Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-09
Causes the Hondurian Government
Very Much Trouble.
VANQUEZ REGRETS HIS LENIENCY.
Comparative Honesty is Good
Enough for Some Folks.
AMERICAN OPPORTUNITIES.
Written for The Evening Star.


There was the unmistakable flavor Of
revolution in the Tegucigalpan air when 1
reached the long-named city; strange whis-
perings. cautious glances and yet public
MISUNDERSTANDING to be felt not heard
or distinctly seen. AS l entered the coun-
try at Amapala few days before, Policar-
Do Bonillo and small party of adherents
were leaving it under orders of Punishment
Complimenting Gen. Vasquez on the len
iency of. this act, contrasting SO favoraby
with the too frequent political executions
in Spanish American countries, he was
frank enough to express to me his grave
doubts as to it's wisdom. for, said he, with
true prophetic vision, He will return, stir
up the country, and hundreds of good men
now happily enjoying life will be killed be-
cause Of it,"
1t is not feasible within the limits of
newspaper article-nor perhaps or sufll-
cient interest to US now-to enter into the
details Of the passing troubles In Hondu-
ras. The old, old story, again and again.
self before country! At the bottom OF IL
all the two gravest crimes against the
prosperity of humanity-violation OF the
ballot box before election, official corrup-
ton afterward. Where these twin curses
are Observation-Disclosures in this free land OF
compen sation sooner or later visits with an
absolute precision the guilty people with
all the sanguinary penalties. Policarpo
Bonillo, a popular young lawyer of the cap
ital being defeated-or counted out as ne
ciaimed-seems ferociously determined TO
be president or to so devastate MS hatiNe
land as TO leave II worthless Tor any one
else to rule.
Hence his several savage invasions from
neighboring territory with murderous re-
suits. Always defeated, he returns again,
and other victims to his cruel ampltlon are
piled UP in this depleted land by the
slaughtered hundreds. This is the man
whom Gen. Vasquez, now president, tired
so determinedly to take from the racine
mail steamer, the Costa Rlca, at Ainapaia
Qn Honduranian territory recently. Bonlila
owes his life first to the clemency OF zen.
Vasquez and now to the sheltering protec-
ton of our nag, and when we realize that
his errand past the threshold OF ms own
home is without a reasonable doubt to re-
visit 1t at an early day with hre ana sworn
from a new direction it seems pity that
such a vexed and bloody problem was not
solved-in some way and foreVef-Wnen ah
opportunity was so temptingly near!
President Domingo Nasquez was Hii.ary
commander OF the federal dlstrlct-whiSn
includes the capital, Tegucigalpa-at the
time of my visit. He Is a man Oh striklns-
ly handsome presence, about forty-nVe
years of age medium height, slim ana erect.
a refined and Intelligent gentleman OF sew
eral years Of European education ana eN,
perience and undoubtedly brave ana
talented soldier But he is more and great
er than all this, he is an advanced ana pa
triotic ruler, passionately determined TO
enforce by every possible means the pro-
gress and improvement OF his beloved coun-
try, and the model nearest his heart Is our
great republic, for which he has the su-
premest veneration. During the past year
he has become president as logical Sc
Quence of the continued confusion of law
and order originating in remote causes
deeply rooted, but directly personifed by
Bonillos present fury to rule or ruin: Pres
ident Ponciano Leiva, whose election de-
feated Bonilla. and who is now succeeded
by Gen. Vasquez, Is an old and faithful
officer, somewhat similar in manner and
personal appearance to our own Senator
Proctor Of Vermont. He is a man Of I'M
questionable personal probity and patriotic
life, but doubtless wearying, at his advanc-
ed age, of the thankless and dishearten-
ing task he had assumed, he was probably
only too glad to relinquish it to younger
and more vigorous man, with what result
Gen. VasQuez has yet to prove But after
long and frequent conversations with him
and knowing his answering patriotic reso-
lutions, | am satisfied that If his life be
spared and he fails to very greatly improve
Honduras it will be a fororn undertaking
for any successor. And 1t is country we'll
worth elevating to the attainment of its
highest destiny! The ablest Central Amer
lean authority has truthfully written that
it Is IAN epitome of all other countries and
| ranges, isolated volcanic peaks, elevated
table lands deep valleys, broad and fertile
plains and extensive alluvions are here
found grouped together, relieved by large
and beautiful lakes and ajeStic rivers;
the whole teeming with animal and vege
| table life, and the precious minerals. and
possessing every variety of climate from
torrid heats to the cool and bracing tempera-
ture of eternal spring"
Two Hundred Years Old.
(,oI In
main land of this continent in Honduras,
where Cortez, less than twenty years later,
founded the present city of Truxillo, and
sixty years before jamestown was found
ed and nearly one hundred years before
Hudson sailed into the bay of New York,
Honduras had it's large and hourishing
citiesv Tegucigalpa is perhaps two hun
dred years old, and is by far the finest and
most advanced city have yet seen in Cen
trail America. as indeed, at that age it ought
to be. 1t has in the neighborho0d of 10000
Inhabitants, is beautifully situated among
the surrounding mountains, large river
flowing through Ii, crossed by the famous
old stone bridge of ten arches, and by rea-
son of the elevation above the sea-3,JOO
feet-is always of the most delightful tenn
perature. Its streets and sidewalks are
regular and well paved, houses substantial
and many of them of quite superior struct-
ure, while the refnements and luxuries of
life under almost prohibitory conditions
are simply astonishing. W men we ref1ect
that every particle of freight of every de-
scription used in Tegucigalpa is brought a
hundred miles on the backs of animals or
men. the liberal exhibition made in this i'm
prisoned capital of pianos, large and costly
mirrors, even statuary, elegant furniture
and other qualifications and comforts of
civilization, can but excite wonder and ad-
mira tion. The roads of Honduras are
mere mule paths. often conducted. to avoid
large and rapid streams, over the steepest
and toughest mountains, where in places
they are so narrow. abrupt and obstructed
that the stranger recoils in despair of eff
recting a passage. The loads carried by
mules are necessarily light, and the ex-
pense of transportation becomes so great as
enectually to prohibit the expectation of the
more bulky products of the state sexcept
from places near the coast. All articles of
importation, also, which cannot be packed
on mules, require to be transported on the
shoulders of men; and the pianos mirrors
and other foreign articles of bulk and value
IN use In the large towns of the interior
nave all been carried in this manner from
the sea ports. This. written forty years
ago, Is as true now as then but the rest
iess spirits of hope and progress are stir
ring vigorously over the land. The long
contemplated fnteroceanic railway, between
Puerto CorteZ on the north and Fonseca
bay on the Pacific. two of the finest harbors
In the world, will certainly be constructed
within the present generation. The distance
is less than $50 miles. over far easier
grades and at much less cost than many