Evening star., 1897-01-02
Second Experiment Of the Central
American Union.
SENIOR RODRIGUEZ rHE MINISTER
History and Prospects of the New
Confederation.
FEATURES OF THE UNION

Senior ]. d. Rodriguez, the diplomatic rep
resentative of the Greater Republic of Cen
trail America, has presented his credentials
ard has been recognized by President
Cleveland. Now begins new in the
history of the Latin republics, who are
making this, the second great effort in
eighty years. to establish a confederation
OF states on plans similar to our own Unit
ed States of America. Senior Rodriguez has
established his legation at 1736 K street,
ard i'll day or two the flag Of the union,
the same that was flown by the old union,
ard is still used by Nicaragua and Hon
duras. namely, two blue bars with a white
bar between. will be displayed above the
building. Senior Rodriguez is not new to
the ways of the diplomats in this capital
though 1t has been several years since he
was last in Washington. In 1881 and 1882
he was here as secretary Of legation and
charge q anaires, representing the Mica
raguan government Again In 1889, for a
rev months, he assisted the Nicaragdan
minister as counselor for the legation. To
the reporter, who called upon him today
ne gave cordial reception, and explained
the formation and powers of the new gov
ernment He also, with some reluctance,
spoke of his own career which has been
long and full of interest and success
The New Minister.
the fifties though his Jet black, thick hair
does not betray that age. In appearance he
is short, perhaps five feet five, with some in
clination toward rotundity of form His
head Is massive. his forehead broad and his
eyes wide apart. About his mouth are the
wrinkles, not of care, but of smiles, which
n.olcate that his is the merriest of natures
nave had long public career he
swered IN reply to a query concerning his
personal history. Il was born cf humble
parentage in Managua. My father died
wnen was quite young. leaving his family
without much means of subsistence | sci
to work to earn a living and to make my
way through school. 1 was successful and
completed my education IN England. adnpt-
li;s the law as profession. 1 was sol
entered politics.
worked my way from municipal coun-
seior OF Managua to Alcade and then to
preleci. l was next a member of CON
Sfess, then a senator and later MIN
lister of public works | served in ,iiplo-
matte service several Years, representing
Nicaragua in Salvador, and also nee as
secretary OF legation. In the meantime
practlced law in Managua ana edited d
newspaper, but l soon found that ther,
vas little money in that business for me.
and L turned my attention to coffee plant
ing That is business, l hatter myself
it is profitable.
The only member of my family with
me is my son. J. d. Rodriguez. jr., who
is attache OF the legation. My wife ana
son are in Central Aniei>7ca.- hiie two
other sons are being educated in Europ,
l like the American system of education
very well, but l want my sons to become.
proncient in the continental languages ana
l think they can do better where those
foreign tongues are commonly spoken
The Confederation.
AS Minister Rodriguez explained. the
of
confederation of three states--Nicaragua
Honduras and Salvador-upon the simnIas
terms. AS yet the government is rather
primitive, for no constitution has bee,,
adopted. The treaty of Amapala and its
bylaws. under which the states uni. ed are
recognized. for the present as the or
ganic law. The presidents of the ,hree
lepuohes' Honduras, Nicaragua and Sal
vador. met at Amapala and devised ways
ana means for establishing in a, permanent
manner the peace of Central America.
and looking to the realization CT the beau
tltui IDEAL OF the reconstruction cf the ola
country. They signed a treaty putting
INTO execution simple plans that may bt
easily carried out, until the ideal of a
FEDERAL government can be completely real
ized.
That treaty declares that the states
agreeing, shall form single, political en-
tity for the exercise of their transient
sovereignty under the name of Greater Re
puDlic vi central America. III q follow
ing section those states specify that they
DO not renounce their autonomy and treir
independence for the direction of their
internal affairs. but they yield all of their
Individual rights in the matter of foreign
affairs. Fer the fulfllment of their first
agreement there shall be diet, com
posed of proprietary member and a SUD-
ply, elected by each one of the legislatures
OF the three republics signing. The term
OF office to be three years.
Ihe attributes of the 6ipf
section OF the treaty, shall have for their
principal object the maintenance of best
harmony with all of the nations with
Whlch the governments signing cultivate
friendly relations, celebrating for the pur-
pose the treaties agreements and compacts
that may conduce to that end. In every
treaty Of friendship that the diet NAV
celebrate, 1t shall assign expressly the
stipulation that all the questions that
may be raised shall be decided exclusively
and without exception. by means of arb-
tration. So long as the general assembly
a contemplated body similar to Our Con-
gress-does not exist, the ratification of
treaties shall pertain to the legislatures of
the three states. Likewise. when the diet
has to pronounce a resolution that may
affect the general interest 1t shall issue
In accord with the majority of members
The Legislature.
1t is remarkable how this diet resembles
our old Continental Congress- which was
SO nampered In It's methods ard powers of
legislation that 1t could, only with great
est difficulty raise funds to prosecute war
against Great Britain. That was no Con-
gress for final action. The best our con-
tiIental fathers could do was to recon-
mend to the colonies that money should
be raised by taxation, or otherwise, to car
ry on war. And precisely as that Congress
had it's hands tied by the shackles of
states rights the diet will be bound by
this treaty, the organic law, which pro-
vides that resolutions, ETC., must first be
submitted to the legislatures of individual
states.
The diet has another function, that of
calculating questions between republics
signing the treaty and other nations in ac-
cordance with data and instructions which
the governments that they affect may
communicate to 1t. If satisfactory set
tlement arbitration cannot be obtained
notice shall be given to all states and the
majority shall determine whether they will
accept or declare war. This provision of
the treaty reads very much like our colo
nial history. 1t Is also provided that the
diet shall arbitrate differences between
signing governments, the object being to
maintain peace and harmony in the union.
To thes diet will also belong the nomina-
tion of diplomatic and consular represen-
tatives Of the Greater Republic Of Central
America, as well as the reception and ad-
mission of those accredited to 1t. This is