Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-09

said, for 125 years, while In some of the
volcanoes the forces were entirely gone out.
One of the best coffee plantations Is In an
extinct crater.
The disadvantages Of the earthquakes be-
ing settled adversely to them required to
the political disturbances. Landlord Down
ing has seen SO many of these in his thirty
nine years residence that he has lost the
count and becomes mixed as to dates and
persons. But he thought they were about
over, and certainly as to foreigners their
sphere of harm was limited. Foreign invest
ments have become one of the steadying
causes. Ten years of the regimen of the
liberal party with good deal of genuine
liberalism has been marked by real ad-
vance. This Is the opinion, not simply of
Landlord Downing; 1t is the common senti-
ment of all the foreigners with whom
have talked-Yankees, Frenchmen, English
and Germans. They do not overdraw the
probabilities. They merely note progress in
steadiness and give credit for 1t.
Keeping Down Revolution.
President Zelaya has maintained stable
government by keeping down revolution. He
has loved stability well enough to fight for
It, The subject can be discussed without
offending diplomatic propricties, for it is a
common theme and is spoken of without
reserve. At least have found none among
officials and others of prominence.
There have been conspiracies, attempted
revolts, voluntary and involuntary emigra-
tons, arrests, amnestieS and releases of po-
litical prisoners. Possibly also there have
been prosecutions. But the general policy
has been liberal and tolerant, and the con-
servatives have had little excuse for con-
spring. That may be one reason why they
have had so little success. II in the begin
ming they were unwilling to recognize the
'hechos commandments accomplished,
things done that would stay done-their in
ability to overturn them has brought the
recognition. In the meantime they have
shared in the general progress, and few
of them even have admitted that 1t is better
than the old order. For a small government
/ thought the military features were too
prominent, and expressed my opinion to
Yankee an old resident 1T seems So" he
said but you see about the whole army.
The troops are not on exhibition, either.
They're on duty. Do you know, they've
made primary schools possible? Ten years
ago there wasn't much that could be called
popular instruction. Now there is, but 1t
wouldn't be so without those soldiers. Edu-
cation doesn't flourish when the people are
fighting among themselves. 1t needs quiet,
and Zelayas little army gives quiet. Just
have patience and in few years you'll see
more of the schools than you do of the SOL
diers.''
This view was new. 1t was given with
Yankee terseness. 1t has force.
Managua is not an imposing capital. Nor
does it reflect snowy government. 1t got
to be the capital as a compromise, and as a
means of saving the country from revolu-
tons and counter revolutions by the rivals
Granada and Leon. Granada has claims o.
antiquity and of the interests which grew
up in the interior around the shores of Lake
Nicaragua. Leon also was an old town,
the center of a rich agricultural district,
and lying only thirty-fve miles back from
the Pacific, it was the entrepot OF much
ocean trade. 1t still is the largest and
wealthiest city. with the most commercial
activity and with very decided political IN
fiuence But it yielded its claims as the
seat of government.
Managua, the Capital.
Managua, on the lake of the same name,
is situated prettily enough to build up
handsome city had there been some million
dollars available for the purpose. But the
millions were not available and it has been
allowed to grow about as 1T pleased, with
the result that some day comprehensive
plan of municipal improvements will have to
be carried out in order to give 1t the dignity
BETTING a capital. 1t has an electric light
system owned by New Orleans capitalists
and an ice plant which also is Yankee en-
terpriSe.
The government building, partly a bar
racks is big and rambling. but not preten-
tious President Zelaya occupies roomy
residence much like a southern plantation
home combined with a Norman castle, and
transacts his official business there 1t IS
comfortable, but not snowy. The plaza on
the lake front is small. There are some
symbolical statues, not expensive, and a
small shaft with an inscription reciting that
1t was erected by the liberal government to
commemorate the most notable national
events of the 18th century. Certainly moth
ing in this Inscription could wound the feel
ings of political adversaries.
This is all l have seen in the way or pubic
buildings and monuments. Managua can
await the growth of the country before 1t
undertakes ornamentation. OF the certain
ty of this growth what have observed ana
ha ho n hp-
lief l am further inclined to the opinion
that it will be a progress uninterrupted by
political revolutions and not likely to be
given serious setbacks by economic causes.
The monetary system could be better.
Nicaragua has the silver basis, but sub
stantially all of the silver bearing the Mica
ragua stamp has gone out of the country
and is circulating in Honduras. The recog-
nized standard is the Peruvian sol, which
is equivalent to AZ cents gold. The actual
circulating medium is paper. The gold dol
lar is worth from $3.50 to $500 of this cur
rency, according to the demand for eX-
change Though the discount is heavy, the
fluctuations are not violent, nor the depre-
citation rapid. The volume of the paper
be redeemed. Prices of living, labor wages
and commodities generally seemed to be IN
equilibrium between the silver anc the
paper values Labor and living are both
cheap. A law fOrbds the expectation of
silver, but it was not passed until most of
the metal had left the country. The chief
products coffee, hides bananas and choco-
late, are exported and are paid for in sold
prices
The foreign debt is not large. 1t is some
thing over 81. 100000 and is in the form of a
mortgage on the government railways. The
amount is being reduced The railways are
good paying properties. and as they are not
covered with bond issues the mortgage debt
is not serious liability.
CHARLES M. PEPPER.
The Public and Wall Street.