The sun., 1889-11-20
Central American Union.

The five Central American States, Guate-
mala, Nicaragua, Honduras, Costa Rica, and
Salvador, appear to be passing through
an experience somewhat analogous to that
OF our own country between the close Of the
Revolutionary war and the successful forma-
tlon OF more perfect Union" The great
advantage possessed by our people was that
urgent necessities Of common defence had
already forced them into a confederation,
which had made them to great extent one
nation. whereas the Central American States
are still five totally distinct countries.
II the founders Of our Government had so
long and difficult a task in procuring the re-
quired transfer of powers from the individ-
ual States to the Federal authority 1t Is
not strange to find so much opposition to a
similar process In Central America. In fact,
the recent Congress of delegates, whose pro-
ceedings and protocol are now to be acted
upon by the five States individually is un-
derstood to propose at first only close
alliance and harmony of laws commercial
regulations, and citizenship. STILL when
once common ties are created, the increase
and strengthening OF them is matter OF
degree and detail, and union may be formed
by the cool and leisurelY process of accre-
tion in peace, instead Of by fusion in the
orucible OF war.
One indication that something practical Is
expected from the draft for federal union,
which the Guatemalan Minister at Paris
speaks of as already signed, is the uneasi-
ness manifested in Mexico. From the col
ony Of Guatemalan exlles In that country
have been coming excited rumors, one of
which hints, doubtless wholly without au-
thOrity, that BARRUNDIA will have assist
ance from President DIAz In starting re-
volt In Guatemala against BARILLAs, pre-
sumably with view to distract the latter's
attention from the confederation project
which he is known to heartily favor. AS to
the curious rumor that some OF the other
States insist on Guatemala's being divided
In order to check her preponderance, it GER
tainly does not seem a condition that she
would consent to. The ground OF the report
is intelligible. Guatemala. although pos
sessing only about one-fourth OF tho COM
bined area OF the five States, has close upon
half their aggregate population. Hence
1t is feared that any system of confederation
must necessarily be hegemonic. with Guate-
mala as the leader.
This probability or apprehension has been
at the bottom of the difficulty experienced
during 80 many years In bringing about
Central American confederation and has
done much to wreck the schemes in that
direction. 1t has been particularly effective
with Salvador, which is by far the
smallest OF the States In area, although the
second largest in population. It is In square
miles little more than one-third Of the size
Of Costa Rica, less than one-sixth the size of
Guatemala or OF Honduras, and less than
one-seventh that Of Nicaragua. But 1t has
three times the population OF Costa Rica,
more than twice that OF Nicaragua. and
nearly half that OF Guatemala. Situated on
the border Of Guatemala, 1t has always jeaI-
ously watched the latter In the schemes for
confederation, and this was particularly true
four years ago, when BARRlos undertook
unihcation by force.
This preponderance Of Guatemala was also |
one key to the course OF BARRIos at that |
time. He thought that he had assurances |
from the Honduras Government that it |
would not oppose his assumption OF tempo
rary dictatorship, in order to force the con- |
federation. and since President ZALDfvAR of |
Salvador had been raised to power by |
him In that republic eight years before, as |
his friend. he considered ZALDfyAR's opposl- |
tion as ingratitude and treachery. OF |
course, his wrong was in assuming that even |
If Guatemala and Honduras contained ma
jority of the population. he thereby acquired
the right to treat the other three indepen-
dent States as mere Jealous and factious
minority and to force thAm to give up their
Iovereignty at the point Of the sword.
Central America Is not to be blamed for
proceeding cautiously toward the goal of
union. The confederation which existed after
the separation from Mexico in 1928 until its
dissolution in 1889. was not OF a kind to invite
repetition OF the experiment. Each State
naturally clings to It's autonomy, and fears
to exchange 1t for membership of a union
which 1t may be helpless to control. Guate-
mala, of course, has fewest of these appre-
tensions; but even she may think union
with other States hardly worth the price of
her own dissection.
Possibly the example OF Germany, in