The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-02-10

The country which at present bears this name Is
that part Of Central America lying between the
States Of Salvador and Honduras on the east, tho
Mexican States Of Chiapas and Tsbasce on the west,
the British settlement of Honduras (a disme nber-
ment of Guatemsls) and the Atlantic ocean on the
north, and the Pacific pecan on the south. On the
Atlantic its line Of coast extends for about 60 miles
from tho river Saratoon to the river Cuyamel en-
bracing the ports of Izabal and Saato Tomas On
the Pacific, 1t possesses border of more than 200
miles-from the river Paz 10 San Marcos Bar Tho
ports of lstaps and Champerico are stu lted here
The area of the whole territory may be reckonsd
ct 10000 square miles, and its population fro n
100000 to LOCO 600 inhabitants
In this region are to be found the remnants Of an
extinct aboriginal civilization, in the ancient cities
of Paleuque, Ootoziago, Quiche, Tepan, Guatema-
Ia, Copan, Qungus, and others, some of which have
been so mastery described in tho work of Mr. Ste
phens.
At the time of the arrival Of the Spaniards, several
tribes nations, greatly advanced in social lifc
Itzacs, SO, occupied that land, the ma ne of which
was subsequently extended to that agglomeration
of provinces called, under the Spanish colonial rule
the "kingdom Of Guatena a. which was composed
Rica
Unfortunately. Spain, having herselfa very scanty
population, could not afford to coonize well whole
continent with her own offspring; whilst the politi
cal and economical ideas generally prevalent in
those dark ages, and the religious bgotry engen-
dered by her battle of seven hundred years in tho
defence Of Christenaom against Isa mism, precluded
the admission OF European adventurous from other
| quarters.
Hence it is that Guatemala has still large pro-
portion OF the Indian element in its competition.
The Indian population had, nevertheless, obtained,
before the independence, certain degree of civil
ization living in regular towns and cities, under
their own municipal off ,ers and the paternal guar
dapship of government, and Of their parochisi vi
cars, cutivatng the land, rearing cattle, working
in manufactures with considerable skill, and de-
voting Themselves to every branch of trade. Al
though, naturally enough. they wore seldom al
lowed to share in the exercise of political powers of
a high description, they had always open to them
the roads to self improve ment and distinction both
in the church and in the universities of which they
frequently b. came influential members by their vr-
| tues or by their learning.
AS to the Spanish population they received from
the mother country all that she had herself all the
benefits OF the civilization and enlightenment she
possessed.
Of course, among such benefits, the advantage Of
| self government Except for a few and restricted
municipal purposes) was not to be numbered; the
| result being that, whom the connection with the
| mother country was severed, there did not exist,
perhaps, in all Central America, single practical
statesman-nobody capable of framing appro-
| on large scale.
1t is fact, scarcely 80 be credited ghat, at the
time of the declaration of independence, in 1921,
there was no conservative spirit to be found any
where. As the emancipation lad not been pre-
ceded by any war or struggle with the old country,
| no military chieftain had appeared, who could
keep together the different sections of the land by
means Of an army and of his own prestige-ho pub
| lie man able to organize new order Of things,
guided by the lessons Of experience.
1t happened, therefore, that nobody entertained
the idea of conservatism and that all parties Joined
in the work of demolition of all that previously
in existence The only difference between parties
was confined to the greater or less degree of their
innovating tendencies. They proceeded to try the
widest theories. and attempted to plant on an IN
prepared SOIL political systems that had been de-
signed for highly cultivated and educated people.
In fact, they did not know what they were about,
otherwise their adoption of the complex institutions
of the United States for poor country, with
scattered population, and facilities for commu-
nicaten where everything had always been under
the control Of public authority, of officers appoint
ed directly by the crown, without the concurrence
of the people; where Lobody was accustomed to
self action, to free discussion, or calm dciber alton,
and where the value Of elections was hardly COM
pretended.
Let US add, that the persons charged with the
trust had not clcar conception of the institution
they pretended 10 introduce, and IL will be won
der when we say that their attempt only led to an
| arcby and confusion-to the splitting of q region
formerly consolidated, into several weak and petty
republics, which, indeed entitled to regard for
'nV cSNSAS oAaOoA tAtO06 NhSn tb0y n1'V Aou w
| pass.
These republics are Guatemala Salvador Hon.
duras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rca. Tne first and
| fit have some time since assumed the character
of bediss entirely independent They are connect
ed by mutual alliance, and have concluded trea-
ties with several foreign powers Tho other three,
although practically quite as independent, have
been busy for several years, and are, up to this
moment, entangled with the project of erecting
Joint government. 1t appears, however, that this
patriotic and most praiseworthy project has been
imthered by its promoters with go little judgment,
as to be only o source Of evil, having checked the
progress OF those States in their separate
ganization, increased their difficulties amongst
themselves and with foreign interes and feediag
at the same time An unnatural and pernic0us spirit
Of hostility against the other two sister republics.
Such is the state of affairs in those countries, late
| ly risen to so great consequence, on account of
their geographical position, and which, Dy their
rich productions destined to become promising
| field for commercial enterprise at no distant
period. Our own impression is that the plan Of the
contemp plated confederacy will at last be abandon.
ed and that the FIVE republics will then be enabled
to form, all together, common treaty of alliance,
and TO follow the same line of policy their foreign
relations. This seems to be at present the only
| feasible and the simplest and wisest plan. We
would, however, rejoice, if we were mistaken, and
ii the three allied States were to succeedln creating
ON efficient common government. such as would be
made secure by the attraction of its own goodness
| and its fitness, and condace to the accession OF
! Guatemala and Costa RIGA to the Union.
In spite of their protracted troubles, it would be
| mistake to suppose that the Central American
States have not advanced, as they have, more or
less, in political experience and in material de-
yelopement.
Confuing, for the present. our attention to Qua
temala we are going TO lay before the reader some
information which will perhaps appear interesting.
From the dissolution Of the old federal govern
ment, in 1910, the burtheD Of which Guatemala
had almost exclusively supported, that country has
been governed Except during short intervaD by
the conservative party under the apparent dictaton
Of General Carrera The career Of this chieftain
appears rather fabulous and has been, with reason
qualified by somebody as political phenomenon,
having sprung from tao Lowest ranks OF society and
without any rudiments of education elevated him
self to the supreme command CT n large country,
not wanting in men of superior intellect and oxen.
sive acquire meLts. His rise, which a. the outset,
wac mere accident, originating from the ap
pearspce of the cholera, must not be ascribed
only 10 fartuito circnmsthn but to tho pos.