How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
"What is wanted here is law, good faith, order, security. Any one can declaim about these things, but I pin my faith to material interests. Only let the material interests once get a firm footing, and they are bound to impose the conditions on which alone they can continue to exist. That's how your money-making is justified here in the face of lawlessness and disorder. It is justified because the security which it demands must be shared with an oppressed people. A better justice will come afterwards. That's your ray of hope." His arm pressed her slight form closer to his side for a moment. "And who knows whether in that sense even the San Tomé mine may not become that little rift in the darkness which poor father despaired of ever seeing?" (I.6.105)
Charles seems to believe that "material interests" have the power to bring about basically anything you could want (like "law, good faith, order, security"). That explains why he's more interested in production than politics… or is production just a form of politics?
Quote #5
The heavy stonework of bridges and churches left by the conquerors proclaimed the disregard of human labour, the tribute-labour of vanished nations. The power of king and church was gone, but at the sight of some heavy ruinous pile overtopping from a knoll the low mud walls of a village, Don Pepe would interrupt the tale of his campaigns to exclaim— "Poor Costaguana! Before, it was everything for the Padres, nothing for the people; and now it is everything for those great politicos in Sta. Marta, for negroes and thieves." (I.7.7-8)
In this passage, Don Pepe reflects on shifting power dynamics over time in Costaguana. He really sounds like an old man sitting on his front stoop complaining about "kids these days."
Quote #6
He had not been disappointed in the "King of Sulaco." The local difficulties had fallen away, as the engineer-in-chief had foretold they would, before Charles Gould's mediation. Sir John had been extremely feted in Sulaco, next to the President-Dictator, a fact which might have accounted for the evident ill-humour General Montero displayed at lunch given on board the Juno just before she was to sail, taking away from Sulaco the President-Dictator and the distinguished foreign guests in his train. (I.8.45)
Here, we get a glimpse of just how powerful Charles is. He's able to move metaphorical mountains to smooth the path for the construction of the railway and ensure Sir John has everything he needs on his visit.