New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-09-20
CENTRAL AMERICAN TRADE
WHERE CONQUESTS OF PEACE ARE
WANTED.

late for the Presidency none more enthusiastic
than the numerous merchants and man
ufacturers who are exclusively engaged
in the Central American trade. They
point with pride to the volume of increase that
trade has developed during the past few years not
only with Mexico, but with Honduras, Guatemala
and Costa Rca aud assert that If the United states
had an administration III Washington that would
protect American rights in person and property on
all occasions in those countries American mer-
chants would soon reap greater advantages there
from if indeed they would not shortly secure the
monopoly of that trade.
1t l. Just this conquest Of peace said member
of the Central American syndicate, who have an
office IN the Morse building. that we are looking for
nnder Blaine. and know that we Will get II TO the
great advantage of our manufacturers and shipping
trade generally.
Then You do not fear an aggressive policy
there ?" asked the reporter
Pear itl None whatever it is just
what we need in those Spanish
American republics. have only recently
returned from Honduras and have frequently been
in ever, nook and corner of those Central American
States and know whereof speak. Formerly Eng
land for instance controlled the entire trade with
Honduras carried OF all Of its mahogany, cocoa
nuts dvewoods ind 90 coffee and sarsaparllla IN
English ships and back all sort, of provisions,
naval stores. clothing and shoes. Owing to the
fact however. that the Honduras people nave OF
late wears become acquainted with our manuidc-
ti,rcs they more and more begin % admire the i'm
ponuity of our inventions and prefer the styles OF
our manufactures. To-day, may say. this country
controls at least oue-haf of the Honduras trade.
where England had it all to her elf before, and the
United = ates now supplies that republic with
most of her -four furniture and large
amount of hardware. A. 10 actual enterprise, eS-
tablished nm that country during the past few
years nine ont of ten are already controlled by
American capital The banking business there
however Is still controlled by foreign commission
mcrchaut. who draw directly ON England In TACT.
the LARGEST establishment ON the Atlantic coast oil
Honduras Is owned los the consul himself Mr. BIN
ncv. who represents Honduras m England ana
whose house. Bnucy Mclhalo Il Co., at Iruyillo
are higbl, favored both m London and on tins side.
Only during the last two years has there been
direct steam commu ticauon between this country
and Honduras: one line goes directly from New
York aud two lines 90 from Ncw-Orlcans Both oil
these lines are paying well. One of the New-'I-
leans lines. however. sails under the British hag
and is subsidized by the British Colony at Belize
to thc extent of 60 800 sterling per annum. While
one of these lines touches Port C0rteze on the At
lantlc side the Pacific mail steamers touch the
west coast of that country. Honduras, which ~
Republican in form, has now population OF over
400 900 inhabitants mixture of opdnldrd> and
Indians. who more and more like the American
trade and are anxious to increase commercial
re- atoms with this country. Grand
Rapids Michigan concern have recently received
very liberal concessions from the Honduras authon-
ties allowing them TO cut their own mahogany.
which they now send to American and English
markets Ever since Pizarro AID Cortez first
landed there the timber trade of Honduras, which
i, the home of mahogany mas been enormous.
But continued the Central American traveller,
while am giving Won glowing accounts OF the
trade and its prospects with those halt
Snlniards and Indians. let me show you
also where we are at disadvantage with
other nations where Brtishers are protected 80 to
say and we are not. and how frequently we
are ,uhiected to insults most dcgraving, which
vouId never occur If the 'conquests Of peace were
once an acKnow lodged fact IN the Central Aner-
can States. j. Ruhno Barrlos is now serving his
third term a. President of Guatemala but he Is
really the Bismarck of all the Central American
States for the other republics fear hlm more than
they do their own authorities. lie Is ialniilaIiy
known ~ the HOmbye dc 10, Falos man OF tut
whip lie h. exceedingly obnoxious To an Ioi-
,icr and ON the slightest provocation. or at least
What b. considers as such. he orders the foreigner
To receive fifty lashe- IN the open market place,
In 1874 a young man. john McGee. employed
10 the oince OF the sleaihShip company
AT - Jose. ordered bN one OF
BIrriosS officers .c9mmahdaute' 10 come 40 me tnc
barracks at once. II beng steamer DAY N1'''
sent word that he was very busy ana could not
come immediately. The commandante at once sent
a hle of soldiers under command of sergeant I"
tbr -team~h u Office whore poor McGce received
number of lashes winch nearly killed MN. Now,
,,1rl the action of the British Government, and n
il the only ,yav TO handle these fellows. ST Henry
Schohcd was then British Consul. ana m once
asked for IeparatIon. but baruos paid no attention
10 the demand. Two British mcn-ot-War made thelr
appearance M less thdn uo time; Nt Henry gave
tie man of the whip Just one single lour 20 pay
S3ooou indemnity, ana ,o s"'u,' G, ,,,,'a1
flag ou the Grand square AT Hu"l'ntaii
The money was pald. the nag was ~ante3
aud for ms prompt action the consul was knlghted
by ms government. our American consu' Do an
their long career have done nothing oil tue SORT I'D
Central America. IL TACT our entire consular ,le
tenn is wrong there There Us one man WI" repre-
scnts this country M Guatemala CitN. lie Vlrtu-
ally takes charge of an Central American aual,.
There are mo- railroads from Guatemala To hohdu-
ras should an American bc assaulted. as "tici "'-
ours IL would take the United state, CouNlI 'i
Guatemala SIX or seven days ON mulchatk fo g1
from hi, post to the Honduras capital for the pm
pose of investigation There are, n Is true 'l-u-
lar agents at Aurapdla aud Porte Norttfc pu' tueN
do not possess the authority necessary I'D d'' IN
"Bnt. " said the reporter eve have not heard of
any outrages committed lately upon American cit-
No. for the simple reason that they are So fire.
quout that they have ceased % be novelty. ASIDE
from tins We travellers aud merchants 400 Central
America know that 10 IL useless almost. 20 rely for
assistance, much less for Nlndlcaioh. ON th' al-
thorties az Washington. The State Department Is
controlled by loisScs fare policy, which almost
looks like trucking TO the spanish grantees
lake for instance the cast of we'll
known Ncw-Orleaus captain who came with
ms vessel 10 Porto tortcze I'M l~~O Leaving
ms vessel az the LAT er port he went inland to pur-
chase some fruit for s vessel and wasa paS-eugcrOu
small railroad that from Porte tOrtcze 10 san
Pedro, IA distance of about thirty seven miles.
Mile waifiuu for the tram t. start, the Govern
ment of Honduras was getting on board supply oil
auupowder which had reached there from belze.
some of the kegs were IN damaged condition, the
powder beng entirely exposed To view Despite
The protest of the statIon-master the comlandante
loaded these kegs on Oprn iut-car. lhe ualn
consisted of locomotive, the hat-car and one pas
senger-car The large cinders from the burning
wood IN the locomotive soon lgnl'eu tne power anu
passenger. The newspapers when speaking III tie