Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-03-13
Rnrrins, RennbIic.

It is not by any means certain that the
plan Of Gen. BarTios for consolidating the
five independent States Of Central Ameri-
ca will be successful. .Barrios, Ostensibly,
is the President Of Guatemala, but, in
fact, he Is the dictator OF that State. He
doesn't consult the people when his term
Of Office expires. He simply reinstates
himself by means Of the army. He pro-
poses, evidently, to bring about the union
OF the Central American States in about
the same way that he elects himself Pres
ident of Guatemala. He has proclaimed
the Union and announced himself as the
first President of the new Republic.
AS soon as he attempts to exercise the
authority which he has assumed it is
probable that there will be trouble. 1t
may be that he does not anticipate that
Nicaragua, San Salvador, Costa Rica ana
Honduras viii recognize the existence o.
the Republic which he has proclaimed
without q struggle, and it is probable
that he is prepared 10 compel submits
sion TO his VIII. He has an army OF
nearly 1000 men, such as it is, and he IS
a soldier Of considerable ability.
Whether he will succeed or not may
depend upon whether there is any con-
siderable party thai favors his ambitious
scheme in each OF the States. If there is
he NAV establish the Republic without
long struggle, and without a very great
sacrifice Of life. If there isn't, the pros
pect that he will accomplish his purpose
is not at all promising.
Guatemala has population Of perhaps
1900, 600, Honduras 100000, san Salvador
100000, Nicaragua $4,000, ana Costa Rica
10000. This statement of the population
OF the different States shows that Guate-
mala hasn't quite half of the entire pOpu-
lation OF Central America.
There are no indications that Barrics'
| scheme is acceptable in any Of the States
| except Guatemala, and it is believed that
| it will meet with very strong opposition
| in Nicaragua and Costa Rica. The gov
eminent of Nicaragua is much more adj
vanced and liberal than that of any OF the
other States, and the people of Nicaragua
would certainly fight to the bitter end
against accepting BarriOs as President.
/ They know what kind of a man he is, and
they are not ready to accept a tyrannical
dictator in place of their present govern
ment.
Its probable that if a republic could
b. established that would insure better
| government than any of the States now
possess it would be gladly accepted.
There is no pronounced hostility any
where by the masses of the people to a
Union, but there is hostility to Barrios.
The most enlightened men of Central
| America have for years advocated re-
| public ike that Of this country, but the
tickle character Of the population has
/ been the chief obstacle in the way. In
| fact. agreements have been made be-
| tween the governments Of several of the
/ States at different periods looking to a
Union. but they came to nothing, chiefly
because certain factions thought their in
fuence and power would be greater If the
| States remained separate. In 1889 the five
/ States formed one nation, and Gen. Mo-
razan was the second and last President
| of the federation. 1t was dissolved by the
| same influences that now oppose Union.
| Tlis movement of BdrriOs' is not a
sudden thing. He has contemplated it
for years. In 1876 sentiment in all the
States was strongly in favor Of Union, and
| Blrrios was Urgiag it with whatever
power he then possessed. Although he
was not liked then, had he shown the
! vigOr and will that he appears to be
| showing now it is probable that the Union
would have been brought about. Since
that time, however. BarrlOs' career in
| Guatemala has been such as to destroy
whatever confidence that the people at
one time may have had in him.
The suggestion has been made that
| France Is behind Barrios, and that
| Frances object is to impress the govern
ment Of the United States with the idea
| that to ratiry the Nicaraguan canal treaty
would be TO become embrOiled in the
| affairs of the Central American States.
! II the canal were constructed the United
states, of course, would have to protect
it. It is not very probable, however, that
| France would take such a roundabout
| way to prevent the construction of canal
! that would be kurtful TO the Panama
| canal. BarriOs' scheme means nothing
more, probably, than that he wants the
glory of being dictator of the whole OF
| Central America.