The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1896-10-01

@A'iAeAieo, was ooiH mere Ill 1909. His
father was native of Porto Rico, but his
mother was Tegucigalpan. 1t is said
that he prided himself greatly on the fact
that his ancestors came from the birth
place of Napoleon; circumstance which
his descendants, to whom strangers are
usually introduced, never fail to mention,
are not without their weaknesses. Before
Morazan was of age he was prominent in
Honduras, and became Governor of the
city at the age of "a. For IA years after
wards his career was one of singular activ-
ity and success, and the people of the en-
tire continent followed him with feelings
akin to idolatry. He was foremost in the
war of independence, and in 1885 twas
General in Chief, Tor Presidency of the
Republic of Central America His sub
sequent history was similar to that of
most Spanish American patriots He was
so far in advance of his countrymen in
ideas and enterprises that his counsels
were not followed and he was finally
overthrown and banished by combina-
ton of priests, who took up instead the
Guatemalan Indian, Rafael Carera. After
five years in exile Morazan was assassi-
mated at Carriage, Costa Rico, by men
whom he trusted as his friends.
Somehow Tegucigalpa always looks
new and fresh, despite its $50 years of ex-
istance Whether this aspect of eternal
youth is owing to the grass springing up
in the streets, OF the new paint which per
petually decorates the houses or the gen
eral stagnation of business, or the delight
full climate, am unable to say; but am in
clined TO think it is due to the latter. No
August heat like that which harnesses
northern cities ever disturbs the even tenn
perature of this favored region. The air
is always fresh and pure, the winds,
bringing a suggestion of the sea in their
sweep over the mountains, being rather
too sharp and bracing in the early morn
ing.
Naturally the stranger in Honduras
Capital desires to call upon the President;
and nothing is easier if he has letter of
introduction to anybody in the Republic
Or even without that open sesame to
everything in Spanish america. The Casa
del Gobierno, as the Presidents house is
called, stands on the south bank of the
river directly overlooking the pictures
que bridge. 4 sentinel stands at the
door Of the casa, who presents arms as
the visitor passes into an interior corridor
paved with large square flags, opening
out Of which are apartments appropriated
by the various civil and military officers
In the courtyard of the spacious house
a variety of trees and plants are growing,
and from it several flights of stone steps
story-the house is one of ''dos altos
two stories, rather uncommon in Cen
trail America. The reception room is a
spacious apartment, hung with lace cur
tains and papered in imitation of marble,
the walls covered with crayon portraits of
Hondurian Presidents One is impressed
by the youth Of most Of them, especially
by that of the present powers that be,
from the President and the members of
his Cabinet and the Supreme Court, down
TO the lowest officials and the barefooted
lads of the army, who look as if they
ought to be studying their b c's rather
than handling muskets with 'intent to
kill" President Bonilla and lis Vice
President, Senior Louis Boni}la, Ga remote
cousin,) both appear like we'll hammered
college boys; while the ''entire circle so
TO speak, are typical of their class in
frock-coat and white ties, elegant in
manner and eloquent Of speech, but hard
" old and serious enough to direct the
affairs of a Repubic-especially such a
shaky, poverty stricken and revolution
harassed one as this. But it may truely
be said of every one of them that he eft,
bled and almost died. to obtain the office
he holds for season. Where the people
are 50 proud and miserably poor, and the
only paying thing in the country for the
arstocracy, who work of any sort would
disgrace forever IN the eyes Of their fell
lows, is the holding of office, the scramble
for place is even greater than that which
prevails in our Republic. The clerkships
and other spoils of office naturally are
given to those who have aided the win
ners; while the unfortunates who were
prominent on the losing side generally
find it convenient to visit foreign parts for
a while.
Teguciagalpa is not rich in points of
interest. There is a pretty plaza where
the band plays on pleasant evenings and
the people promenade in two great re-
volving circles, after the fashion of Span
ISM Americans. The women come solemnly
in pairs, in one direction, the men in the
other; so that they are continually meet
ing, staring and smiling at one another,
but seldom speaking. There is big
''model'' penitentiary, college, Campo
Santo, half dozen converts, now disus-
ed or devoted to secular purposes, and