The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-03-16
CENrhAL AMERICA.

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The Present Troubles ia That Couptry-Bar
at rios Schemes.
Bolton Adsatis4.
On Tuesday morning It was announce
that President Rudno Barrios, Of Guate
mala, was about to compel the states 0
San Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua ant
Costa Rica to submit to the establiBhmen
ola single Central American state built OF
the ruins oftheir autonomy. Yesterda,
morning the news was that San Salvador
Nicaragua and Costa Rica are preparing
and resolved to resist Barrios with the full
military strength OF which they are pos
sessed. In the afternoon 1t was reported
that Honduras is willing to submit to Bar
ROSS usurpation, but that tho people o
San Salvador having risen en- maze, the
Guatemala troops have paused in theil
southwark march, and Barrios has modi
fed his proclamation by demanding thai
commissioners be sent to treat with hin
regarding his pretensions to general con
troll Of the five republics.
Meanwhile, San Salvador, In itsdistress
has appealed to Mexico for aid, and
President Diaz has responded by threat.
enfng Barrios with instant war II he at.
tempts to subjugate his feebler neighbors.
How much this tempest in 0 teapot may
amount to remains to be seen; but, ad-
hitting that the sanguinary Barrios Is in
earnest in his threats, and, in spite Of
Mexican threats, tries 10 execute his
plans, 1t WILDE OF interest to consider the
military and commercial importance Of
the countries affected.
The united area OF Guatemala, Hon
duras, San Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa
Rica Is 100 900 square miles, or about that
OF New England, Now York and Pennsyl-
vania. OF this Guatemala, the Offensive
element in the promised war, contains
40, QUO square miles, while San Salvador,
which now bistles with patriotism, has
only Z, 0G0, or less than Massachusetts,. In
population the five republics have, all
told, perhaps two and a bali millions; but
out OF this number much less than l00,.
600 are whites, the rest being native ra-
Gee, negroes and halt.bloods. Guatemala,
OF which Barrios has now been president
since May, 1878, Is credited with stand
ing army Of 2,lS0 men. This unimposing
legion is, however, said to be capable OF
reinforcement by militia to the number
Of 5000. The other States possess armies
OF the most insitinifcant strength, as, for
example, San Salvador, with ], 400 regulars
and 1850 militia, and Nicaragua, with
703 regulars and G, 600 militia.
The creditof the five republics is de.
cidedly bad Most OF them spend more
money each year than they can raise in
taxes, and their debts are large. For ex-
ample, Honduras, according to some au-
thorities, had in 1888, a debt Of over twen-
ty-tiye million dollars and was charged
with having exceeded regular receipts by
expenses for q number Of years. In 1868,
Costa Rica had total foreign debt OF elev.
en- million dollars, and was owing seven
millions in unpaid interest. Guatemala
Itself, which now proposes to enter upon
a spirited foreign policy, was, in 1883, bur-
dened with foreign debt OF several mil
lions, a large floating deht, and over mil.
lion dollars ofunpaid interest.
Our commercial interests in Central
America are considerable. In 1884 we Inn
ported from them indigo. valued at Sl18,-
S07, coffee valued at $3,2Ss, 900, drugs,
chemicals, ETC., valued at $il, 900, Cocoa
nuts worth SCI 200, hides worth $3.50, 600,
and india rubber worth Sl,97s, 600. The
total value Of imports from the five States
for 1884 was sixty millions. The total
value Of goods and bullion exported by
the United States to the same States In
1884 was less than three and a hall mill
lions.
il Barrios carries out his plans and
proyokes Mexico to hostilities, 1t may be
that Central America and the larger re,
public will end by being united by ties
which may ultimately lead 10 complete
federation. To US, the principal thought
suggested by this contest Is that II the
Nicaraguan canal treaty were now In
force we might be compelled 10 take mill
tary precautions against Barros and his
projects.