Daily camera., 1897-02-18
THE NEW REPUBLIC.
Fourth Effort in Central America
to Form a Confederation.
Terms Upon Which the Various States
Seek to Unite - Population and
Resources of the Separate
Sections.

Sections.
The new confederation composed of
the states Of Honduras Salvador and
Nicaragua, recently recognized by our
state department under the title of the
Greater Republic of Central America,
is the fourth attempt to unite in polit-
ical brotherhood the small 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 a union of all
"f them. The movement Will not be
complete, therefore, until Costa Rica
and Guatemala are in the fold. In that
event the new nation will be known as
the Republ'c or ConrrfIi America. These
states were embraced IN the empire of
Mexico under Iturbide. When Mexico
became republic, in 1924, they dis
solved the Mexican alliance and formed
federation which existed three years.
Another fedora ton was formed two
years later, in 1929, which had AN un-
certain life of nine years, expiring II
1888 by a revolt in Guatemala. Another
federal republic was organized in 1872.
In 1S47 q unlon was erected 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 upontermS
governing the external, political and
commercial relations of these states.
These relations are to be regulated hy
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 ob-
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 foreiSn
nations and the confederated republics.
The new nation has no capital city, but
the diet will meet annually in each Ct
the capitals of the republic, tho order
of the sessions to be determined by lot.
The autonomy of the respective repub-
lies in the compact will be preserved,
and local laws will remain operative un-
less in contraventon of the constitn-
ton. An important feature of the CON
stitution is the proviso that all treaties
of friendship. ratified by the diet, shall!
contain a clause providing that all c.
troversies shall be settled by arbitra-
tion. Happily, the recognition of the
new confederation by the United States
will create no friction with another ma
tion, 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
outstanding controversies between
Costa Rica and Nicaragua as to boupda-
ries, and Guatemala claims some con-
eessions to her greater size before she
will Join the union, but il is to be hoped
that these two states may soon find it
to their interest to unite with the other
states.
Salvador mas an estimated popula-
ton Of 100000 Of aboriginal and mixed
races, among whom are 100000 white or
persons Of European descent. The rev
enue is about S, ,oOo, 900 annually. Hon
duras has population of 100000, de-
scended mainly from Indians, with 4
small con tingent of Spanish origin. Its
annual re~enue is about 81, 100000. The
population of Nicaragua is estimated at
$4,000, and, inciud:ng unclvilized In
dianS, 100000. The great mass of popu-
lation is composed Of aboriginal In
dams, negroes and mixed races, with a
small infusion of Europeans. The an
nual revenue is nearly s2,ooo,00o. The
admission OF Guatemala would greatly
strengthen the confederation. Its pop
ulation is 1.sOO,0 900, and its revenue in
1894 was $11, 1881, ,s15. = Philadelphia
Ledger.
P1tksathly Bannock.