The morning call., 1894-01-04
THE CENTRAL AMERICAN WAR,

Blood has been drawn in Honduras, and,
considering how economical Central Amer
can belligereuts are Of the article, 1t is
evident from the killing of twenty-three
warriors on one side and Two On the
other that the fighters are very much in
earnest indeed. The hostile armies must
have advanced within range of the enemy's
firearms. which is contrary 10 their time
honOred practice.
Ihe cause of the war is the old story. In
November, 1891, an election was held in
Honduras TO choose President to succeed
Luis Bogran. There were two candidates
-Ponciano Leiva and PolicaTpo BOGilla,
OF these the former was elected. BOnilla,
as usual, appealed from ballots TO bullets.
raised the standard of revolt and was
driven out Of his country into Nicaragua.
There he found adherentS ana carried OG
a teasing border warfare against Hon
duraS, with the sympathy of the Mica
raguans. In course Of time he wore out
Lelva, who made way for General Vas
QueZ, warrior Of steTner stuff VasqueZ
hogan by demanding of Nicaragua the sur
render Of B0nilla and the other eXies.
This being refused, he issued on October
50 a challenge to the Nicaraguans to come
out and fight like men. After two months
spent in preparations the canal State re-
spOnded by coming out, and invaded Hon
duraS with an oyeTW helmiDg army of 1000
men. BOnilla, VINO led them, took town
and proclaimed himself President of Hon.
duras, WhereupOn President Zelaga of
Nicaragua promptly acknowledged him.
simultaneously resident VasQueZ put his
army in motion to invade Nicaragua.
In order 10 make it pleasant all round,
BaTriOs, who, in view of some such emer-
gency, took time by the forelOck and some
months ago proclaimed himself Dictator OF
Guatemala, proposes to attack Nicaragua
from the north, while President EZeta of
Salvador declares that if Guatemala inter
feres the SalVadorians Will take a hand in
the fight on the side Of Nicaragua. The
conflict thus threatens to become, not tri-
angular like Midsbipman Easy's famous
duel, but Quadrangular. lis Issue may
perhaps be inferred from the fact that of
all the belllgerents the only one who has
any money is the Dictator of Guatemala.
The others will have to rely on forced
loans from foreigners.
So history repeats itself. Central Amer
lea is passing through the stage which
preceded unifcatiop in Germany and
Italy. In both countries peace, order and
prosperity were impossible so long as each
was split up into a congeries of small.
Earring, jealous States. With curious irony
fate devolved upon enemies to effect for
these countries the consolidation which
their people were unable to accomplish for
themselves. 1t fell to the lot Of the first
Napoleon to unite Italy, not that he desired
to see it united, but that union was the
condition of his complete sway throughout
the peninsula; the kingdom of Italy was
the Legitimate offspring of the kingdom of
Etrurla. What he failed to accomplish,
though he tried hard enough with his Con-
federation OF the Rhine, his nephew effect
ed with the war of 1870. Germany, like
Italy, fused into great nation, and Ger
mans were enabled 10 take their ease under
their own vine and fig tree.
Who is 60 ing 10 render a like service for
Central America? With a master hand to
point the way the constructive work would
almost do itself.