Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-07-10
CENTRAL AMERICA.

The msfortuncs that have afflicted this interesting por
ton of continent for more than quarter OF cen
tury have principally originated from the fact that it
inhabitants possessed political education at all whe
they achieved their independence from the mother coun
try in 1921 The Creoes, shut out from public servic
by the advised policy of Spain, had not been Injured
the exercise Of power according TO the monarch
cal system peculiar their forefahers and consequent
y they had not the least idea of the practice of free
popular Government which implies the pre-existence o.
certain degree of enlightenment and of long habits o.
reflection and calm elaboration pervading the community
or at least the ruling classes.
Having become suddenly arbters Of their own desi
Mes the Central Americans found themselves without
beacon guide safely their course in their condition
In the absence Of experience oil their political wisdom wa
derived from books consisting in the most part OF thu
French theories of liberty infused in Spain during thu
first revolution. Thus it arrived that reckless spirit
innovation seized every mind and obtained the uncon
troled possession Of the field demoshing ancient inst
tutions, tramplng time-honored laws and customs,
and paying little regard to legally acquired rights As
prng TO perfection the attempt was made to reach at
leap the level of those nations most advanced in civil
zation proceeding to copy Herewith, and to put into
immediate operation, the institutions belonging to such
nations without taking into account the element Of time
as if the nature Of things could be changed in instant
with strokes of the pen.
Needless Of consequences how could they know BETTER
The persons upon whose lot fell the awful responsibility
of organizing their country broke loose the bounds that
had preserved society in land inhabited by population
generally ignorant and composed of different races the
result having long years of endless confusion strife
and bloodshed.
As it well known, il resolved to establish In Cen
trail America Federation, framed the same plan as
that Of the American Union; but the principles upon
- that
unucky effort only led to perpetual between the
Governments of each State and the National
for they never could maintain the required equilibrium
The States had no previous existence but the
lures of the nation which, through the of Gene
raj Constituent Assembly started them into being, and
accorded them their future federal ready made
The process followed in Central America was, there
ore quite the Of that which had produced the
Union .. the AngloAmerican States and their present
glorious Constitution In the latter case we see natural
and easy combination Of parties the genuine
growth Of circumstances effected for the purpose Of salts
flying real want In the former wo ma creation
completely artificial that might have been dispensed h
to the general advantage Of people who had always pre-
viously lived under one consolidated Government.
The anagonstic influences of conservative and progress
opinions that be found all the world strug
Cling mastery against the other werekewise neces
marked stamp However neither Of them having for its
readers disciplined statesmen each party was apt to adj
vocate according circumstances the supremacy
Of States rights the paramount power OF the nation
This Inconsistency and waverng Of parties has conrbut
ed little to protract the commissions ID which the
Central American States have been plunged until lately
The Federation established in 1924 could outve the
year l840 from which date the conservative party have
settled down on the platform Of States rights and nuf
cation the conducive to secure peace and
temporary relief, if not permanent prosperity On the
other SIDE those claiming the distinction of liberals have
connected their from the year 40 up to this hour
with the restoration Of the Union for which purpose they
have made repeated but planned, and of
awaiting, exertions.
With that view several diets conventions have been
appointed few Of which have actually met. Treaties
have been signed between the States Of Salvador Hon
duras and Nicaragua acts Of confederacy have been
framed and published; have been carried on and
other extraordinary exertons have been made by che
liberal party. They all have proved aborve, until a.
length all the States begin to show at present dis
position to discard those mpractcabe projects TO conse
crate each one its attention complete its own organza
ton, and to cultivate good understanding with eact
other without renouncing nevertheless the hope OF form
ing closer ties in future, if possible.
To ne1perence to the antagonism Of conflicting pm
cpes TO the personal ambition oil eadng cnhracters
70 the indictments OF sectional interests other external
causes Of dscord have increased the complication Of Cen
tral American politics in the last four years We aude
to the Canal enterprise the Mosquito occupation and
to the British bockades The several questions arising
from those have had large share in keeping
up the agitation and feeding the animosity Of parties
Fortunately several Of those questions have been ter
minated, and others in the way peaceful settle
ment We observe with satisfaction that each Of the
eve republics enjoys present tranquility than At
any former period They peace with each other
no schemes Of aggression entertained any where Al
those Governments appear intent promoting nterna
improvements they giving their earnest considera
ton TO the discharge Of foreign and domestic pecunar
Sbtes and they are alive TO che importance of plaein
upon solid footing their relations with other nations
Although, owing TO the causes which have been e1
planned republican institutions arc very far from hsvin
sAned in Central America that degree of perfection ths
10 TO be desired still unquesonabe that great stride
have been made towards that object since the indeper
dence and amongst other things accomplished we woul
fsn mention the abolition Of slavery, free trade, and n
lrious tolerance which rule supreme as the uniye
81 law Of the land
Afer having taken this retrospective glance Of cour
try that has lately risen such great Importance on a.
count Of the communication between the two oceans thu
has been opened across its territory and conceivng thu
certain interest cannot fail be felt in regard to Il
stability and independence Of the States occupying thu
extensye region we intend pass them in review in tn
article. and to show their actual condition.
GUATEMALA.
MI. roonhl;c nroclaimed it's separate sovereignty