El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-01-06

TROM the time when Nelson, then an
humble officer of marines. but
- afterwards the hero of Trafalgar
lost his shoes in wading through
quagmire to receive the surrender OF
Spanish battery. down 10 the living
present. there has been little rest from
political tribulatiOn and revolution III
Central America Internecine strife has
been constant as 10 call 1oTlh the
remark that there never was Lhe
when Central America was not planning
a revolution, fighting one, or ending
one
The cause is not far to seek Inc
people are not temperamentally fitted
for freedom. The republican form Oh
government obtains in theory, put not
in fact. The ballot box, in the Unlteu
States a great engine of liberty Whlch
transforms the will of the people into
action, there stands for little more than
a pleasing fiction. No sooner does
Central American ruler get into power
than he makes plans to stay there, WITH
the result that the only way to change
his administration is al the point OF
the bayonet He immedia tely clothes
himself with more power than Edward
of England ever knew. and more than
William of Germany ever expects to
have.
First Fair Election On Isthmus.
1t was said that the last presidential
contest in Panama was the first falr
election ever known in tropical Amer
lea. Plans had been perfected to III
sure the perpetuatiOn Of the Amador
government. and only healthy display
OF power on the part of Uncle sam pre-
vented a revolution there. The ms
were planning to operate the election
machinery in such a way as TO insure
their success, and the outs" were de-
termined to enforce their rights at the
point of the bayonet-
Except for the part Uncle Sam played
in that event this outline might serve
for 100 different election rows in Cen
trail America, with the details merely
filled in. Sometimes it is the Moder-
ates against the Liberals. sometimes the
Conservatives against the Radicals,
sometimes the Centralists against the
F'ederaiists and sometimes the Demo-
Gratis against the Republicans. but
nearly always the trouble is brought
about by the efforts of the ms 10
make the results Of the ballot box fav-
orable TO them, no matter what the will
of the people. 1t is simply a case OF
the shadow of democracy and the sub
stance OF tyranny.
Under Spanish Rule.
The Central American states, con-
sisting of Guatemala, Costa Rico. Hon
duras. Salvador and Nicara qua. spent
Explored and taken possession of by
a representative of Cortez. in the name
OF Spain. they Immediately became
Spanish territory. l. would be long
and tedious process 20 review their his
tory during these three centuries, start
ing with Spanish possession in 1921
and ending with independence in 1921.
The latter part OF this period has
deep interest because there was q we'll
laid plot on the part of Great Britain
10 recoup her losses of the revolution
airy war in North America by getting
control of Central America.
1t was at this time that HoratiO Nell
son, still an humble subaltern, at the
head of 500 marines. waded through
mud and water and boarded" a Span
ish battery. as he termed IL Success
full in his first battle the campaign as
a whole went against him. Once his
life was saved by a lizard running
across his face and awaking him in
time TO escape a deadly viper cOiled at
poisoned by drinking water from a
spring in which grew a deadly tree, and
il is said that his health never recov-
cred from that experience.
Causes Spain to Lose.
Although England failed to get pos
session of Central America, she was re-
sponsible for Spain losing it. It was at
power was broken and the Invincible
Armada hurled back in defeat and de-
spair. What England did not do in
driving Spain 10 poverty and weakness
was completed by Napoleon. Embold-
ened by the weakness OF the mother
country. and cheered by the example OF
the United States. the Central Ameri-
can colonies wrote their declaration of
independence, and through an all but
bloOdleSS revolution established them
selves as independent states. 1t fell 10
the lot OF the little province of Chiapis.
then a portion OF Guatemala, to start
the movement that resulted in freedom
from the Spanish yoke.
1t declared itself independent Of
Spain. Guatemala followed quickly, and
her action was duplicated by the other
states. Mexico sought, through Itur-
bide, 70 annex them all to her territory,
declaring they could not stand alone
but only Chiapis WAS finally made a
part of that nation. Mexico did not give