The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-01
GETTING TOGETHER.
From the Philadelphia Ledger.

From the Philadelphia Ledger.
The greater republic of Central America
is now an established fact. Stretching
from Mexico to Colombia, Il includes the
independent republics of Central America,
namely, Guatemala, Honduras, San Sal
vador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica- The
confederation was inaugurated by the
treaty OF Amalpa, made in september,
1895, and ratified q year later by San Sal
vador, Honduras and Nicaragua. The al
lance has been completed by the entry
of Guatemala and Costa Rica. While the
consolidation may be better described as
confederation than as a positive union,
1t Is not improbable that In the course OF
time the amalgamation will be made com
plete, in the same sense as the indis-
soluble union of the United states OF
America. The object of the coniedera-
ton is defined to be the amicable settle
ment OF all matters of foreign relations
affecting the individual countries. There
Is to be diet of deputies, meeting sue
cessvely at the respective capitals, and,
in the event of arbitration. preference is
to be given to the United States.
o
Guatemala, which was established as a
republic In 1S47, has an area OF 400 Eng
lish square miles, and It's population is
estimated at 100000 Te foreign popu-
lation is about 1900 Sixty per cent. of
the whole population Is of purely Indian
origin, and the remainder is mostly halt
caste The United States sends the most
imports, individually, and most Of the
commerce Is conducted in the United
States vessels. Honduras became re-
public in 1889. Its area is about 43,OOt
square miles and its population Is over
| 100000, mainly aboriginal Indians. More
| than half its trade, import and export, Is
with the United States. San Salvador
1 hoo snlz rnntIhlin
It's area is 7,225 square miles and its pop
ulation is something over 10000. all ol
| whom are aboriginal or mixed races, eX
| cepting about 10000 whites. Great Brit
ain leads in the imports, but most Of tn,
exports so to the United States.
Nicaragua's area is estimated at 49,,
| 200 miles, and its population at 100000 th'
| number of Europeans and their descend
ants being very small, about l,2oO. TIT
| commercial statistics are vague, bu
| transactions are had principally with tn
| United States, Great Britain, France ant
| Germany. Nicaragua occupies larg
| space in the public eye on account OF IL
projected canal and the contention re
| specting the control of the same. COST
| Rica has been an Independent state sine
| 1921. 1t has an area of 5000 Englisl
square miles and population of aoou
| 300 COO, of whom there are $500 foreigners
Most of the commerce is with the Unite
| States, Great Britain and Germany.
o
These same republics formed the Cen
| trail American federation for some tim
prior to 1853, in which year the federation
was dissolved. Since then the republic
have not always been amicable neighbors
| but II is to be hoped that the new confed
Grafton will improve their relations. Al
of them have shown a friendly disposi
ton towards the United States, with tn
possible exception of Costa Rica. wher
| British influence is strong. Nearly a.
of the whites in the greater republic ar
| of Spanish origin, but their sentiments
ties with the mother country were sur
rendered even before the political reia
tions were dissolved. The United State
welcomes the disposition of the Centrs
American states to work together in har
| mony, as this tends towards the mainte
nance of the American policy as exhibit
ed in the Monroe doctrine.