New-York tribune., 1907-12-29
OF CENTRAL AMERICA
10~'
Constantine F

permanently successful? The reasons are suggest
ed in the record. If | were to attempt 10 express
them in a single sentence. ] should say ''at ,
Central American states contain too much polucs
and too little political principle Ihe foFilel i"u'
is obvious to every visitor.
Political discussions and intriSues are the very
breath of life in town and city. The social HE Vi
the larger communities consists largely OF gain
erings of in drinking places and gaming places
and there talk is of politics, politics, pSltlcs.
The visitor walking along street OF a 'eh'rsi
American city, frequently at corner or a'
the door of cafe group OF men, tahihs ~"
but earnestly. As he approaches their conNerSdtl"i
dwindIes through whispers to silence; he is fur-
lively watched from the corners of their eyes dS
he passes. and de he recedeS from earshot the!r
conversation is resumed-on politics. politics poii-
But il is great political issue or prlhclp"
that they discussing, such as the taTllt' tile
currency, trusts anything of that sort but
rather the personal ambition of this leader or the
revolutionary schemes Of the: faction for over
throwing the existing government
There are practically no political principles and
issues in Central America. such as those upon
which Anarties divide in the United States and
Other countries. The slavery question WSs disposed
of long ago. and il left question behind IT,
Clericalism is longer serious question. The
Industrial commercial and fiscal condition OF the
countries conducive 20 divisions the issue
OF protection free trade. The srnailness of the
individual states has precudsd the important rise
of any issue between centralized and local govern
ment. If "A permanent federal union could be es-
tablished there would probably rise the issue Of
federal authority state rights but that issue
is as yet unborn or inChoatc. The result Of pres
ent conditions. then. is that such party names as
Conservative and Liberal almost void OF mean
ing. There really ins and outs. and nothing
more.
No greater blessing could befau Central America
politically than the Of real questions of politi-
cal principle, upon which men might iEt"liigcntly
and honestly divide into two major parties. And
the best. II the only. hope of such a consum-
nation Hes in the reorganization and development
OF federal union o. all i've states. II would
not be well TO annex Central America TO Mexico
because the enormous predominaHee OF the latter
would cause tho virtual disappearance Of Central
American individuality and would make the five
merely insignificant appendagcs To ilrcr great
northern neighbor. Neither would Il b. well 10 in
clude Panama a sixth state ~ Tie confederacy
because of our special interests IN and our spccia
relations with the isthnian republic. which would
in case OF such Inclusion. undesirable com
pIcations between and thc whole confederacH.
The supreme need Of those states is that they
shall ''nnd themselves" They must realize what
thoy have been wha, They and what they may
hc. They must develop sense OF responsibility
and realize the seriousness OF Sovereignty. and ap-
preciatc what they owe 10 themselves 10 each
other to their noighbors in North America ano
South America. and 10 the whole world They
this wear for the time received full reccSni-
tion IN the universal assembly Of sovereign peers
al The Hague and their votes were potent in
that council as those of the greatest powers. II
will bc an auspcious achievement if as a Sc
aueI that recognition they show themselves
worthy OF IL by presenting To the world instead o.
five necessarily pickering statelings. single
strong peaceful ana progressive nationality. OF
that achcyomenj result of the recent confer
encc at Washington. there is now immeasurably
stronger hone than ever before in all their check
cred history Of fourscore and six years