Although the government established by him was not of the people nor by the people, he fully intended it to be for the people. His failure probably was due to his lack of that conciliation and diplomacy which Porfirio Diaz used so successfully during the first few years of his presidency in Mexico, by which means he united the discordant elements. In view of the radical measures undertaken by Barrios it is not surprising that powerful enemies were made who on numerous occasions attempted his life. One plot was made in a woman’s house, similar to that of Mrs. Surratt’s, where the plot to kill Lincoln was formed, but the woman revealed it, and seventeen of the leaders were executed on the main plaza in the capital.
One evening President Barrios and a couple of friends were walking in the little garden surrounding the theatre where they were going to attend a performance. Suddenly there was a streak of flame through the night air and with a thud a bomb fell almost at the feet of Barrios. The fuse sizzled and flashed as it burned, but the man for whom it was intended was as cool and unperturbed as if the deadly bomb was nothing more than a toy firecracker. Coolly picking it up, he put out the fuse with his hand and, turning to his companions, said in an unconcerned way: “The rascals don’t know how to kill me.” The President displayed magnanimity toward these plotters by pardoning all those concerned except the leader, who was sent into exile.
In 1881, President Barrios visited the United States and was received with the highest consideration by the government in Washington and by the authorities in many other cities. He came to invite this government to mediate the boundary difficulties between Guatemala and Mexico, which was done. The following year he visited Europe and again crossed the United States on his return. In this way he endeavoured to get new ideas for the betterment of his country, and went back home with a renewed determination to establish a great nation in Central America.
For years the idea of a union of all the Central American republics had been cherished by Barrios as it had been by a number of his predecessors. In fact this idea has been the dream of nearly every president of each one of the Central American republics even to this day. Barrios thought this would be beneficial not only to his own land but to each one of the states. The methods he pursued were no worse than England and other countries have followed from time immemorial to accomplish similar ends. He was on good terms with all of the republics. San Salvador had presented him with a sword of honour in token of her esteem, and Costa Rica had made him a general in her army in recognition of her friendship.