Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1893-11-02
A PROJECT OF FEDERATION.
II May Result In Congress OF the Five
Central American Republics.

Central American Republics-
All but one Of the presidents Of the FIVE
republics of Central America have within
short time expressed desire for the forma-
ton Of a federal union. under which the
several governments may exist together In
harmony and may be relieved from those
civil and interrepublican wars which have
brought so many evils upon them. The
question is Of the highest interest to the
countries concerned, and it is attracting
notice in the diplomatic circles Of all the
governments with which these countries
have political or commercial relations. Our
own relations with Central America are
highly important and are always under con-
sideration in the state department.
There is an authentic report from Man
aqua that the new government Of Mica
ragua has formally invited the other re-
publics to unite with it as members Of
great Central American federation, to bs
established upon broad principles that shall
be mutually acceptable and shall be main.
tained with all the power at the command
Of the parties in interest. President Zelaya
recently sent a diplomatic agent to Gaute-
mala to promote this object, and it is un-
derstood that the agent, General Baca,
received a satisfactory amount of encour-
agement. The facts in the case have doubt
less been communicated to our government
by DR.. Horacio Guzman, the Nicaraguan
minister in Washington. The constituent
assembly is now in session at Managua,
and the federal project is to be laid before
it by Zelaya, whose party was successful
in the August elections. There is, of
course, always danger that the project will
end in smoke, as the country is never safe
against revolution, but if President Zelaya
shall be able to retain his power in Mica
ragua he will surely adhere to his cherished
purpose Of organizing federation Of re-
publics.
1t was believed at one time that the gov
ernment of San Salvador would present an
insuperable obstacle to the carrying out of
the federal project, but this opinion has
been dispelled, at least in soma measure, by
President Ezeta. He declares that he does
not stand in opposition to the idea ot
federation and merely objects to the meth
cd of it that has been proposed. He desires
that the Central American capital shall be
established in his country, and he demands
certain other concessions which cannot
easily be granted by the four other govern
ments. He recently held conference on
the subject with the Salvadorean military
leaders, and it has been ascertained that
nearly all of them regard the project with
disfavor, holding that the country should
always maintain an attitude of complete
independence and should refuse to submit
to the dctation of other powers in any mat
ter whatever. President Ezeta may be
able to overcome these objections before
the meeting of the general Central Ameri-
can congress.
The government of Guatemala, both un-
der President Barrios and his successor,
President Reyna, has taken ground in fi-
vor of the federation. In recent inter-
view President Reyna spoke hopefully of
the prospect of forming it, saying that it
must be founded in peaceful spirit by
peaceful means, and that allowance must
be made for the prejudices and predilec-
tions of all the countries consenting to it's
formation. The population of Guatemala
are anxious that the general congress of
delegates shall be convened as soon as pos
sible and will be represented in it by fed
erationists of progressive kind.
The government of Honduras is even
more desirous of federation than any other
government, excepting that of Nicaragua.
The newly elected chief of state, President
Vasquez, whose predecessor in office was
General Leiva, has given his views on the
subject in direct language, and he has the
backing of the Hondurasan congress. He
is an astute and determined politician, and
it is not improbable that he will take a
leading part in the new movement for the
reorganization of the public system of Cen
trail America.
Very little is known here concerning the
attitude of the government of Costa Rica
toward the project, but there are reasons
for believing that that country will not stand
aloof if it be found that federation can be
peacefully constituted. President Rod
riguez is not unaware of the courseof events.
1t is conceivable that the project of fed
Grafton may be carried into effect soon after
the assemblage of the congress of Central
American republics. 1t will not be a nov
city in the history of that part of the world.
Seventy years ago federation was there
formed which lasted for 16 years, and sub
sequently there were several attempts to re-
establish it, one of which was in 1872, when
the five countries held conference, in which
the prospects were hopeful for time, but
which closed without securing the desired
result.-W ashington Cor. New York Sun.