Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1894-01-12
Central aud south America.

Central aud South America.
Eighteen hundred. and ninety-three
closes ominously for the cause Of repnhr
teanisn ia Central and South America.
For more than GO years the people OF
these two Americas have been trying to /
govern themselves, and The experiment
is apparently as fal. from being q success
as it was in the beginning. Nicaragua
had her semiannual revolution in July.
She not only had revolution, but
also a war with Honduras on her hands.
The rebels were successful by the mid
die Of September, and after form of
election General Santos ZeIaya was in
stalled as president. Zelaya will be
president for FIVE years, always with the
saving clause--if he is not oYerthrown
by revolution. 81.
Though president in name. zelaya is
really q military dictator. So is Presi-s
dent Vasauez Of Hond duras. and the two
will fight it ont between Honduras and
Nicaragua Two of the other Central
American states are involved in the
#brawl between n gua and Honduraa
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 boiis and seethes in Central
America. Good, old fashioned, decent
heathenism, such as existed in that part
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 it's prospects. It is
time the United States government laid
it's hand on The making of that canal.
A standing cause of irritation and
temptation to revolution likewise is the
law prohibiting president to stand for
reelection, a law in existence in all the
South American republics. It was
thought by the legislative bodies pass
ing the law that it would prevent presi-
dents from proclaining themselves. die
tators and holding the reins of govern
ment permanently. But it did not say
in so many words that vice president
raised to the presidency should not sue
ceed 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
trouble in Brazil. First the state of Rio
Grande do Sui revolted from the cen
tral government, then the navy, with
Admiral Nlello at its head, joined the
insurgents. Peixoto is plainly wrong in
his construction Of the law, for vice
president becomes the actual president
in case of the death or resignation of the
person elected president. If Peixoto had
one spark Of patriotism-one might al
most say Of common decency--he never
would have set up his preposterous claim
| to be reelected. But even after he had
| done SO that was no sufficient cause fol
a revolution such as has been distract
ing this vast and beautiful country ant
I disturbing the commerce Of the worl6
for the past six months. Apparently al
the South American leaders of any class
care for is their own self seeking amhi
ton, always excepting the high minded
patriot Salvador de Mendonca, minister
Of Brazil to the United States. The nex'
| presiden tial election in Brazil takes place
in March.
In the Argentine Republic four states
bave been in revolt since June. The
president Of Argentina is an old man
Saenz-Pena. The shallow Drained, ieal.
GUS little political leaders in the four
states thought he was too much under
the influence of his son, DR.. Pena, {
prominent member Of the Modernists
political party, so they up and rebelled
Tt is impossible to say which side vii
whip, and really it does not make a par
ticle of difference. But suppose our peo
pie should start a revolution every time
some Of them do not like president?
! Meantime revolution probably is or
the point Of outbreak in Peru The de
cline in the price of silver has made thu
mines of Peru Improbable. So it ha
those of the United States, but we wouli
never think Of going to war about it
Peru, however, is different. Ex-Presi
dent Pierola is taking advantage of th'
hard times to foment political disturb
ances, which he hopes will put him at tn
head Of affairs again.
Such is the state Of the Central ant
South American republics up to dat
unless new revolution break out be
fore this gets into print, which is quit
possible. The South American state
are steady, awful warning to us of tin
United States.