Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1890-08-09

LAWRENCE, KAN, August Judge s. o.
Thatcher, of this city, who was member of
the United States commission to Central and
South America in 1885, in speaking of the
condition. of affairs in Central America, said:
"Years ago the five republics of Guatemala,
San Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and
Costa Rica had form of union under one
head. The character of the people of these
states Is very peculiar. The dominant or
ruling class is of Spanish descent, some of
whom are intermarried with the Indian
races, and the men who have Spanish and
Indian blood in their veins are often very
bold and enterprising. In Mexico, Juarez
and President Diaz are types of this class.
IN Central America, General Barrios was a
still more prominent representative. The
mass of the people are natives, generally
docile, patient and industrious, but ignorant,
md Indifferent, apparently, to the welfare
or progress of the country. They are the
descendants of the people found there at the
advent of the Spaniards. but could not have
Oeen the builders of the temples and palaces,
the ruins OF which are so numerous. These
republics fell apart about fifty years ago,
md have since had separate life. Nomi-
nally. there is free suffrage, as with Us; but at
the elections very few people vote, or take
any interest, and these are the Spaniards, or
The attaches of the government. As a gen.
eral thing, the party In power can dictate its
successor.
FNTbe army, though small in these coun-
tries. is a burden, is in the hands of the gov
ernment and used by it to continue its su-
premacy. change of the government il
usually produced by revolution. GuRte-
nala is by far the largest and most enter
prising. General Barrios, who was its dicta-
TOR until his death, was man of very broad
ideas. He desired to elevate his people, and
thought the only means was by education:
Accordingly schools we're established and
COMPULSORY school laws made. He said:
What want to see is my people as edu-
Gated, progressive and enlightened as those
of the United States Barrlos saw that it
Eas too great burden to maintain five dis
inct governments among so few people, and
sought to bring about union. 1t prevented
free intercourse, blocked the building of
railroads and internal means of communica-
ton, and was a great barrier to progress.
San Salvador has generally been more or
less influenced by Guatemala The president
had been placed in power by the influence of
Barrios, but when the latter attempted to
bring about the union of these states the
president had opposed it and led his people,
as far as he could, to oppose 1t.
''There was through Central America
jealousy of the ability and superiority of
General Barrios among the petty politicians.
It seems, however, that the hope and desire
to bring these countries under one govern
ment has not departed since the death of
Barrios. The cost of sustaining distinct
government, with representatives abroad,
together with ell the machinery of national
administration of government matters, is an
almost impossible load for the people to
carry. Meantime. in each of these countries
are found restless spirits, possessed of some
courage, who find in disorder and general
turmoil scope for their desire for amassing
wealth and terrorizing the people. The
present difficulties grow out of these two
contending forces; the one seeking to unite,
civilize and make harmonious these different
states under one strong head; the other ia
voring individual supremacy and power. The
dream of the Three Americas railroad can
never be reality until this region, beautiful
and fair, capable of immense production,
shall be a unity in its government. A few
years would see the locomotive descending
from the Mexican plains. rushing through
one of the fairest aud pleasantest lands in
the world, towards Buenos Ayres and Magei-
Ian were these petty republics a single, con-
solidated, prosperous state"