The sun., 1899-04-03

Presidents pool their issues. as Reyes In
Nicaragua and Vasduez In Honduras. as that
prevents one OF the Governments from going to
the assistance OF the other There is always a
large stock OF arms in New Orleans reserved
for Central American revolutions-and a very
sorry stock II is. too. OF much the same class as
the arms sold to China by philanthropic Eng
lish or German merchants These arms have
played a part in dozen revolutions. for as
soon as a President gets into office through
them he has no longer any use for them and
sells them as Junk 10 New Orleans dealers. who
reserve them for the next affair Thus the
arms which placed Polcarpo Bonilla in the
Presidential chair OF Honduras were sold to
New Orleans dealers. The latter disposed OF
them to Soto. who used them against Bonilla.
but failed In his revolution. the arms being
stopped by the United States Custom House
authorities at New 0reane. as they left this
port concealed in bales OF hay. They were
finally bought by President Sceria some weeks
ago when he found that vasduez would invade
the country from Honduras. Now that the
danger is over they will probably come back to
the junkshops until the next revolution is
organized.
The lesson taught by Gen. William Walker
in Nicaragua Is that 500 or COO Americans can
conquer any Central American republic. After
the arms have been obtained the next step in
a revolution is to secure American recruits
BoRran. Soto. yasduez all surrounded them
selves with American guards. and placed the
police OF the country under American control
There are several hundred young men In New
Orleans who at one time or another have taken
part In these affairs. and 1t is considered quite
picnic. These soldiers Of fortune como back
Colonels or possibly Generals. and the risk is
very small, for In all these revolutions not over
half a dozen Americans have been hurt
While the sentiment among the American
merchants in Central America and men doing
business with that country has generally been
in favor Of these revolutions. in the hope that
they will result in the United States assuming
some sort OF protectorate. business has been
so much unsettled OF late because OF them.
and the local prejudice against Americans has
been so increased, that thew will probably well
come the disposition shown by the authorities
to break up these frequent f1lbustering expe-
ditions. revolution that would place in
power men more friendly to the Americans or
put the republics under American control
would be welcomed. But II this be i'm possible.
then the merchants and business men would
prefer peace. for the present frequent dis
turbances which come to nauRht and revolu
tions that fail are doing great harm. This is
the growing sentiment OF all those who have
Central American interests except the few who
make money out OF revolutions by selling arms
and ammunition.
The Grand Jury inquest is directed mainly
against those labor agencies which send men
down to Central America to work on railroads
or plantations. These men find too often the
railroad imaginary and they are expected to
shoulder rifle instead of shovel 1t is said
that the agencies that will be indicted are To-
Gated not in New Orleans but in Western cities.