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uccessor was not entirely justified； the immense personal popularity of Diaz saved the prestige of the new chief magistrate。 Under his administration the constitution was amended in such a way as to deprive the Chief Justice of the privilege of replacing the President in case of a vacancy； thus eliminating that official from politics。 After his resumption of office； Diaz had the fundamental law modified anew； so as to permit the reelection of a President for one term only！ For this change； inconsistent though it may seem； Diaz was not alone responsible。 Circumstances had changed； and the constitution had to change with them。
Had the 〃United Provinces of Central America；〃 as they came forth from under the rule of Spain； seen fit to abstain from following in the unsteady footsteps of Mexico up to the time of the accession of Diaz to power； had they done nothing more than develop their natural wealth and utilize their admirable geographical situation； they might have become prosperous and kept their corporate name。 As it was； their history for upwards of forty years had little to record other than a momentary cohesion and a subsequent lapse into five quarrelsome little republicsthe 〃Balkan States〃 of America。 Among them Costa Rica had suffered least from arbitrary management or internal commotion and showed the greatest signs of advancement。
In Guatemala； however； there had arisen another Diaz； though a man quite inferior in many respects to his northern counterpart。 When Justo Rufino Barrios became President of that republic in 1873 he was believed to have conservative leanings。 Ere long； however； he astounded his compatriots by showing them that he was a thoroughgoing radical with methods of action to correspond to his convictions。 Not only did he keep the Jesuits out of the country but he abolished monastic orders altogether and converted their buildings to public use。 He made marriage a civil contract and he secularized the burying grounds。 Education he encouraged by engaging the services of foreign instructors； and he brought about a better observance of the law by the promulgation of new codes。 He also introduced railways and telegraph lines。 Since the manufacture of aniline dyes abroad had diminished the demand for cochineal； Barrios decided to replace this export by cultivating coffee。 To this end； he distributed seeds among the planters and furnished financial aid besides； with a promise to inspect the fields in due season and see what had been accomplished。 Finding that in many cases the seeds had been thrown away and the money wasted in drink and gambling； he ordered the guilty planters to be given fifty lashes； with the assurance that on a second offense he would shoot them on sight。 Coffee planting in Guatemala was pursued thereafter with much alacrity！
Posts in the government service Barrios distributed quite impartially among Conservatives and Democrats； deserving or otherwise； for he had them both well under control。 At his behest a permanent constitution was promulgated in 1880。 While he affected to dislike continual reelection； he saw to it nevertheless that he himself should be the sole candidate who was likely to win。
Barrios doubtless could have remained President of Guatemala for the term of his natural life if he had not raised up the ghost of federation。 All the republics of Central America accepted his invitation in 1876 to send delegates to his capital to discuss the project。 But nothing was accomplished because Barrios and the President of Salvador were soon at loggerheads。 Nine years later； feeling himself stronger； Barrios again proposed federation。 But the other republics had by this time learned too much of the methods of the autocrat of Guatemala； even while they admired his progressive policy； to relish the thought of a federation dominated by Guatemala and its masterful President。 Though he 〃persuaded〃 Honduras to accept the plan； the three other republics preferred to unite in self…defense； and in the ensuing struggle the quixotic Barrios was killed。 A few years later the project was revived and the constitution of a 〃Republic of Central America〃 was agreed upon； when war between Guatemala and Salvador again frustrated its execution。
In Brazil two great movements were by this time under way： the total abolition of slavery and the establishment of a republic。 Despite the tenacious opposition of many of the planters； from about the year 1883 the movement for emancipation made great headway。 There was a growing determination on the part of the majority of the inhabitants to remove the blot that made the country an object of reproach among the civilized states of the world。 Provinces and towns； one after another； freed the slaves within their borders。 The imperial Government； on its part； hastened the process by liberating its own slaves and by imposing upon those still in bondage taxes higher than their market value； it fixed a price for other slaves； it decreed that the older slaves should be set free； and it increased the funds already appropriated to compensate owners of slaves who should be emancipated。 In 1887 the number of slaves had fallen to about 720；000； worth legally about 650 each。 A year later came the final blow； when the Princess Regent assented to a measure which abolished slavery outright and repealed all former acts relating to slavery。 So radical a proceeding wrought havoc in the coffee…growing southern provinces in particular； from which the negroes now freed migrated by tens of thousands to the northern provinces。 Their places； however； were taken by Italians and other Europeans who came to work the plantations on a cooperative basis。 All through the eighties； in fact； immigrants from Italy poured into the temperate regions of southern Brazil； to the number of nearly two hundred thousand； supplementing the many thousands of Germans who had settled； chiefly in the province of Rio Grande do Sul； thirty years before。
Apart from the industrial problem thus created by the abolition of slavery； there seemed to be no serious political or economic questions before the country。 Ever since 1881； when a law providing for direct elections was passed； the Liberals had been in full control。 The old Dom Pedro； who had endeared himself to his people； was as much liked and respected as ever。 But as he had grown feeble and almost blind； the heiress to the throne； who had marked absolutist and clerical tendencies； was disposed to take advantage of his infirmities。
For many years； on the other hand； doctrines opposed to the principle of monarchy had been spread in zealous fashion by members of the military class； notable among whom was Deodoro da Fonseca。 And now some of the planters longed to wreak vengeance on a ruler who had dared to thwart their will by emancipating the slaves。 Besides this persistent discontent； radical republican newspapers continually stirred up fresh agitation。 Whatever the personal service rendered by the Emperor to the welfare of the country； to them he represented a political system which deprived the provinces of much of their local autonomy and the Brazilian people at large of self…government。
But the chief reason for the momentous change which wa