The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-05-10

CENTRAL AMERICA.

CENTRAL AMERICA.
Il is astonishing observe how few persons Ia the upi
ted States thoroughly acquainted with the true sia,
OF things in the Central American republics notwthstana
ing the great interest which Americans very propery
attach 10 that portion of eonnentnot for It's mpo
IN other respects which in fact very noonsidera
but account OF its afording routes Of communicated
between Atlantic and Pacific shores The result q,
this general ignorance and neglect is that the public AMI
TO be misled and imposed upon by any writer who for
purposes Of his may devote his time TO that terra h.
eogaito Such writer win stand in the position Of an ora
Gle because nobody will take the trouble canvas h
title veraciy the Of his creations
He is that his errors wiful Misrepresentation in
stead of meeting with deserved castigaon will pass up
challenged, obtain ready currency and perhaps infu
the opinions Of remarkable for their sum.
rior intellect and rejecting caste of mind.
Being myself familiar, both with the past history and
current events of Central America could not but fall n
this train OF thought reading sundry articles and letter,
concerning that country that and then appear in The
newspapers, until have al last concluded that perhaps
would not be improper to say few words the subject
Combining, for the moment my attention TO an article
published in the Union of the 18th ut under the sigma
ture Of "A Retired Statesman" and to which the creun
stance of its having found place in the columns Of the or
gan of the administration might give some weight DO
not hesitate to say with all due respect for its author
whoever be may be- that he has fallen into gross mistakes
to facts, and shown Of justice with regard 10
the Central American republics 1t is much be regret
ted that writings Of this kind where friendly nations how
Insignificant and feeble they may be, msrepe
sented should be admitted into journal considered to be
the official organ
The "Retred Statesman" to depore tho reaction.
AIRY movement that is making progress in Central Amer
ca and yet he admits that it is the necessary consequence
of the impossibity found By experience Of establishing
there the principle of sefgovernmen to the extent
it exists in favored countries The real question
ought to be, whether that rcactionary movement is
healthy notwheher ii was demanded by cireum.
stances, and has already proved most beneficial?
Let fancy for the sake Of argument that in Of our
southern States theorists had day obtained the ascn
dency and had proceeded TO bcrate the slaves granting
coored people all the political rights that now
belong exclusively to the whites Let fancy that such
innovation had been attended by many years of anarchy
and confusion and that after the most trials the
continuation under the principle having proved to
be impossible return should be made way another
towards the old institutions would not this reaction be
considered MS natural and proper one3
So ii is with the tendencies prevailing in most
of the Spanish-American countries. The different races
composing their heterogeneous population did posses
the requisites for selgovernment such it exists among
AngoSsxons when those countries became independent
Of their ancient metropolis In the midst of their subs
quent and continual revolutions they could hardly become
qualified for it. Consequently, selfgovernmen instead
curse. The attempt to introduce it has been decided
failure and everywhere sober-minded people feel now the
necessity Of strengthening the action Of authority
1t can be confidently asserted that in spite Of written
constitutions in spite of names, whether in the hands Of
those protesting ultra-bera theories under the control
OF men advocating conservative doctrines all Spanish
America from the Rio Grande to Cape Horn since those
countries achieved their independence to the present day
there has not any time any OF them existed sngleo
yatio in xyh the,
mount power sometimes openly and according const
tona law, sometimes behind the screen of forms and
sham congresses
We must view, therefore, improvement that ten
dency which all the Central American republics now e.
hibt to place their respective constitutions upon
and solid footing by clothing the executive with ample
legal power to discharge its duties in ap efficient manner
and to secure the peace welfare and advancement Of the
community Such tendency is advantageous to tie
interest Of liberty ITSELF which has TO apprehend
from anarchy and disorder than from anyt thing else and
besides that suppose nobody win pretend to say that
strong government cannot coexist with liberal primer
Piles OF policy at home and abroad the internal admin
israon in the details of civil life and in the in,ercout
with other nations.
The Retired Statesman goes to treat his reader
with the following astounding piece Of news:
"The aborgines Of these countries who far outnumba
the whites, and still more ignorant and bgotcd than they
excited by British nrigue--which is everywhere as In
the Mosquito territory holding out the bait Of indend
encc under the protection Of Engandare gradually be
coming prepared for Instruction and at this moment the
soclcd republic of Guatemala the headquarters Of Brit
ish intrigue is completely subjected to military despo
at the head Of which is the Indian Carrcr the tool
England and the church,
do not know from what quarter the r. 81 derives hh
bat do know that the foregoing paagr.F
contains single word Of TRUTH except the wellknos
fact that the aborigines in Guatemala outnumber ID
is, IL compare only the numbers bccrs
ing to each who Of pure blood but the otr
hand the inhabitants having mixture of both
than balance the number OF pure Indians and In the
gregae the white element predominates However ms!
be il matters very little inasmuch the Indians Coz
temals have attempted nor Is there . probability
that they prepared TO attempt any insurrccton
their own hook They generally peaceful indus
trious and concned people They enjoy already the be
ings Of paegna and wise administration which pays
attention to their No causes therefore, exist for
revolt and symptoms Of approaching commissions hAu
appeared anywhere.
Twice Guatemala has been shaken to the Foundations
and carried TO the brink Of destruction in consequence
and popular connections but in neither
those did the rebellion assume the character Of
Indian movement against the whites People Of every colo
and description become actors or accomplices in ths
sctuated either by the thirst for PlnodG
through party spirit and disanection the then ers'n
powers.
The first Of those disturbances began in 1891 and Ter
minated in 1899. II a spontaneous rising Of ID
masses and especially Of the country people occupying
mountain region lying the northeast OF the city Of Coz
temaa and its immediate cause was the blunder Of %
ultr-iheras then the rcipning party who had goaded
n To half fbs