The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1893-12-22
Central and South America.


: licanism in Central and South America
For more than GO years the people O
these two Americas have been trying t,
govern themselves, and the experiment
is apparently as far from being a success
as it was in the beginning. Nicaragu,
had her |semiannual revolution in July
She not only had "A revolution, bur
also a war with Honduras on her hands
The rebels were successful by the mid
die of September, and after a form Of
election General Santos Zelaya was in.
stalled as president. Zelaya will be
president for five years, always with the
saving clause-if he is MOI overthrown
by revolution.
Though president in name, Zelaya is
really u military dictator. So is Presi-
dent Nasquez of Honduras, and the two
will fight it ont between honduras and
Nicaragua. Two of the ether Central
American states are involved in the
brawl between Nicaragua AID Honduras.
Barrios, president of Guatemala, has
promised to help Honduras in the war,
while Ezeta, presidential dictator of Sal.
vador, Will aid Nicaragua. So the polit-
ical pot boils and scethes in Central
America. Good, old fashioned, decent
heathenism, such as existed in that mart
OF the country before Columbus discov-
cred America, would be better for the
common people of Central America than
this state of things. OF course. every
complication in which Nicaragua is in
volved will affect injuriously the Mic
aragua canal and its prospects. 1t is
time the United States government laid
its hand on the making of that canal.
A standing cause of irritation and
temptation to revolution likewise is the
law prohibiting a president to stand for
reelection, a law in existence in all the
South American republics. 1t was
thought by the legislative bodies pass-
ing the law that it would prevent presi-
dents from proclaiming themselves die
tators and holding the reins of govern
ment permanently. But it did not saw
IN SO many words that a vice president
raised to the presidency should not sue
himself. Therefore when Peixoto
succeeded to the Brazilian presidency on
the resignation Of Fonseca, he tried TO
get himself elected president after serv-
ing out Fonseca's unexpired term.
The Brazilian congress would not have
this, and that is the main cause of the
in Brazil. First the state of Rio
do Sui revolted from the CEN
raj government, then the navy, with
Mello at its head, Joined the
Insurgents. Peixoto is plainly wrong in
construction Of the law, for a vice
becomes the actual president
n case of the death or resignation of the
person elected president. If Peixoto had
me spark of patriotism-one might al
most say OF common d~ecency-he never
would have set up his preposterous claim
o be reelected. But ever after he had
lone 30 that was no sufficient cause for
revolution such as has been distract.
ng this vast and beautiful country and
disturbing the commerce of the world
the past six months. Apparently all
he South American leaders of any class
are for is their W self seeking ambi-
ion, always excepting the high minded
patriot Salvador de Mendonca, minister
# Brazil to the United States. The next
residential election in Brazil takes place
n March.
IN the Argentine Republic four states
AVE been in revolt since June. The
of Argentina is an old man,
The shallow Drained, ieal-
us little political leaders in the four
tates thought he was too much under
he influence Of his son, DR.. Pena. n
Prominent member of the Modernista
party, so they up and rebelled.
t is impossible to say which side will
7hip, n really 1t does not make a par
lcle of difference. But suppose our peo-
lie should start a revolution every time
IN OF them 10 not like a PRESIDENT
Meantime a revolution probably is on
he point of outbreak in Peru. The de-
line in the price of silver has made the
mines of Peru Improbable. So it has
hose of the United States, but we would
ever think of going to wal about it.
'eru, however, is different. Ex-Presi-
ent Pierola is taking advantage of the
ard times to foment political disturb.
noes, which he hopes will put him at the .
cad Of affairs again.
Such is the state of the Central and s
outh American republics up to date {
Mess a new revolution break out be-
ore this gets into print, which is quite !
ossible. The South American states 1
re a steady, awful warning to us of the &
United States. &