The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-01-19
THE NEW REPUBLIC,
Fourth Effort In Central America
to Form a Confederation.
Terms Upon Which the Various Slater
Seek to Unite - Population and
Resources Of tho Separate
Sections,

The new confederation composed n1
the states Of Honduras, Salvador and
Nicaragua, recently recognized by ou1
| state department under tho title of the
Greater Republic Of Central America,
is tie fourth attempt to unite in polit-
ical brotherhood fhexEcu republics OF
Central America. The nucleus of the
present alliance is to be found in the
treaty. entered into in May, 1895, oblit-
Grating the commercial barriers be.
tween Nicaragua and Honduras. In
that convention it was stipulated that
the two republics should exert their in.
fuence upon the other Central Ameri-
can states to bring about union of all
OF them. The movement will not be
complete, therefore. until Costa Rica
and Guatemala are in the fold. In that
event the new nation will DO known as
the Republic of Central America These
states were embraced in the empire OF
Mexico under Iturbide. When Mexico
became republic, in 1924, they dis
eoived the Mexican alliance and formed
a federation which existed three years.
Another federation was formed two
years later, in 1929, which had an I'M
certain life Of nine years. expiring in
1888 by revolt in Guatemala. Another
federal republic was organized in 1912.
In 1s47 a unioE, was effected between
Honduras, San Salvador and Nicaragua,
and this union met its fate In the wars
with Guatemala. In June, of last year,
the presidents of Salvador, Hon.
duras and Nicaragua agreed upon terms
governing the external, political and
commercial relations of these states
These relations are to be regulated by
a diet composed of one representative
from each republic, and foreign minis.
ters are to be appointed by the diet
The temporary compact or constitu-
ton provides that it shall be the OBJ
ject of the diet to preserve harmony
among the nations composing the fed
GRAFTON and ratify all treaties to that
end; and the congress shall pass upon
all questions arising between foreign
nations and the confederated republics.
The new nation has no capital city, but
the diet will meet annually in each of
the capitals of the republic, the order
of the sessions to be determined by lot.
The autonomy Of ths respective repub-
lies In the compact will be preserved
and local laws will remain operative I'M
less in contravention of the constitu- |
ton. An important feature of the con-
stitution is the provisO that all treaties
of friendship, ratified by the diet, shall |
contain clause providing that all con.
troversies shall be settled by arbitra-
tion. Happily, the recognition of the
new confederation by the United States
ton, and the delicate controversies like
ly to arise between this country and |
Spain, by the recognition of Cuban re-
public, will be avoided in the present |
instance. It was only necessary that |
our government should be convinced
of the permanency of the greater re-
public Of Central America to grant the
desired recognition. There are some
controversies between
Costa RIGA and Nicaragua as to hounda-
ries, end Guatemala claims some con-
cessions to her greater size before she
will join the union, but it is to be hoped
that these two states may soon find it
10 their interest to unite with the other
states. -
Salvador has an estimated popula-
ion of 100000 of aboriginal and mixed
races, among whom are 20o, 900 white or
persons of European descent. The rev.
,nue is about 50 ,O00,0 900 annually. Hon
iuras has a population of $4,000, de-
scended mainly from Indians, with q
small contingent of Spanish origin. It's
annual revenue is about 81, SOC, 900. The
of Nicaragua is estimated at
$50, 900, and, including uncivilized In
iians, 100000. The great mass of popu-
alton is composed Of aboriginal In
hans, negroes and mixed races, with a
small infusion of Europeans. The an
lual revenue is nearly $4,000, 900. The
admission of Guatemala would greatly
the confederation. Its pop
llation is 100000 and its revenue in
1914 was s11,s31. s15. Philadelphia
Iedger- ~;
AND MODERN ATHENS