The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1890-08-01
Comparison OF the Condition
of the Five Republics of
Central America. M
Salvador the Smallest in Area, Blu
Physically Able 70 Make q
Good Stand.
What Honduras, Costa Rica, Nicara-
qua and Guatemala Can Show
In Case of War

The New York Suns Washington special
says: Although we speak of Little Saliva
dor, !" i'm comparing her with the more
powerful neighbor against whom she is
arrayed, the term is deceptive. Smallest
| In area OF the Central American republics
she certainly is, having length OF about
ITO miles an average breadth Of ~, and
containing only 7,22s square miles. This
is bat little more than third Of the area
Of Costa Rica, not much above q sixth OF
that OF Honduras, less than sixth Of
Guatemalas, which contains Al, TIA square
miles, and less than seventh OF Nicara-
gua's which contains 5i,660. Salvador,
however, is much the most dsnsely peopled
| of the five republics. While the the popu-
lasion of Guatemala al the beginning OF last
| year was l,427, ,1i6, that of Salvador must
| have been at least about half as great at
| that time, since count In 1887 had given
her GA, ,5I3 inliabitants. She In easily the
second of the Ave republics in population,
and has for long time disputed the efforts
| Of the latter to leadership In Central
America. Perhaps sine aspires herself TO
be the Ikcystone Of the arch, holding an
| intermediate position between the two
northern republics and the two southern.
She has double the population of Honduras,
which In the census Of 1887 showed 331, SIT
i inhabitants, and of course greatly sur.
passes Nicaragua, which the year previous
was credited With 262, ,272, and also Costa
RIGA, which about the same time had
ais, ,7S5.
While these figures reveal the extreme
numerical possibilities Of the Ave republice
for recruiting their armies, their existing
military forces show results relatively
somewhat different, In consequences OF the
different degrees Of Importance attached By
them 20 standing armies, and also TO the
differences tn their financial condition.
Guatemala, which has nearly as many peo-
ple IS the four other republics combined,
has still grester preponnernnoa In her
regular army, jet is net In good financial
shape for going 10 war. Nominally the act-
i've troops of Guatemala are II. 800 strong,
which would give about half as large en-
army as our own; buf actually the number
may be less. Her militia Ia put down at
/ 30, 900 men. and this force might fairly be
increased by taking In such numbers as are
wrongly ascribed to the regulars. Saliva
dor maintains an active army Of only 1900
men, with militia Of 1000. The reports
imply that she has actually mobalizsd
much greater force than Is ascribed TO her
active establishment.
Honduras Is said 10 keep mp an army Of
only 500 men, with militia of 5000; and
she il justified In incurring no greater mill
itary expense, In view of the condition Of
her finanoes and her large foreign debt.
Besides, since her policy is 80 closely
allied with that of Guatemala. whom she
to her more powerful neighbor the task OF
furnishing che bulk of their combined mil
itary resources. Nicaragua, which has .
special need of troops In view of her rela-
tions to the inter- oceanic canal, maintains
i,200 men, with reserve of 10000 more,
ana national guard Of 5000. In proper
tfuu to her peRalatioa aha is 20 good mill
tary trim, and. having very small debt
! she is in good fnsncial circumstances, with
excellent prospects In the canal. Costa
Rica has 600 men ON ner actiye list, with q
J militia Of n, 900. This little state has OF
: late years several times bristled mp In .
} belligerent way toward Nicaragua. in spite
: Of the larger military force OF the latter.
, Her lats president, Gen. Bernardo Soto,
! ID probably one OF the best of the Central
! | American soldiers, aud took lively infer
> est Ia the military affairs Of the republic,
I having under him Caraxo and Fernandez
az general officers.
Should Salvador receive the hearty sup.
! port Of Costs Rioa and Nicaragua she
= would evidently be able 10 make good
stand against Guatemala and Honduras,
aQhiing ON her own soil. But the question
Of their attitude In the present difficufty Ii
not quite clear. They are likely 90 stand
Z together in most matters affecting the
: Central American union, concerning which
3 they are palpably inclined to temporize
: Thsy supported the eauss of Salvador
!. against Guatemala i've years ago, but zai-
n iivar, who then successfully resisted tbs
4 invasion OF Barrios, was, beyond dispute
: the lawful president Of Salvador, aud had
4 been 20 for years. whereas EzetAs her pro.
4 yisionaI ruler now. governs Ia vfrsne OF hii
! sadden overthrow on Menendsg, who hat
4 been hts friend, and his title Is not unques-
= toned.
e The Guatsmalans aver that there Il
Il nov q faction In Salvador lighting Ezeta
Ie and that IL was this faction, perhaps aldes
by Guatemalaan sympathizsrs. which wa
concerned In the battle recently reported
They cits the fact that the commsndinl
general vas villiviosncio.a salvsdorian, Il
support this yiew. They also speak con
J. ildently of Costa Rica and Nicaragua unit
i inp with Guatemala and Honduras II
calling upon Eseta 10 resign. But in tha
i they evidently take conanl of thsU wishes
: Ezsta's bannsS Is that Of opposition d
4 i Central American union. Now. althougl
Nicaragua and Costa Rica have aceepte'
y y the project Of Vnion through thAr re
4 spsstive presiderts, yes both have pest
2 ponad uptIl 1884 Legislative action upon
foS ita ratification or Eegaction, Cost
n llioas however. has eourssonsly declass
aa ss1aE che dass 30 without prejndies 20 any
ths.xr fhaA .saAp hn afFenfsd g1ns1nx khA ala