The National tribune., 1909-10-21
NEARING END OF THE DICTATOR.


1t looks as IL President Zeiaya. Of
Nicaragua. was approaching the usual
finish of South American dictator. Any
day we may hear the customary an
Inouncement that he has taken refuge
on a foreign man-of-war. which will
take him and the riches he has accumu-
lated by spol;ation to Europe. where he
will pass the rest of his days in the So
ciety of his ilk. For five years Gen.
Jose Santos Zelaya has been a highly
disturbing element among the Central
American Republics, and altho he is
undoubtedly the strongest and ablest OF
his compeers, his strength and ability
has been generally exercised harmfully.
While he has aimed to be the main fig.
ure in Central America. yet his domina-
ton did not contribute to the much
desired end of uniting the five Repub-
lies into one fairs Zed State. Our Gov
ernment succeeded in getting an Inter-
national Court of Arbitration estab-
iished at Cartagao. with a representa-
This was in the hopes that it would
avoid the perennial rows among the Re-
publics which are styled wars" much
to the annoyance Of outside people and
the disturbance of those who are trying
to build up the country. The other lit
tie countries complain bitterly that Ze-
laya has been dominating the Court
to their injury. Zelaya has stirred
up a host of enemies in every
direction until 1t looks as If they
are now powerful enough to overthrow
him. The policy of our Government
and that of Mexico is to in some way
get rid of the States Rights jealousies
and rivalries of the five puny little Re-
publics and consolidate them into one
State, which will make for the peace
and prosperity of all and the comfort
of other countries.
Nicaragua Is about as big as the State
of New York, with but $4,000 people,
most of them being Indians, mulattos,
negros and mixed bloods, with probably
about 1.500 Europeans and descendants
large as New Hampshire and Vermont,
with a population of $4,000 people. of
whom only 1000 are Europeans and
descendants Of Europeans, the rest be-
ing of the same mixed character as the
Nicaraguans. Salvador Is about as large
as Massachusetts,, but has next to the
largest and the most advanced popula-
ton. There are something over 1,000,-
600 people in the country. but there Is
q larger proportion of European blood
among the Inhabitants than in the 9TH
ers. Three-fourths Of the people are
mixed blood, with the pure Indians
making up the other fourth. Guate-
mala is also about the size of New York
or Louisiana. with a population of L.
$4,000. Of which so per cent are pure
Indians. with the other 40 per cent
mixed bloods. Honduras Is about the
size Of Pennsylvania, Mississippi or Lou
isiana, and has population of 500, ,009.
Of whom one-fifth are uncivilized In
dians and the rest the mixed blood of
the Indian, negro and Spanish, with a
than in Salvador.
Thus We have country about the
size Of Pennsylvania. New York, New
jersey and New England combined,
which has the most wonderful resources
and the greatest opportunity for enter
prise, but which is constantly blighted
by the petty wars for the advance of
selfish spoilsmen. The country lies too
near other civilized countries to have
outside Nations be Indifferent to what
goes on there. The construction of the
Penama Canal will make Central Amer
ican politics Of very high Importance in
the future. One of the highways of
the world lies across the Isthmus, and
it will not do to have the peace of this
continually disturbed. We found this
out at the time of the discovery of gold
arose and brought the United States
and Great Britain uncomfortably near
to war. It was these troubles which
gave the filibuster, Walker, his oppor-
tunity. The United States and Mexico
have determined that the condition of
things in Central America must show a
radical improvement, and it Is not un-
likely that If occasion demands they will
put on a much more energetic pressure
than they have as yet to compel peace
among the corrupt spoilsmen of Central
America.