Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-08-21
SKETCH OF THE CENTRAL AM
ERICAN WAR.

=
miles; population 100000. Hon
duras: Area, 5S,l6S square miles;
population, 100000. san Salvador:
Area, 1900 square miles; POPula-
ton, 100000, Nicaragua: Area.
$1,000 square miles;Population, 3D.
600. Costa RIGA: Area, 22.03O squ8ry
miles; population, l67, 900.
For n long time the statesmen.
such as they have been, o..
these five small republics have
dreamed Of a federation, modelled
after the United States. Within the
last two years public opinion in all
but one Of them had turned
Overwhelmingly in favor ola union,
and about a year or soago a cOnven-
ton was held al which n federal
constitution was discussed, anu. A.
was generally understood, perfected.
The treaty OF coalition was siguei,
in October Of last year, by all five
OF the states concerned, subject 10 a
ratification fixed for Sept. Is, 1899.
The congress which formulated il
sat at Salvador, and a celebration
was had there in honor Of its ad0p
ton, that state apparently leading
in the enthusiasm which favored
the union movement.
1t seems, however, that in the IT.
public Of san Salvador there existed
faction which was extreme in Ifs
hostility to the proposed federation.
In the interest, - j. supposed, %
this faction, President Meuendez
was, on June -, assassinatei, anu
Immediately thereafter, Genera!
Ezeta seized the reins II govern
ment, virtually, il would seen, In
the capacity Of a dictItor, though
without assuming that title. Ezsta
was regarded 10y the rest Of the re-
publics as the representative Of the
snti-uniOn element, and Guatemala
took the lead in demanding that
he vacate the position Of power he
had seized. President Birrillas, OF
the last named state, seems % have
taken the ground that the union Of
the five republics had actually been
consummated, aad that the assas-
sination Of President Menccnicz
in San Salvador, 10y the anti-union-
lists Of the latter state, and the seiz-
ure Of the government by Ezeta,
their recognized head, constituted
secession, or rebellion against the
federation. With more or les
cordial support from Hondu-
ras, Costa Rica ami Niclrl-
qua, Guatemala, under the leader
ship Of her president, Barrillas,
made preparations to PIT down the
revolution in : IN Salvador and re-
store TO power the party which
favored the federation.
In pursuance Of this purpose,
Barrillss, about the middle Of July,
invaded san Salvador, not expect
Ing TO meet with much resistance,
and evidently surprising that the
uniunists OF the latter state
would cooperate with him in great
strength, aud that it would be an
easy task 10 suppress Ezeta ami his
following. But a bitter disapgOiut-
msnt was in store for him. Ezsta
seems, 10y some means, t. have cap
tured the popular support Of his
country, AMI lac repealed BaIHllas'
invasion with great lsss e. the lat
ter. Not only this, tut He
pressed Bagrillls back towards
his own capital, and iu hattie
after battle defeated him. several
times with terrible loss o. the Guat,-
malans. General Antonio Ezets. a
yJunger brother Of President Ez-ta,
had immediate command Of the
Salyad0ran army, and displayed
the qualities Of a brave and able
general.
No statement approaching com
pleteness, has been made in the
press dispatches Of the particulars
Of the assassination Of President
Menendez, Of SIN Salvador. nor q
the progress OF the revolution in
that country which resulted in
placing the elder Ez-ta at the head
Of state affairs, and his brother An
tonic at the head Of the army. The
inference 10 be drawn from iif5,-
nation which has been furnished
concerning these events j. that they
were brought about by the de.
termined action OF the auti-uuioL-
lists OF that country. President
Ezeta, 50 far As appears, has re-
Trained from all attempts At explain
ing or iustifying the death of his
predecessor, the nearest approach 20 /
such an utterance from him being
in a communication sent hy him 10 F.
Barrillas Just before the first bltsle .
occurred, in which ne sail:
san salvador l. a sovereign state.
and knows how 20 &C. without inter
ference or Intervention Of any other
power, be il great or small. sill. in
Difference TO her sister republics. i,
most courteousiy We; firmly declines
TO receive instructions from Gaa;e-
mala. Guatemala must recalIac. tina,
in lss7 her president. then aud nov. f
declared himself dictator. and neither
President BArrillas nor has govern
ment would brook the Interference Of
any other nation - 10 his actions.
San Salvador is only passing tina:
transitory state through which Gua,e-
mala passed iu lsS7. Las provisional
president Of san Salvador. an only
following in the footsteps OF President
barrillas, and ! do no. see thai DC
need complain Of what he himself has
done and FOR which he received the
APPRECIATION OF his country. Nv
country is my judge, and it is FOR her
people TO judge Of my actions and not
Tor outsiders. While desiring 70 pre-
serve peace with all her sister rspub-
lies, san Salvador i fuIlv PREPARED 10 I {
defend her own national honor when
the time shall present itself"
The real attitude OF each Of the
three republics not directly involved
in the war, Honduras. Costa Rica
and Nicaragua, Is a matter OF uncer-
tainty. That Guatemala believed ,
they would sustain her in the effort l q