commercial and general law. The Minister is regarded as an extremely able man, who is bound to rise to the highest position which the State can confer upon him.

The Minister of Finance is SeÑor don Rafael Guirola, D., a thoroughly sound, practical business man, with a wide knowledge of finance and commerce in all its branches and a member of one of the leading families. He may be depended upon to adopt a comprehensive and intelligent view of all subjects pertaining to his Department, and it may be accepted as certain that he will give wide encouragement to such foreign enterprise as can be regarded as of benefit to the State. SeÑor Rafael Guirola, D., is forty-five years of age.

The Minister of the Interior, Industry ("Fomento"), Public Instruction and Agriculture, Dr. don Teodosio Corranza, is also one of the most prominent lawyers in the Republic. He was born in San Salvador, and is about fifty-two years of age. He has occupied some of the most important and responsible posts in the country, and is considered by all alike as lending both distinction and prominence to his high office.

Dr. don Manuel Castro, R., Sub-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, is a barrister by profession, and a distinguished member of the Salvador Academy. Although only twenty-seven years of age, Dr. Castro has already filled with great distinction several important positions in the legal profession, and he is regarded as a rising "star" in the political firmament.

The portfolio for Home Affairs has been entrusted to the capable hands of Dr. Cecilio Bustamente, who is also a distinguished lawyer, as well as the writer of several books of more than ordinary merit. On several occasions Dr. Bustamente has occupied a position on the Bench, his judgments and rulings always having commanded deep respect, and invariably being the outcome of calm consideration and much forensic learning. Dr. Bustamente is about thirty-eight years of age.

Public Instruction is under the direction of Dr. Gustavo BarÓn, who is three years younger than Dr. Bustamente. By profession he is a physician and surgeon, having taken high degrees at the Paris University. Before entering the present Cabinet, Dr. BarÓn served as teacher of, and lecturer upon, several subjects in the National University of Salvador; and there is probably no man in the Republic who enjoys a wider respect or a deeper regard, especially among his colleagues, than the present Sub-Secretary of Instruction and Promotion.

The important portfolio of Public Works has been entrusted to the hands of SeÑor don JosÉ Maria Peralta Lagos, a civil engineer of great reputation in Central America, although only forty-two years of age. For many years past SeÑor Peralta Lagos has been interested in engineering undertakings, and there can be no question that he is admirably fitted both by experience and long study of current engineering subjects for the high and responsible position which he occupies.

The portfolio of Justice is in the hands of Dr. don JosÉ Antonio Castro, V., a young but very brilliant man, his age being only twenty-eight years, and who is a barrister by profession.

War and Marine are represented by Don Eusebio Bracamonte, a counsel of great reputation, and who for a considerable time occupied the position of Chief Justice of the High Court of Salvador. Dr. Bracamonte is forty-three years of age.

The portfolio of Agriculture is in the hands of Don Miguel DueÑas, who has devoted many years to a careful study of agriculture in all its branches, and has, from his experience and the careful observation of the methods employed in foreign countries, intimately acquainted himself with all modern methods, many of which he has personally introduced upon his own country estates. SeÑor DueÑas, who is forty years of age, has travelled very considerably in the United States and in Europe, and he speaks both English and French with considerable facility. For some years past he has been a Member of Congress, while he is also the Founder and the President of the Salvadorean Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture, an institution which has already conferred considerable benefits upon the State.

SeÑor Carlos G. Prieto, Sub-Secretary of Finance and Public Credit, is forty-five years of age, and a sound authority upon finance and commerce generally.

It is worthy of mention that the Ministry of Agriculture in Salvador is an entirely new creation, and owes its existence to the ruling President, Dr. Manuel E. Araujo. Considering the immense interest which Salvador has in agriculture, and bearing in mind the fact that upon its intelligent pursuit depends, to a very large extent, the prosperity of the country, it is surprising that a Department for Agriculture should not have been previously instituted. This is probably due to the fact that the late Ministry was disinclined to add further to the burden of expenditure in connection with the government of the country; but the additional expenditure incurred in the establishment of this Department has been abundantly justified by results, and there is very little question that, if for nothing else, the Presidency of Dr. Araujo will stand out prominently in connection with a governmental creation which has long been needed, and which is already proving thoroughly useful.

A new branch of the Government service has been established within the past few months in the form of an Information Bureau, which should prove of great utility to manufacturers and shippers, if they desire to avail themselves of it. Already several North American firms have done so, and, as I understand, with some material advantage, the existence of the department having been brought to the attention of United States commercial men by the very up-to-date and shrewd American Consul-General at San Salvador, Mr. Harold D. Clum. I have not heard that any attention has been directed to the institution by the British Board of Trade.

The Salvador Congress authorized, and the Ministry of Agriculture maintains, this Information Bureau, to report upon the orders which the various departments of the Government may consider it expedient to place abroad or upon the home market. The law provides that Government orders shall be placed only after, and presumably upon the basis of, a report from this Bureau; so that it is a distinct advantage to manufacturers and others, who desire to market goods in which the Government might be interested, to send their catalogues (but printed in Spanish, and not in English) with price lists (but calculated in decimal measurements and coinage, and not in "£ s. d."), as well as their proposals, to the Bureau. All such communications should be addressed: "Oficina de InformacÍon, Ministerio de Agricultura, San Salvador." And let it be remembered that the postage upon letters is 2¹/₂.!

The young and vigorous blood of which the Salvadorean Cabinet is composed is perhaps one of its strongest and most promising features, and the excellent impression which its formation created last March has been confirmed in every way since it got to work and proved the quality of its members for governing the country wisely and economically.

It would, under ordinary circumstances, perhaps be difficult to replace the valuable services which, for fifteen years past, have been rendered by Mr. Mark Jamestown Kelly, F.R.G.S., as Consul-General for the Republic of Salvador to the United Kingdom, with residence in London, and to whom full reference has been made in a preceding page; but it will be generally admitted that the Government has made a very wise and a very acceptable selection in Dr. ArtÚro RamÓn Ávila. The new Consul-General is a native of San Miguel, and belongs to one of the leading families of the country, and occupying a very high social position in the Republic.

Although only twenty-seven years of age, Dr. Ávila has already attained some celebrity in his own country, and has received the degree of Doctor of the Faculty of Jurisprudence, a title which was conferred upon him by the National University of Salvador. In 1907 one of Dr. Ávila's most notable achievements was the composition of a "paper" which he read before the Tribunal of Examination, this being a learned thesis upon the subject of "The Duel" ("El Duelo"), consisting of 100 pages, and pronounced by literary critics as about the most clever and most convincing essay which had been written upon the subject.

Previous to entering upon his profession as an advocate, Dr. Ávila served as a Justice of the Peace for one year in the Capital of Salvador, being later on appointed Judge of the First Instance. He occupied a similar position in the Civil and Criminal Courts of Santa Tecla (New San Salvador), and held that post for two years. Dr. Ávila had also for some time been advocate-in-chief for the Banco SalvadorÉno, of Salvador, and he represented legally various other reputable houses of commerce. Dr. Ávila holds the position of Consul-General of the Republic of Salvador for Great Britain and Ireland, and has taken convenient offices at 8, Union Court, Old Broad Street, London, E.C.

SeÑor Santiago Perez Triana, who has for some time been a resident in London, entered the service of the Salvadorean Government as Secretary of the Legation in 1900, under Dr. ZaldÍvar, and accompanied him to the Spanish-American Congress which met in Madrid in December of that year. SeÑor Perez Triana's capacity was that of second delegate of Salvador, Dr. ZaldÍvar being chief of the Mission, the third AttachÉ, who occupied a similar position to that of SeÑor Perez Triana, being SeÑor M. Rodriguez. Subsequently SeÑor Perez Triana was appointed Secretary of the Legation of Salvador in Spain. Since 1901, when he went to the last-named country to reside, he occupied the dual position of ChargÉ d'Affaires both in Madrid and in London; and he still occupies a similar position in the latter city, but not in Spain. In 1907 SeÑor Perez Triana was appointed Delegate to the Hague Conference for Salvador, jointly with Mr. P. J. Matheu. He is a quite remarkable orator and a man of great culture, speaking English with complete accuracy and writing it with equal facility.

In connection with the Coronation of Their Majesties King George and Queen Mary, in the month of June last, the Salvadorean Government sent to London an Extraordinary Mission to represent the Republic, selecting for the purpose SeÑor J. Miguel DueÑas who by birth and education was well fitted to fill so important a position. SeÑor DueÑas was born in the city of San Salvador on August 28, 1871, and is a son of an ex-President of Salvador, Dr. Francisco DueÑas, and Donna TÉrÉsa Dardano. After a brilliant college career, pursued both in his own country, in the United States, and in Europe, SeÑor DueÑas returned in 1895 to Salvador, where he was soon afterwards elected by popular vote as Deputy to the National Congress of the Republic. He also became an active member of the Municipal Council, and is the Founder and President of the Salvador Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture in Salvador. He retains his position as Secretary of State for the Department of Agriculture, which, as mentioned previously in this volume, was brought into existence upon the initiative of the present President of the Republic, Dr. Manuel Enrique Araujo, this being one of his first official acts after assuming the Presidential chair, in the month of March last. Accompanying SeÑor DueÑas was his wife, SeÑora Donna Maria EugÉnia Palomo.

The new Minister of Salvador in Spain and Italy, with residence at Madrid, is Dr. don J. Gustavo Guerrero, who was for many years Consul-General for Salvador at Genoa, and acted as First Secretary of the Special Diplomatic Mission of Salvador to the Court of St. James in connection with the Coronation of King George V. He is one of the several young men of great promise in Salvador, and is destined to go far. He is, moreover, a distinguished advocate, having taken high degrees at the Universities of San Salvador and Guatemala City. He has acted as Deputy Governor at the first-named Capital, as well as Consul at Burdeos, Consul at Genoa, Secretary of Legation at Washington, and ChargÉ d'Affaires at Rome and Madrid.

In the month of May last (1911) SeÑor don NicolÁs Leiva was appointed Consul for Salvador at Liverpool, which port carries on a fair amount of trade with the Republic.