The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-06-21

SPRINGFIELD (Mass), June 20
The Central American members of the
Pan-American party now touring the
country were somewhat disturbed by
a cable dispatch conspicuously printed
in a New York newspaper concerning
the troubles between the States of their
country. The dispatch sets forth that
Costa Rica would not become a part
of the Greater Republic of Central
America, because of the belief that
the proposed federation of the five
States Of the country was merely a
political scheme; that strained relations
exist between Costa Rica and Guate-
mala, and that in spite of Costa Rica' S
protests the other four States-San Sal
vador, Honduras, Nicaragua and
Guatemala-had agreed to the proposed
union, and selected President Iglesias
as the first President of the Diet.
Mauro Fernandez, a financier and
lawyer of San Jose, Costa Rica. who
is one of the delegates, is perhaps the
best-informed man on Central Ameri-
can questions in the party. When he
saw the dispatch he said:
THE question in regard to the feder-
alton of the Central American Repub-
lies is an old one. After the independ-
ence Of these Republics had been won
from Spain, in 1921 a federation was
made which included the whole five
States, but not long after that the fed
Grafton was dissolved. There were two
parties, the Separatists, who wanted
individual independence for each State,
and the Federalists, who demanded
union.
The struggle resulted in triumph for
the Separatists. In 1871 one of the
Federalist leaders, General Moranzan
of San Salvador, in attempting to re-
store the old order, invaded the Re-
public of Costa Rica. The political
party there supported him, and pro-
claimed him President of the Republic,
although he was not a native of the
State.
But Costa Rica was not then ready
to enter into any federation. or to bear
the yoke of a foreigner. A revolution
broke out, and Moranzan, although
noted General. was court martialed and
executed. Ever since then Costa Rica
has shown great reluctance to partake
in any scheme of federation Popular
feeling is against it, although the ele-
waited class, who understand the ma
LIaAC VI q II eQeld1 CON anu ll1S
Importance of uniting all the Central
American countries in one nation. sup
port the proposition.
The only question is the good faith
of the leaders of the various States.
1t is a fact that if the leaders of these
five Republics. including Costa Rica,
wished honestly to work for fedora
ton, in spite of petty interests and local
aspirations, the federation would rise
and live.
Salvador has worked more for a
federation than all the others. Although
Guatemala, in 1885, declared the FIVE
Republics united, there was no union
by the consent Of the five. but an at
tempt by General Rufino Barrios to
unite them by force. All the other
Republics rose in arms against it, the
Guatemalan forces We're attacked at
Chatchupa. and Barrios died on the
field, and the scheme with him. San
Salvador. Nicaragua and Honduras are
most actively working for a federation,
but Costa Riea is at peace and thriving,
and we want no change In case it
should prove not to be a political
scheme of private interests, but an
earnest and honest effort to strengthen
the Central American Republics and
the development of the country, the
best citizens Of Costa Rica would ia
vor federation, but not until them