El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-01-06
TURBULENT CENTRAL
AMERICA.
A CENTURY OF REVOLUTION

up her pretensiOns to possession with
out a struggle, Guatemala having
quickened her hope Of success, but after
forcing one or two OF the states to
submit to annexation, Iturbide's govern
Tnent in Mexico was itself overthrOwn
and a republic established there
The Constitution
Then came a constitutional conven-
ton. A constitution modelled after that
Of the United States was prepared and
adopted, though there is no proof that
il was submitted 10 the people them
selves. No sooner had this new nation
been formed than intense partisan spirit
arose. The Centralists and the Federal
lists, known also as the Moderates and
the Liberals and also the as the Aris-
tocrats and Radicals, became extremely
bitter toward one another.
Starting under the most favorable
auspices, except that the people were
not fitted for the sovereignty vested IN
American citizens it was not long until
the question of states rights arose in
a peculiar way. The national congress
planned a big celebration in honor of
the frs anniversary Of the new gov
eminent. but Guatemala refused to par
ticipate. This refusal was most embar-
RAISING. as the seat of government was
in her territory. So the national con-
gress passed a resolution compelling
exercises
A Rebellion.
In 1926 president Arce issued a proc
lamatiOn converting an extra session or
the congress- which was clearly an I'M
constitutional act. Salvador rebeled,
invaded Guatemala and was defeated.
Arce cOuntered with an invasion Of Sal
vador, and was in turn defeated. Civil
war was the result.
times leader
who forced the states into submission
for awhile, but even he could not in
definitely postpone the separation that
seemed inevitable. By 1893 every state
had seeded. II was a general seces-
sion, for which, in the very nature Of
things, there could be no remedy. The
United States of Central America was
nothing but a name.
About this time there arose a new
power in Central American politics This
man was Carrera, mulattO with pre-
dominant streak of indian blood IN his
veins, and who had been a pig driver
in Guatemala He was as ignorant as
his vocation would indicate. yet pos
sessed of a cunning and cruelty seldom
surpassed Years Of fighting followed
his rise. The states were led TO a re-
union. only 10 split up again.
AT times Carrera was defeated
guerilla. suIking in the mountains with
a price upon his head. and then a tri
umphant leader with a recruited force.
He finally defeated MOraZan in a great
battle, and had that valiant warrior
put to death on the anniversary of Cen
trail American independence. Carrera
placed himself at the head of the Qua
temalan government, and remained its
dictator until 1855.
Americans Empire Dreams
We now come 10 the time of. William
Walker, the versatile and daring Ten
nessean, who sought TO establish an
empire of his own in Central America
This dashing soldier of fortune first
failed in an attempt to create a state
in a lonely Mexican province, but, moth
ing daunted by this reverse, pressed on
southwark in his career of conquest.
For time he was actually in control
of the government OF Nicarag qua, and
seemed in a fair way to realize his am
bition to be a ruler. But his tenure
of power was brief. After being turned
from one port by the American navy,
and ordered away from another by the
admiral OF a British warShip. this
valiant freebooter was captured by
HOnduranean troops, court martialed
and shot
The subsequent history of the Central
American states Is one of abortive eff
forts 10 reunite them, of revolutions and
counter revolutions. with occasional
bright periods of peace under tenn
porary beneficent administrations.
Effort at Union.
Even as late as 1907 a serious effort
was made to reunite the states in a per-
manent union Ike our own. There had
! been such a succession Of revolutions
that Mexico and the United States join
ed hands in asking the republics TO
take part in conference at Washing
ton looking 70 a mutual understanding
that would end these constant wars
When the delegates met the representa-
tive from Honduras proposed union
He insisted that federation was bound
TO come and that the question involved
was only whether it should be now or
hereafter Honduras and Nicaragua ia
vOred the proposition, but all the others
opposed it. The result was the court
OF arbitration. a sort of miniature
I Hague tribunal. but 70 union.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS land Of blast
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