The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-21
CENTRAL AMERICAN UNION.
COSTA RIGA STRONGLY OPPOSED TO
III, AND NICARAGUA UNCERTAIN

Guatemala. Salvador, and Honduras in
Favor or It-The Lovely Climate of Costa
RIca-Ier Police Drilled by Capt. Pratt
to Rival New York's Finest-Port LInon
Overrun with Jamaica Negroes.
SAN JOSE. Juno 4.-Thore is no blinking tho
fact that all Central America from the MeSi-
can frontier TO tho northern limits OF Colombia,
ia in state OF political Excitement which be.
fore long must terminate in crisis. The re-
publics s:ill stand three to two for the union.
Nicaragua is uncertain, and Costa Rica worry
much opposed to 1t. In Guatemala everything
Is "union" President Barrillas is heart
and soul for 1t. as also is Menendez
of Salvador. while Bogran OF Honduras
has raised storm OF enthusiasm in his
country tho like OF which has not
been known In fifty years. In Guatemala
thsre Is. On tho other hand. peculiar quietudo
and loss inclination to discuss the great ques-
t!cn one fools that while In Honduras It is
tho peope who cry out for the union" in
Guatemala |: Is tho Government which dee
sIres II. In Honduras tho newspapers TEEN
with articles about the Pact and signatures OF
adhesion to 1t. In Guatemala tho press is
more careful of its uttcrances In Salvador
also there is little OF tho enthusiasm which il
witnessed in Honduras. Menende1 and his
Government arc secure since jose Maria Rivas
lieu, nut luBy Sctlu 10 ltel luo Hoeu VI blIouCO
and watchfuncss ltvas's followers wero
numerous and loyal TO him. Cojutopeque may
10 quiet, hut tho mon thar Rivas led are still
there. lie is II man to inspire sort OF adora-
ton in his soldiers lio is tall. majestic in ap-
pearancc, rather silent and scrupulous about
personal honor. and slow in his move
ments except when reused for battle Ee
was Governor of Cuscatlan. section
In tho neighborhood of beautiful Lake
IlapauGo. IL lovely sheet in tho mountainous
region north Of Salvador City. In 1885 and in
1887 Rivas was OF the greatest service to
Menendoz. At tho time of the Ialdivar plot,
and when Barahona had CAPTURED La Union.
the most southerly port OF Salvador. Monendez
could not have triumphed but for Rivas's hid.
Ho adhered to Menendez, unmoved by threats
and bribeS of the Xaldivarstas. and helped
him to effectually puttne conspirators to flight.
In Costa Itca some OF tho greatest minds
have been firmly opposed to the union. may
mention ex-Presidont Duran and Chief Justice
Jimenez, the latter having advocated annexa-
ton TO the United States in preference. Should
this annexation ever come to pass, the United
States could solve her negro problem with the
greatest ease by colonizng some OF the splen-
did coast and mountain regions OF Taamanca
with her surplus African population. Hero
they could raise the three Cs-coffee, cane. and
cotton-besides many other things and live
happily. ms country, unfortunately Tor the
rrenuHllc, is little known to the northern world.
OF all Central America. think Costa Rica may
he termed tho "loyc!iGs'" part. 1t is not SO
grand IN scenery as the other republics. 1t
has not tho awe Inspiring features OF Hondu
ras: 1t has not tho wonderful ruins Of Guate-
ma A. showing tn" civilization arrived at in
post Of s&lvador ' With has hre% tines @s
the same area: it does not resemble
Nicaragua with her tranlui! lakes. and yet, it
interior is marvelously mili and equable 1t
Is hard to believ%, when one rises Of q fresh,
that ono is only 600 miles from tile equator
am hardy n ad lr the "a
when he was vas last in San JOSE H' am az hardly iSH
surprised that tho Costurrcense are opposed
bits of cninrv ,n n nn one aDvw he p h
earth: the affairs OF the republic arc in highly
prosperous condition, and tho public debt well
arranged 1t is not strange that they object to
being united TO other Governments less for
tunate a. to their finances, and in some re-
seln?hncss will keep Costa Kca out Of the
union ii possible: not individual. but national
Protection GuatemalH wants power: Hon
duras wants advancement: Salvador feels her
sea coast while all the other republics have |
two. The few unionisI IN Costa kica are the !
These are looking forward anAlously, and 10y |
fully at times; y what the next two months |
acluiesccnce2 Nopody really knows-not even |
President t;odrsnez whose Administration
HAS JiISI ntSull 81 bllIldullS
Costa RIc;L is in excellent trim. both as to !
standing army; thanks to the energy and
Rafael lGIesns, and as to police organization. |
through the faithful laborS of Capt Pratt. the |
six months contract with he Government it
was Don Mauro fernandez. that ceaseless |
tol!er Tor the advancement OF his country. then |
Secretary OF the Treasury who first conceived |
the idea OF securi ng the services of Pratt who |
had already made brtlliGpt success in the |
lice are indeed Il iair copy Of New ork's finest.
But anything less like II New York policeman
to to- The San Jose I force it wo"iG be hard
to imagine, However, ono Of the Broad;
giant on II, San Joss street corner. There
j.; not much need OF police in, the interior.
On emaro The police wear neat blue uniform,
and have small round cans with narrow visors.
d fy eT Ways @ @ @ e e ans nave
lady passes aud bidding nor good morning"
Sd Iney ARE 1eS9y rSf ms
priest bearing ne, yiatlcum t. some dying
tsrson., they kneel like every one else with IN
the pretty nurses, out with tho babies The
head earlcyrr in the. Central Park tells many
Jasmine and roscbuds, which are calmly taken
Oyt4e policemen to give to their sweetheaaTrpIs
CostHrrlcensG are notod for their tremendous
per.onnI pride. | ,Sappose there Is no other
Of rcpIbicanism AFRO moro strenuously In;
sisted upon than in Costa Rica. The universal
reaoa op men Sudnd not tsko End Dig
TO the idea # the .p,a"ho all foreigners arc
aar.osi rom New York arriving to upset al
their comfortable ways. They did not like the
new system o tours or the strict dis"iplin
One morning NJ drill one Of thom turned on
tho now instruc, or with Il ferociOus. Tonga
Cstod cuila,!o,' tliavo 4 care. sr) which
almost tu.k away his breath.
Pratt was succeeded by Don Manuel Nicento
TeIcGom. formerly his assistant n charming
R"nucnan ~ VOL rs an excellent disciuln-
hrlhn. Ie edon has been working Il big reform
ut Fort ;imnn who" previously had existed
TINY dieaiiul STAG OF things. Limon is
oyelIUn WITH Jamaica uegroOs. tho very scum
Of THO blacks from that beautiful English
island. These dWkicS arc tho one black
rIaGun SPOT On tic beauiiiul laro Ul Central
America They arc criminals IL the vest
sort. thieves and cutth oats. They choose
Costa liza or many rGnsOn-. For one there
Is no captal punishment: another is that
having murdered any one they can easily
make of down tho coast to Tho Sixaua liver
cross that IN canoo. and stand on Columbian
soil, whero they cannot be touched. All tie
crime committed in Costa lica Is tho WORK Of
thahn MeErOMs. No ono nEor hnnrs o Il nnllva !