The Washington herald., 1907-11-18
PEACE FOR CENTRAL AMERICA
By FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

BY FR d E ri
/ Representatives OF the five independent
republics of Central America are now
in conference in Washington, seeking the
peace and unity which has been the
\ hearts desire OF the great majority OF
Central Americans for nearly a century.
lsIn this conference, in the capacity Of
elder brothers. are also represented the
republics Of the United States of Amer
lea and the United Mexican States. No
more important international gathering
has been held in America for years, and
those who know most about pan-Ameri-
can politics believe that the result of
the conference will be plan of cooper
alton which VIII heal the wounds OF a
century of family strife among the five
little nations.
Central America is tired of the biclzer-
ings which have kept her out Of her
rightfui inheritance. and 10 the people of
these FIVE countries this conference in
Washington is OF inestimable Importance.
II the fifteen men gathering about the
council table at the International Bureau
I
pected of them. and what the United
States and Mexico will insist upon their
doing. a new era VIII be ushered in. II
will mean no more wars over the eX-
tradition Of petty thieves no more opera
boufe revolutions. and no more ready
made plots for Richard Harding Davis
tales.
Nelghbors of the United States though
they are, the people OF Central America
are almost unknown TO the people OF the
great western republic. EIghty-six years
ago Central America, then the Kingdom
of Guatemala" separated from Spain,
to whose dominion il had been subject
for nearly three centuries AS was the
case in this country after the separation
from England. there was great division
Of opinion as 10 what was tie best course
TO follow. now that independence from
Europe had been gained 4 party favor
ing annexation 10 Mexico was successful
and in 1872 Central America became
part OF the Mexican empire. ruled by the
Emperor Iturbide. n descendant OF the
MOntezumas. That empire ceased 10 eX-
ist within the year and Central Amer
lea was again plunged into political
chaos. In 1873 the emancipation OF the
country was declared and a convention
promulgated the fundamental plan for
a federal Central American constitu-
ton One OF the acts Of this convention
was the abolition Of slavery. This fed
eral republic continued supreme until
1899. when Il collapsed. the crisis being
brought about by the secession Of Hon
duras, Then began the separate exist
ence OF the Central American states as
we know them to-day.
Guatemala has had many constitutions
and many governments since then, but
it's constitution has remained the same
since 1880, Honduras abided by the an
cient federal constitution until 1S4S. Since
then il has changed its form OF govern
ment four times, the last constitution
being that OF 1904 Nicaragua has had
six governments, the last form being but
two years old. Costa Rlca has suffered
less than the others from change. Its
first constitution pledged a return 20 fed
eral government as soon as the other
states might agree. and this attitude has
been maintained until now. The repub-
lie is now governed under the constitu-
ton Of 1911 Salvador did not assume the
title of republic until 1856. but Il had
six constitutions In the next thirty years.
no change having been made since 1886
have torn and distracted these countries
have been so numerous that A complete
record OF them IS almost impossible to
compile, but II is worth while noting
I'm behalf OF the peace-loving people OF
Central America that the attempts 10
form union and insure peace have been
almost as numerous. Conventions look
Ing TO the formation of federal repub-
lie were held i'm 1915. lSi7. and 1S4e. but
they were fruitless. In 1852 the fear OF
encroachment by the British drove the
jealous leauers into compact, and the
republic Of Central America was declaT-
ed. When the fright was over the union
was dissolved. and its history is the his
tory of nation OF paper. Guatemala
declined 10 enter the union convention
OF 1862, and that was a failure.
Another effort was. made in 1876, the
centennial OF the independence OF the
United States, but before the convention
reached its conclusion war had broken
out between Guatemala and Salvador
and hopes Of federation were blasted. All
peaceful measures having failed. an ef-
fort was made in 1855 to bind the war
ring states with the cement Of spilled
oioOd- Gen. j. RufinO Barrios. of Guate-
mala. was the Napoleon Of this venture.
Aided by Honduras. he essayed 10 bring
the other states into subjugation. He
was killed while leading his troops into
battle against the Salvadoreans. and with
him died his dream. Two years later a
meeting OF pienlpotentiaries OF the five
republics succeeded in drafting n salts
factory treaty of peace. and arrange.
ments were made for a consular convep
ton and for extradition OF criminals
This was so promising that in 1889 a pact
Tor the reorganization Of the republic OF
Central America was promulgated. oniv
to be riddlcd by the bullets OF the war
ring troops OF Guatemala and Salvador.
The next effort for unity was in 1895
and was participated in by only three
OF the countries. Guatemala and Costa
Rica refusing TO join. This movement
progressed so well that in 1888, Just at
the close Of the Spanish h-Amerscan war.
the constitution OF the United States Of
Central America was published. The new
regime was just about TO be established
when an ill-tlmed revolution overthrew
the government Of Salvador and all was
lost. The effort 10 form a united nation
has not since been renewed blIt in 1Q00