The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-09-18
The Troubles in Costa / Rica.

Tho peace OF Central America. rarely Of
long duration. il once moro threatened
through tho assumption OF dictatorial
powers by President RODRIGUEZ OF Costa
Rica. Tho controversy is between Congress
and the Executive. and although for from
being an exact parallel to that OF last
year in Chill, which resulted in the down.
fall Of B~AnMAcEpA. yot in some respects
It recalls tho latter. Already RODRIGUEZ
hos dissolved Congress and ordered new
elections.
Don JOSH Joaquin RoDR1GuEz cnme into
power. as the candidate Of the Conservative
party, after n canvass OF extraordinary
bitterness. during which there WINS lighting
In the capital and much excitement every
where. AT that time tho question OF relig-
ious instruction In schools. which Is n main
cause OF the present troubles. was n leading
issue In tho contest. The ndherents of Don
ASCENSION EsQr1vEh. the candidate or the
Liberal party. charged their opponents with
seeking an undue union Of Church and State
In matters of public education. The San
jose correspondent OF THE Sun thus de-
scribed tho point nj issue. and his words
will throw light on the troubles OF to-day:
"EopnGrry. Il is said. has pledged himself TO place
the bishop OF Costa Ricn ut the head OF all schools
This Is u serious matter. Il would DO utterly unjust to
consider B,hor TniEr as tln' rrrson!fca'ion ~ bigotry.
He In, on the contrary. u NAH OF reinnrkaht" breadth
and scholarly attachments. Costa Rica is Indebted to
him for literary work that could hardly La 20 been Gone
by any one else: as, FOR example. his Encyclopedia OF
Indian Languages. But, on the other hand. the present
school system OF Costa R,ca. which is n marvel OF ex-
ce!lence IN organization and n constant pridc anu honor
to tho country. should not be disturbed. Dispassionats
and unprecedented mi,sis regard the possibility of Don
49,. -.. ,au.s,rr t, la N n fhA Eenh nf ANnru
tional matters as " reritable catastrophe. 'Ihs
bishop they say, has enough TO do with all the
churches and church matters
However. after II political contest which
was u new experience to Costa Rica in Its
sharpness. tho Rodriguistas triumphed.
But the fight. If II fierce. had been n fair
one, and the Esquivelistns accepted the re-
suit quietly and good-naturedly. Since
that time political affairs have moved on In
the customary way, but tho omen OF
trouble has been visible in the fact that
while RODRIGUEZ desired to carry out the
principle OF religious instruction In the
public schools to which he was pledged. q
majority OF tho Congress- opposed him.
Thu crisis came last Tuesday. when he de-
clared himself dictator. suspended
stitution. dissolved Congress- and appealed
to the people in a proclamation.
The result Of this step can hardly be pre-
dicted. During the last Presidential can
vass our correspondent had noted that the
supporters Of RODRIGUEZ consisted mainly
Of the poems. the country people. and the
artisan ranks" together. Of course. with
the clergy and other advocates OF his
ecclesiastical policy. Now it appears by
the dispatches that he is still strongly
upheld by these adherents headed by the
Bishop. Still. the extreme step Of suspend
ing the Constitution and dissolving Con-
gross because this body has refused to &C
cept his views on the school question. may
be followed by grave disorders. The Wash
ington authorities have not yet thought 1t
advisable to send any vessels to the little
State for the protection OF American in
terests there; but should serious dis
~turbances occur. the Charleston Awould be
available for that purpose.