The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-01-23
The RI. BOOTH COMPANY, Ithaca,N.Y.

ve1on II and had taken out several thou
government was overthrown, and later
the leaders of the new republic came into
the mountains and told him Ito GET and
che got" 1 speak of this that you may
sand dollars a revolution occurred, the
have a slight conception of the unstable
condition of the governments in Central
America and the treatment some of the
inhabitants receive. Her states hare re-
pubics in name only; III reality they are
tyrannical oligarchies I am told they
have excellent constitutions and laws on
paper, but both their statesmen and their
judges are corrupt with some honorable
exceptions however, but not enough to
stem the current Of abuse. OF real Hber-
ty there is none. Instead of patriotism
selfish partisanship is TO be found; will
ing at any moment to set the country in
a state of war if there is only prospect of
gaining political power or a little spoil.
The party in power is often able to con-
troll the elections and to put their par
tisans into municipal and other offices.
Some of the presidents, 1 am told, have
not hasitated to throw their political OPP
ponents into prison at the time of an
election. 1t seems that a change of ru
lers can only be effected by a so-called
revolution With all the machinery of a
republic the will of the people can only
be known by the issue of a civil war.
With high sounding phrases Of the equal
ity of man. the lower orders are kept in
a state almost approaching to serfdom.
The poor Indian tolls and spins and cul-
tivates the ground, yet in the revolt
tionary outbreaks they are drawn about
like cattle and forced into the armies
that are raised. AS you know, Central
America declared its independence of
Spain in 1923, and constituted itself 1 re-
public, under the name of the United
States of Central America" The Con-
faderacy. which consisted of Guatemala,
Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa
Rica, VS. broke. uD in 1910, when each of
the states became an Independent repub-
lie. To me it is a surprise that the fine
states remained under one government as
long as they did, for the VIII of the ma
jority is not the law of the land that is
trampled under foot and treated as the
dream of an enthusiast. 1t is the will OF
the stronger in arms. Their decree is
law. Tonight as I write this, the city is
thoroughly guarded; az nearly every
street crossing a soldier is standing. II
is true, he may be what you would call
a mere apology, and barsfooted at that
Yet he has his rife beside him, and If
three or four people should chance TO stop
on the street in private conversation they
would soon be asked to move on. the very
air being ladened with suspicion.
Day was just breaking as we steamed
into the harbor Of Port Limon, and be-
fore us lay the tropical town still sleep
ing, for they are late risers in this
southern land. Presently the doctor came
out in a small boat. and after a most su-
perficiaI health inspection the steamer
was allowed 10 proceed to the wharf
Soon my trunk was turned upside
down" by a custom house official The
only privilege left me was to pack It and
pay so much for being allowed tC take it
on shore. About me stood twenty or
thirty dirty Jamaica negroes. and to my
great surprise all speaking English. and
many of them grabbing for my baggage:
some addressing me as captain. others
boss and colonel, until confess I scarce
" knew under Just what title l was sup
posed to he travelling. The first necessity
was money and soon I was at a sort OF
bank putting down gold for the paper
and inferior silver resembling TIM of the
country, receiving what was equivalent
10 two dollars and sixty-five cents OF
their money for one dollar OF mine the
peso or dollar used here being worth
about forty cents. IA inspected the
first silver coin that was handed 10 me
l CHANGED to see. in little letters Cbeside
the coat OF arms Of the nation and the de-
nomination OF the piece) "Reeder Biz
mingham.' 7 felt that I was entering a
rather weak republic, but until then I
did not know that it money was coined
in England