New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-21

they enable their political managers u w.
~ - - logislotors TO carry out thelr
,ana or1 eo,r.t,mcs 70 purchase the support Ol
nm army Of mercenary citizens ON election uos
Wbile tbe chances OF revolutionary intrigue
and civil strife are multiplied under system VI
feeble and inefficient military organization SUCH
"a prevails in Central America. the horroIs Vi
war are materially diminished. A revolt III
Costa Rica implies an attempt on the paro Vi
scbemlng politicians TO overthrow the fresiGeh'
nv arminu 800 or 400 men ana taKIls
standina army Of 700 men by surprise. Iheoe
revolutions are not attended with much DioouSn'u
md are not TO he regarded es very serious u"aio'
II the standing armies were larger ana u."'
better discipline, there would be fewer p o'"O"'
manoeuvres Of this sort. The PROGRESS
Of Mexico during the last decade is mrgeE ~
be attributed to the strong military force which
hos boon ken, IN reserve and rendered available
| by the new railway and telegraph systems TOT
rapid operations in any part Of the country
| Revolution and brigandage have been orougno
| 70 an end and industrial progress has Deen pro-
| NOTED by strong military government win rail-
WAYS IN operaaion for the Transportation VI
! troous In the same way the construction OF
| trunk railway system from the Mexican porder W
Punta Arenas and Cartago would be OF ines
| Unable benefit TO the cause OF civllaznoh IA
| Central America. With facilities for the raplu
| movement of troops, the five Governments wouiu
| not be Christianity In dread Of revolutionary out
| breaks. and By strengthening their armies they
would secure what Is more urgently needed than
ANYTHING else-stabllty Of political institutions.
Such I; trunk line would bring five Jealous
| Stntes frst into intimate commercial relations
| and subsequently into political union unaer
| confederation such as was prenlatnrey panneu
| at
nation for five feeble and quarrelsome states
would lie great gain for civilization III
| Spanlsh-America.
The Barrundia case for many months has con-
tinued 70 be one of the chief topics OF puphc
discussion and private conversation In Cenuai
| America. In travelling down the Caribbean coast
and then crossing the country to Punta Arenas
hnyr been sstonished to find how profound has
been the impression created by the action OF TWO
| Departments Of the Harrison Administration In
discrediting the diplomatic and naval agents VINO
wore res,ponsible for that scandaous affair When
ever have made new acquaintances the converse.
ton has Immediately been directed TO the Bar
runda case Only once in my Journey have en-
countered any one disposed TO defend the course
| of Minister Miner In ordering the surrender OF
the (iuatemalan General. This was the Health
officer of the port of Bluefelds, who took up the
cudgels for the Minister very iercey. In every
other instance the course Of the Administration III
rcprimanding and dismisslng the diplomatic ana
naval agents has been heartily approved, ana
have talked with many of the most influential
residents in the towns through which nave
passed
General Bnrrlndia it may be well to observe,
was revolutionist of the common type. lie had
been Secretary OF War; and aspired to be President
| of Guatemala, but those in power had other plans
| Of their own and drove him into exile. Then ne
| had recourse TO tactics which are constantly EN-
ploved here He sought to advance his political
prospects by organizing revolutionary movement
Taking advantage of the state of war between Sal
vador and Guatemala, he headed an unsuccessful
invasion from Mexican territory. Ills subse-
ouent tragical end OH the steamer
| Icanulco in C,uatcmalan waters was caused by
the connivance and cooperation of the American
| Minister in an attempt 10 hand lin over 20 the
mercies of bis political enemies 1t Is mdlsput-
nbIe that under established usage In Central Amerl-
| can waters he was exempt from arrest So long
| ss he remained on an American ship. The abstract
onestionS of international law relating to terri
torinl jurisdiction merchant ships were argueu
by Secretary Bayard In the Gomez case ana Dy
Minister Miner in the Barrundia affair; Dut tie
uniform practice of generation had crea'ed
common usage which ought 10 have had dcter1nlh-
Ing weight IN both instances. The Paclhc Mail
steamers had been carrying passengers for twenty
five years I'D and down the Central American
coast and during that period scores OF Insurgents
and political offenders had been received on those
vessels and had enjoyed there all the privileges
Of protection and asylum. International comfy
had sanctioned this principle and it was well under
stood throughout Central America that polit-
cal iutrpucr or rebel was not liable 10 arrest SO
| long as he remained on those steamers. General
scauiescence in tits practice was natural, owing
| In the freauent recurrence OF revolutions ana
| politIcal disturbances Those connected with the
Governments of the day might lie leaders OF the
OppOsition and Implicated in revolutionary cabaiS
| within q month and themselves In need of pro-
lection II was convenience TO all conspicuous
6gurcS I'm public life TO have safe base of retreat
open TO them A Pacific Mail steamer by cstab-
lishcd usage was place of refuge. General BAR
rundia took advantage of this common law when
he embarked on the Acapulco for Panama, know
Ing that the ship was to enter two ports where
| his enemies were In power
Mr.. Hall. whom have met in Nicaragua, was
| naturally reluctant TO critcise the conduct OF
Mr. Miner. who succeeded him Minister 20 the
Central American Republics; but he was very
positive in his statement that the recognized
| usage had been violated in the arrest Of General
| Barrunda When he was appealed to in the
| Gomez case to support similar procedure in q
Nicaraguan port he telegraphed this indignant
refusal: Say respectfully to the Minister of
| Foreign Affairs that our Government never has
consented and never will consent to the arrest
and removal from an American vessel In a foreign
port Of passenger in transit; much less if of
fence is POLITICAL That was the opinion Of
Mr. Miners predecessor, and while it had been
oyerruleI by Secretary Bayard it had been sus-
tanned by the action OF the Nlcaraguan courts
| when an attempt was made to prosecute the
captain who had refused to surrender passenger
to the local authorities. | also Informed
by prominent American who talked with the
| President Of Nicaragua soon after the shooting
| ARRAY Oh the Acapulco that tie conduct of the
| American Minister in practically countersgning
the order OF arrest was denounced by him as in
| IL az l1liahnd nener In ind