The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-06-09
CENTRAL AMERICAN UNION
TIE PEOPLE or ALL STATIONS ARE
STRONGLY IN IA y0R OF 1T.
gut. as - Central American Diplomat says
the People Have Little Voice In
the Cont oil of Affairs.

WASHINGTON, June S-The interest
in the revival OF the project Tor Cen
tral American union has occdaioned
reuorter 10 put to one OF tho best In
formed OF Central-American diplomats
this question. al,
What Is the initial step that will be
taken 10 secure the formation OF union
az all the Central American states; VIII
he question first be submitted 10 a vote
OF the people IN order that the sentiment
Of the several countries may be OBTAIN
ed?"
The diplomat smiled pityingly upon his
questioner. "The people he SAID, WIN
a significant shrug OF has shoulders, nave
little voice in the control OF anairs IN
Central America. Those countries are
nominally republican, but they are. as a
matter of fact. oligarchles. The question
of union OF all the Central American
states will be settled mainly BY the
Presidents Of the five countries interested.
II these gentlemen favor a federal unlon'
IL will not be long delayed
How do the ruling classes regard the
proposition?
"The great majority favor IT. Nearly
all the influential people I'm Central Amer
lea belong 10 the Liberal party, when Is
the party Of progress, and when Is
mainly favorable to closer alliance or
all the States. From private letters
received In Washington this week.
would seem that strong pressure Is being
brought 10 bear upon the Presidents OF
Guatemala. Honduras. and Nicaragua, 10
use their influence VA favor OF the union
II these three will work together, the
result is practically assured. Salvador
and Costa Rica are holding aloof, but
If the other countries favor such an al
lance. Salvador and Costa Rica VIII be
compelled TO join them
you do not doubt the beneficial result
Of such a union, then?' the diplomat was
asked.
such a union" he replied. would be
of incalculable benefit 10 Central Ameri-
ca II would give US unity or interest
which we have now only in senu-
mental way. II would decrease our
public expenses. inasmuch as there would
be but one President for the i've repuo-
lies as well as one Congress, where there
are now five Presidents and as many Com
crosses Such "a union would guarantee
pcace throughout all of Central America;
il would put an end 10 petty revolutions,
which are sometimes very costly, Doth
! I'm life and money; and il would enable us
10 present a bold front 20 any nation
which might attempt to bully as.
How much Of an army could the
five republics raise?'
"From 10000 to 20O0O men. Guatemala
could furnish $1,000; Salvador, 900; Costa
! Rica. 1900 and Honduras and Nicaragua
| 5000 each. These men would make
| good soldiers They could be armed
with modern guns, and they would De
sufficiently strong 10 prevent ary invasion
of the territory. You don't suppose" he
continued that Mexico would have at
tempted 10 make war on Guatemala IT
| Guatemala had been one OF the states
| of "A Central American union? Decidedly
not IL was this Mexican incident. ana
| SIN later the affair al Corinto. when
have satisfied the Central Americans that
they must stand together. The move
ment looking 10 this end IS now well
under way and / believe VIII ne
| question of Comparatively short time ne
| fore the union becomes an accomplished
fact" 81.
"Do YOU believe that such a union, II
formed, will last?'
There is no doubt Of 81. The United
States of America have furnished us
with a great oijcct-lesson. We see
how they. by force OF their union, are
! able practically TO defy the world, where
as. If divided as Central America IS, no
single state or group OF States could
maintain itself foi any great length OF
time. The educated classes In Central
America. as / say, strongly favor me
union. and the common people, so iar
as they understand the subject, also APP
prove st.
"Have the Latin-Americans shown their
caracity for self-gOvernment."
IL think our history for the last quar-
ter OF a century fully answers that qucs-
ton. our revolutions are not so much
the fault of the people as OF the politi-
clans who are out of power, and de-
sire 10 get i'm power our people gen
orally are thrifty and industrious. We
have a large Indian population. They
make excellent citizens. They diner rad
icaily from the North American Indians.
They are pcaceable. thrifty. and ener-
getic. They are more like the japanese
than any other people l have ever seen.
Unfortunately Ina the past, elections IN
Central America have been mere farcos.
Each President practically appoints his
own successor. If the Constitution pro-
vidcs that ne be ineligible after two
terms he usually succeeds, If he desires
to hold his place, IN having the ConsI-
tuition amended so that he may serve
few terms additional. So generally is
this the case that many of the most
intelligent people IN the country cannot
understand how the party IN power in
the United States frequently gives way
TO the opposition. 4 distinguished MeX.-
can. who visited the United States for
the first time during the presidential cam
paign Of 1855, was watching from The
balcony Of his hotel I'm New York one
might a great Republican torchlight pro-
cession. How foolish these people are,
ne said. turning 10 "a friend a. his cl-
bow: they are wasting their time and
money. They can't put Mr.. Cleveland out
unless he wants 10 go. / am surprised
at their folly l only mention this,
continued the diplomat. 'to show YOU
how different our system OF Government
is from that i'm the United States But
give us a federal union in Central Amcri-
ca. and these abuses will be abolished.
We viii have a chief executive. Ike the
United States. and federal Congress.
and i'm time our internal affairs. / trust.
viii become as stable as those In this
country"
The effort Of the Central Americans
10 form a federal union. If successful
will be the second attempt Of this char
acter. In 1921 thu five Central American
States declared their Independence of
Spain. and IN the following year a con-
gress of delegates was held. which re-
suited a year later. I'm the establishment
of federal union. The capital was lo-
Gated az the city of Guatemala. I'm 1875
Nicaragua and Honduras seeded. but
the remaining States held together until
1885 when the present division occurred.
! The contest between the Conservatives
and the Liberals during this period. the
former opposing and the latter faVoring
union. brought 20 the front a citizen OF
Honduras Francesca Morazan. whose
mol fc fr America