The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-01-20


dor, it was adopted ia 1922. But Itur-
bide's empire ended about as sooon as
begun, and from his fall sprang, THE
United Provinces of CentralAmerica. ''as
named and announced by National
Constituent Assembly. convoked in
Guatemala, July 1. 1928. in which the
Central American States formed them
selves into Federal Republic Taking
the United S ates of the north as a
model, chey adopted her constitution
and conformed largely to her political
system-except that, in some respects,
they went ahead of the pattern For
example, when all the slaves in Central
America were liberated (early in 1922
| their former owners were fully indem-
nified for the loss. True, the number
emancipated did not exceed fifteen
hundred; but it must be remembered
that the infant republic, impoverished
by long servitude. had not Uncle Sam
uel's full treasury to draw from.
On the first day of September, 1925,
the Federal Congress held its first SEES
sion, and ior time all went we'll in this
experimental republic; but just thirteen
years later it held its last session, and
the several States, convulsed and dis
tracted by series of struggles between
the Imperialists Tor Servlles), and the
Liberals, Cor advocates of the Federal
system of government), dissolved the
union and each returned to its own
seperate autonomy.
This was in 1888. Two years later
General Francisco Morazon. who has
been called
attempted to re-establish a general
government, but, opposed by the in
auence of foreign agentssand the priest
hood who urged on the Indian hordes
under Carrera-he was finally banished
from the country. His ill-advised re-
turn Tin 1922 and his execution at San
Jose, Costa Rica, and the final extinc-
ton OF the United Federal Republic are
matters of history familiar to most
readers.
Since those days feeble efforts have
been made, from time to time, by the
remnants of the old party to re-estab-
llsh the confederation-such as the
part of 1S48, between San Salvador,
Honduras and Guatemala; and the
late war in which Barrios was killed.
In SO civil war broke out in Mica
ragua between the So called Liberals"
and "Conservatives"-the latter repre-
senting the church party, which re-
suited in the victory of the former. By
the constitution of '58, Nicaragua is flow
erned by a president ewho is supposed
to be elected by universal suffrage and
holds his office four years. Politically,
the executive is almost without power,
having neither vote nor veto in critical
cases. But in point of fact, he who
controls the army (Which is generally
he who can get his hand into the trea-
sury) controls the country by power
more potent than votes or vetoes.
There are two legislative chambers
the Senate and the House of Represen-
tatives. Both houses of Congress being
chosen on the same ticket, their DELHI
Grating in separate chambers is farce
for not only is everything cut and dried
before hand, according to the sovereign
will of the leaders, but the absolute
majority OF the whole body, voting in
joint meeting, carries every point.
The Liberal Congress of 1851 formu-
lated a constitution which the Near
aguan Congress of 1858 had right to
adopt or reject. 1t did neither, but
altered its entire text till its origin al
identity was so completely lost that its
own fathers could not recognize it;
then voted that it was the same, and
adopted 1t by an overwhelming major
ity, while the people rent the air with
joyous UtUGS for the glorious Republic |
OF Nicaragua.
The said constitution guarantees |
liberty of speech and of the press, and |
promises to protect all forms of re-
ligious belief-but the most partial |
lover of Nicaragua cannot say, with |
truth, that liberty to that extent exists |
anywhere south of the Rio Grande. But, |
though the majority of Central Ameri- |
cans are still
INTENSITY ROMAN CATHOLIC,
and none but that religion is publicly
tolerated, the priesthood no longer ex-
ercise the unlimited control of the past
over the souls, bodies and estates of
their parishioners.
Though Nicaragua's form of govern
ment is much like that of Los Estados
rerlidOs del N0rte," as they call the land
of the stars and stripes, unfortunately
for the governed, its whole theory is
opposed to stability. Not only has this
ancient system Of tithes been abolished
of which it used to cost about four
tifths to collect the remainder-but the
government seems bent on repeating
every tax that now yields a cent of in
come, excise of all kinds being regarded
as relic of barbalism. The plan is to
assess taxes on incomes that exceed
certain amount only thus putting pow
erty at q premium in this modern
Acadia, letting the vagabond 60 scott
rec. The vagabond being in the ma
lority, the result is that the wealthy
lew ara lnadad haunnd On dnranna