How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
And he could speak with knowledge; for on a memorable occasion he had been called upon to save the life of a dictator, together with the lives of a few Sulaco officials—the political chief, the director of the customs, and the head of police—belonging to an overturned government. Poor Señor Ribiera (such was the dictator's name) had come pelting eighty miles over mountain tracks after the lost battle of Socorro, in the hope of out-distancing the fatal news—which, of course, he could not manage to do on a lame mule. (I.2.9)
This moment, which occurs early in the book, gives us a sneak peek into the political shenanigans that will take center stage about midway through the novel. In typical form, the narrator stays "above the fray," if you will—s/he doesn't even give us a hint that this little affair of the "overturned government" ends up being at the center of the novel's plot.
Quote #2
He accepted with a like calm the shocking manner in which the Sulaco ladies smothered their faces with pearl powder till they looked like white plaster casts with beautiful living eyes, the peculiar gossip of the town, and the continuous political changes, the constant "saving of the country," which to his wife seemed a puerile and bloodthirsty game of murder and rapine played with terrible earnestness by depraved children. (I.6.8)
Here, the narrator touches upon Charles Gould's perspective on all the political upheavals that Costaguana has endured over time. He cites his weariness with these conflicts in his decision to get the San Tomé mine up and running (he wants to make the country prosperous so they stop fighting all the time).
Quote #3
Of course, rumours had reached him already of the newcomer's intentions. Besides, he had received an official warning from Sta. Marta. His manner was intended simply to conceal his curiosity and impress his visitor. But after he had locked up something valuable in the drawer of a large writing-desk in a distant part of the room, he became very affable, and walked back to his chair smartly. (I.7.12)
In this moment, we're privy to a meeting between a "provincial Excellency" (I.7.10) and Charles Gould. It appears that the meeting gets a lot friendlier when the Excellency gets some cash (presumably from Gould) and squirrels it away in his drawer.
Quote #4
This gossip of the inland Campo, so characteristic of the rulers of the country with its story of oppression, inefficiency, fatuous methods, treachery, and savage brutality, was perfectly known to Mrs. Gould. That it should be accepted with no indignant comment by people of intelligence, refinement, and character as something inherent in the nature of things was one of the symptoms of degradation that had the power to exasperate her almost to the verge of despair. (I.8.28)
As you can see from this quote, the country has a fairly nasty/disorganized political history, which both of the Goulds find incredibly frustrating. In particular, Mrs. Gould is ticked off that no one seems willing to push for change.
Quote #5
In the contests that broke out at the end of his rule (which had kept peace in the country for a whole fifteen years) there was more fatuous imbecility, plenty of cruelty and suffering still, but much less of the old-time fierce and blindly ferocious political fanaticism. It was all more vile, more base, more contemptible, and infinitely more manageable in the very outspoken cynicism of motives. (I.8.44)
Referred to here, the reign of Guzmán Bento is kind of a big old shadow hanging over the book. Bento tortured a couple of our main characters (i.e., the doctor and Don José) and was quite the evil (to say nothing of crazy) tyrant. Unsurprisingly, he looms large in the memories of lots of characters.
Quote #6
What was currently whispered was this—that the San Tomé Administration had, in part, at least, financed the last revolution, which had brought into a five-year dictatorship Don Vincente Ribiera, a man of culture and of unblemished character, invested with a mandate of reform by the best elements of the State. (I.8.45)
It seems that the Goulds eventually got tired of watching Costaguana's political nonsense and took matters into their own hands. Although Charles tries to appear distanced from political maneuverings (when it suits him), he seems to have given some money to help ensure a particular man—Don Vincente Ribiera—came to power. That doesn't really sound like "staying out of it," but whatever you say, Charles...
Quote #7
It was his open letter of appeal that decided the candidature of Don Vincente Ribiera for the Presidency. Another of these informal State papers drawn up by Don José (this time in the shape of an address from the Province) induced that scrupulous constitutionalist to accept the extraordinary powers conferred upon him for five years by an overwhelming vote of congress in Sta. Marta. It was a specific mandate to establish the prosperity of the people on the basis of firm peace at home, and to redeem the national credit by the satisfaction of all just claims abroad. (II.1.12)
We are getting some more details about the political maneuvering that brought Don Vincente to power. Ironically enough, compared to some of the backdoor stuff we hear about in the novel, this sounds pretty tame. Basically, they had to cajole this moral, constitutionally minded person to take on the powers of the presidency, and his goal was to spread the wealth around to the people. Guzmán Bento, he was not.
Quote #8
Charles Gould's position—a commanding position in the background of that attempt to retrieve the peace and the credit of the Republic—was very clear. At the beginning he had had to accommodate himself to existing circumstances of corruption so naively brazen as to disarm the hate of a man courageous enough not to be afraid of its irresponsible potency to ruin everything it touched. It seemed to him too contemptible for hot anger even. He made use of it with a cold, fearless scorn, manifested rather than concealed by the forms of stony courtesy which did away with much of the ignominy of the situation. (II.1.17)
First of all: Wow, that first sentence is a mouthful. Did you follow all that? Okay, good. Anyway, here we get more information about Charles Gould's motivations in getting involved (but not really!) with Costaguana politics.
Quote #9
"Montero was bribable. Why, I suppose he only wanted his share of this famous loan for national development. Why didn't the stupid Sta. Marta people give him a mission to Europe, or something? He would have taken five years' salary in advance, and gone on loafing in Paris, this stupid, ferocious Indio!" (II.5.59)
These are Martin Decoud's words to Antonia. He is upset that no one thought to bribe Montero, which (we have to assume) would have been a completely reasonable thing to do in Costaguana.
Quote #10
"Costaguana for the Costaguaneros," interjected the doctor, sardonically. "It is a fine country, and they have raised a fine crop of hates, vengeance, murder, and rapine—those sons of the country." (III.1.10)
The doctor comments acidly here on the political legacy they've managed to foster, and which Gould, the doctor, and others are working to protect from the Monterist uprising.