St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-04-12

may come to join the army of the Union
and wholly devoted to the exclusive service
of the cause of redemption and to the de-
Tense of its sacred standard. There is
othing grander, nothing nobler than this
cause; none other appeals like this to the
best and highest feelings of the Central
American heart; the Central Americans
believe that this act of mine is indispen sable.
In their judgment the triumph of that idea
lies In my power, and although do not
presume so much 1 cannot go against their
persistent wishes or resist my own duties
and convictions. Inspired, therefore, by
he grandeur of the idea and animated by
firm belief in the triumph of a principle sup
ported by nature, by public opinion and by
the dignity of patriotism, 1 hasten to assert
and sustain that principle with all my being,
all my worth and all my power. Something
tells me upon this solemn occasion that
victory is ours and that the union of Central
America can be effected without extraordi-
nary sacrifices; but if these should be indis-
pensable am ready to offer upon the altar
of duty and
THE ALTAR OF MY COUNTRY
nv welfare and life. would with pride and
satisfaction obey and fight as comm On SOL
der, gladly consenting that worthier one
should occupy the position OF chief, which
public opinion has forced me to accept; but
this position, although glorious one, is
dangerous and responsible one, and for this
reason have not Tor an instant hesitated in
accepting it with enthusiasm.
am not influenced by ambition, since
have tested, by sad experience, the bitter
ness of power. Were l actuated by such
ambition l would have availed myself OF the
many opportunities l have had OF easily
gratifying it. without the penalties and re-
spon sibilities which I now voluntarily take
upon myself. Nor am 1 prompted by any
selfish desires, either of personal gain or ex-
clusively promoting the grandeur and prop
ertv of Guatemala, because my position and
means are amply sufficient to crafty all my
wishes, and this republic, which is to-day
mparatively prosperous, wealthy and
mighty, is in a position which enables her to
give rather than ask anything from the other
states, and can do
MUCH TO PROMOTE THEIR PROGRESS
and welfare But, am impulsed by the
sad spectacle offered by this small and dis
united people, and by the conviction that it
is my unavoidable duty to do something
to extricate this country from its helpless
and sad condition, and to struggle with all
my power, and die, if necessary, in order
that my children and the children of my fell
ow-citizens may have fatherland, may en-
Joy all their rights and be protected and re-
spected Let US ali unite
and fight for one sole country, the father
land, whose orphans we have been during
so many years; the fatherland which we lack
to-day, the inheritance of which our children
have been deprived, the fatherland. which
We shall be able to bequeath to them as the
most precious legacy, the most inestimable
gift. Those will stay away who are satisfied
with their ignominious insignifcance and
smallness, who do not feel their blood boil
with Indignation and their faces burn with
shame when they consider the sad condition
to which we have been reduced by the
division of our territory; who
REJOICING IN LIFE OF SLAVERY
and Incidence eau behold with Indifference
the agonies of the country, and calmly await
the obscure termination of an existence
spent in the vilest degradation; who are not
worthy in one way of the name of Central
Americans. But those will surely come,
whose hearts are fired by patriotism, who
long to possess a country, who love their
children and wish to leave them that cum
try and save them from that abyss into
which we have been thrown by territorial
division. All the good sons of Central
America who are the immense majority,