The Washington herald., 1907-11-18

/ Rica. Costa Rica and Nicaragua were
invited to participate. bat Nicaragua de-
clined Thus four republics signed the
San Jose treaty of peace. amity. COM
merce. and arbitration But the mere
signing of a treaty does not always bring
the peace so solemnly declared, and con-
ditions continued 10 be intolerable.
Therefore the elder brother. the United
States, and the other elder brother. Mex
leo. suggested that another meeting be
held, that all five countries be represent
ed. and that disputed questions be left
to the judgment OF impartial umpires.
In accordance with this suggestion a
peace protocol was signed by the minis
ters of the five countries accredited TO
Washington. That protocol provided for
the present conference. It's purpose is 20
settle all questions between the five
states, 10 resolve all differences. and to
prepare Il plan for the peaceable develop
ment OF the resources Of the several
countries free from the annoyance OF
continual internecine strife.
The great majority OF educated and
progressive Central Americans deplore
the constant quarrels and ever-recurrinG
wars and revolutions that have stunted
the progress Of their country This is
proved by the many efforts which have
been made I'm the direction Of unity But
they have to contend with vexing prob
lens Of temperament which have proved
insurmountable. The population Of the
Central American states is partly white
and partly Indian The races are much
mixed. but the dividing line is there.
Those natives IN whose veins the Indian
blood predominatcs are always spelling
for a fight. Under what flag. for what
cause, on what r.etext. they care not
They are born fighters, and il there is
half a chance they are In the thick OF
q battle before you can say Jack Robin
son.
Politicians with ambition. politicians
with real or fancied grievances, soldiers
with the thirst for glory, and unscru-
pulOus fortune hunters OF every kind find
in these war-hungry people the means 10
an end. Therefore IL is easy % start a
revolution IN Central America As there
have been so many Of these difficulties
and as the instinct for self preservation
has required all men 70 take sides az one
time or another. there are few Central
Americans. even among the higher
classes. whose records are free from all
taint Of connection with these imbrOg-
lios. This makes an agreement that viii
be mutually satisfactory to all parties
very difficult 10 accomplish.
Yet this country is rich in resources
and in men. Il was civilized part Of
the world before the development OF the
United States was begun. II IT can only
rid itself Of the petty jealousies Of petty
politicians, set up a stable government.
and turn its FIVE armies into the fields
and mines. IL viii Immediately enter upon
the enjoyment OF a wealth that few 9th
er sections OF the world Of like area
can commando
II the FIVE Central American states
were lifted up and laid down on our
North Atlantic coast they would lust
cover New England. New York. Penn
sylvania. and New Jersey. The popuIa-
ton OF the five states aggregates nearly
four million. abOur that OF Texas The
smallest OF the Ave IS Salvador. which is
about the size OF New Jersey. L Is the
most thickly populated OF the five how
ever. having density Of population
greater than that of New Hampshire
or Verfont. Guatemala. with a million
and a half people, is more thickly set
tied than Louisiana
Tomorrow - Improving AgricuI-
tuFal Conditions.