The morning call., 1890-06-30
THE REvoLUrIoN IN SALVADOR

If anything was needed to satisfy every
reasonable person OF the necessity of the
consolidation of the Central American
States into one strong and coherent power.
the deficiency would be furnished by the
events of last week. 1t will be remembered
that when DIR. Zaldivar, who, while Presi-
dent of Salvador, betrayed Barrios to his
death six years ago, was exiled by his in
dignant fellow-citizens, he was succeeded
by his Secretary of War, Senior Menendez.
This Menendez has held office ever since
and his term was not TO expire till next year.
He had become as Central American Presi-
dents generally become, intensely unpop-
ular, and was accused of the moral crimes
which are laid to the charge of rulers in
that section of the world. On Sunday, 22d,
a ball was given to celebrate his Inaugural
ton. While the festivities were at their
height, one General Marcial entered the ball
room and announced that a revolution had
broken out and that COCO men were in arms
to depOse "the Dictator" An explanation
ensuing betw cen Menendez and Marcial, the
former shot the latter dead, whereupon the
soldery made things even by doing Men
endez to death. Another General, by name
Ezeta, was appointed Provisional President,
apparently Ny XIV udulNlo VI lllC jail, @ld
old DR.. Zaldivar, from his Partisan retreat,
pronounces that all is well and that order
prevails in Salvador
All this reads like an act from an opera
bouffe. One expects the orchestra to strike
up a lively air and the corypheeS to skip in
with their abbreviated skirts. 1t is playing
at Government, on lurld background Of
blood and gunpOwder Is it anybOdy'S in
terest that this sort Of thing should go on
at the close Of the nineteenth century, and
in a country which exports 100000 worth
annually Of coffee and other valuable COM
mGdities?
The United States, in its forced role Of
guardian of civilization on these continents,
cannot view with Indifference such de-
plorabe failure of self-government in a
neighbOrinG State. with an area as large as
Massachusetts and New Hampshire COM
hined, a population half as large as that of
California, and gross annual trade amount
ing to S1l, 100000. These two-penny revo-
buttons, which appear to be chronic in the
States of Central America, do not materi-
ally interfere with the course of progress in
this country, but they are bad example
and they tend to bring discredit on institu-
tiOns which we cherish. They retard the
growth of a section of the continent which
we would like to see prosperous and peace
full. They impair the reputation Of re-
giOn in which we hope by and by to find a
useful ally.
1t is time that order were secured in Cen
trail America by hand stronger than any
Of the States can show. a central govern
ment, backed by a federal force and
| strengthened by the moral support Of the
| United States. would speedily crush out
| these insurrectionary movements, which
| appear to be started for frolic and to be
| carried on for purposes of plumber. 1t could
| do it summarily, and by imposing on the
| insurreCti Onary State a fine equivalent to
| the cost to which the General Government
! had been put to restore order, it might
| teach turbulent communities that rebellion
| is an expensive pastime. If every land
owner in Central America was taxed to
make good his share Of the cost of preserY-
| ing order, order would preserve itself.
Without the aid, or least the sympathy, Of
the landowners, the half-breeds who get
up revolutions could make but little way
for want of a cOmmissarat.
1t is slow work imposing respect for law
ON communities which are born without
that respect. People of our race do not
need to DE taught devotion to law aud
order. Il comes instinctively to them. 1t
is otherwise with the people of the Latin
| races, and their education is not unfre-
| quently slow and expensive. Even in Mex
! leo Diaz cannot afford to dispense with a
large standing army. But the work must
be accomplished, and the sooner it is begun
| the sooner it will be completed