The morning call., 1890-04-13
THE CENTRAL American REPUBLIC

In spite of all the stories Of dissension in
Central America it appears that the union
is an accomplished fact. The assent of
Nicaragua is still said 10 be wanting, but
that State is in no position to oppose the
enterprise 1t is safe to assume that the
republic Of Central America will be duly
inaugurated on the 10Th of September next,
according to the programme; and in the
meantime the new nation will act as unit,
under temporary articles of confederation.
Persons who carry in their memory the
history of this country for the thirteen years
prior to the Inauguration of Washington
will have no difficulty in realizing the obsta-
cleS which the promoters Of union have had
TO surmount. The normal tendency of small
communities is to resist consolidation, not
so much for the sake Of preserving their
autonomy as from a dread of being d0m-
mated by more powerful neighbors. The
typical yillager would rather be boss of his
village than citizen of powerful nation.
In this country opposition TO union pro-
ceeded chiefly from questions of revenue
and imposts; in Central America it grew
out of personal jealouSies Each of the five
States wanted TO furnish the President for
the Confederation. To reconcile their jar
ring claims it was necessary to resort to the
puerile device of giving the presidency to
each Of the five in turn for the term of year.
This is tile more curious as both San Sal
vadOr and Honduras have more than once
elected Presidents who were natives of other
States. But constitutional government, as
we understand il, has never gained foot
hold in Central America. The five States
have really been governed automatically by
their Presidents, whose powers and patron
age have been accordingly large.
1t is too soon to speculate on the probable
effect of Central American union on our re-
lations with that portion of the continent
The new State will contain about as many
souls as the thirteen colonies did at
the Declaration of Independence, but the
great bulk of them are Indians, for the rec
lamation and civilization of whom no prac-
teal scheme has yet been devised. They
do not die out, as our Indians do. But they
are seemingly incapable of educ alton, and
thus far it has been impossible to inspire
them with wants which would stimulate
industry. They cumber the earth, with no
usefulness in the present nor aspirations
for the future. 1t would be easy to quad
ripple the coffee crop of San Salvador, Qua
temala and Costa Rica; the soil is there ana
the labor is there, but the crop increases
very slowly indeed.
Side by side with these Indians are tie
whites, so called, descendants of the old
Castilians, many times crossed with the
native races. Persons of pure Castilian
blood are rare; there is no immigration
from Spain This class of population suf-
fers from the depressing effect of tropical
heat; it is inert, idle. incapable Of sustain
ing effort, and devoid of ambition. There are
a few Germans and few Americans scat
tered through the country and the best
plantations are in their hands. One or two
of them, like Mr.. Keith of Costa Rica, have
acquired vast possessions and are presuma-
bly, very wealthy. Possibly, as the Nicara-
qua Canal progresses, there may be more
men of this type in the country. 1t is sec
tlon Of the world in which minimum of
labor and enterprise viii insure maxi
mum of reward.