El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-07-05
- E ANAGUA. Nicaragua, July s.
MI Although Nicaragua has been

- n ANAGUA. Nicaragua, July o.
MI Although Nicaragua has been
known as the land OF blasted
hopes, the future holds much In prom
ise for It, Whether or not the course
of the American state department In
trying to put into effect treaty which
will guarantee to the United States
the right to maintain peace in Mica
ragua is wise from the standpoint OF
the American people. is an open ques-
ton. But there can be no doubt that
from the standpoint of Nicaragua 1t
would be altogether wise to make such
a guarantee possible. After century
of upheavaI and turbulence during
which the major portion of the ener-
gles Of the people has been spent in
warfare, it is little wonder that, the
patriotic Nicaraguan has come to
desire for peace. even though the terms
Of that peace carry with it the right
of great foreign nation to interfere
In its affairs.
Immense National Debt.
One of the first fruits Of a reign Of
peace would be the reduction and final
extinction Of the national debt. This
debt a year ago amounted to about
81, 900 900 pesos silver, or $25.000.00G
gold. Almost half Of this is interest
bearing, and constitutes a heavy bur-
den on the government. Without the
assistance OF the United States the
Nicaraguan government could not bor-
row money except at a figure far be-
low par. IF the experience of Santo
Domingo should be duplicated, the
bonds of Nicaragua issued under
American supervision Of the customs
houses would sell several points above
par.
If the treaty now pending is rati-
fed by the United States senate. Mica
ragua wifi be subject to the control
of the United States even in the max
ing of it's tariff laws. In this and
other directions Uncle Sam will guar
antee to the buyers Of the new bonds
that their securities will not be de-
preciated by reason OF war, and also
that they will not be cut down in
value by reason of adverse political
conditions in time OF peace It IS easy
to see that with the Washington gov
eminent able to insist upon peace and
authorized to require the maintenance
of a sound fiscal policy. the United
States practically would dominate af-
fairs in Nicaragua.
Superiority of Salvador.
What Nicaragua has to look forward
to under q regime of sound govern
mental policies continuing through a
long term Of years may be best Illus
trated by some comparisons with its
neighbor, the republic of Salvador. No
one familiar with the conditions in
the two republics can resist the con-
clusion that the Nicaragua of tomor
row may become what the Salvador Of
today is. With land more fertile and
better adapted to the maintenance Of
q large population than that of Sal
vador. acre for acre, If Nicaragua
ever is able to reach the density of
population existing in Salvador today.
It will have nearly i, 200, 900 inhabit-
ants as compared with less than 600,-
900 now. If Nicaragua's foreign COM
merce shall ultimately become as great
in proportion to extent OF territory as
that of Salvador today, 1t will aggre-
gate $4,000. 600 a year as compared
with a beggarly 500. 0e0 today. II
the buying capacity of the Nicaraguan
people shall ultimately become as great
a that OF the people OF Sal
vador today their annual inportations
will amount to $4,000. 900, as COM
pared with a trif1ing s35o,000 today.
II their export trade shall become as
great in proportion to the size of the
two countries as that of Salvador now
is. II will amount to $4,000, 600, as
compared with $4,000 today.
Possibilities of AGricuIture-
The agricultural possibilities of Nj
cara qua may be appreciated by a, COM
parison OF the coffee crop OF Salvador
with that OF Nicaragua The annual
production Of coffee in Salvador
amounts to more than 100000
pounds. If Nicaragua shall ultimately
grow as much coffee in proportion TO
the size Of its territory as Salvador
now grows, sits total yield would be
nearly 400,000.000 pounds. In its best
years today Nicaragua has an annual
crop Of about 100000 pounds. These
comparisons might be continued in
definitely. showing that even with its
future simply equa1ling and not sur
passing present day conditions in SAL
vador. Nicaragua could be one Of the
richest Of the smaller countries of
the world
And let one not imagine for min
ute thatsSalvadOr has reached the limit
OF It's progress. Large areas Of its
territory are still virgin forests. The
greater portion Of its lands are still
far beyond the sound of the locomo-
tive whistle. One may readily believe
that when the era of universal educa-
people are equipped for profitable Ia
Dor, the products Of the country may
Be doubled. If Nicaragua shall ever
reach the point to which the Salvado-
reans are striving, 1t will indeed be-
come a modern .Mohamet's Paradise"
A Possible Union.
It is not improbable that one Of the
Developments of the future may be
union of the five republics Of Central.
America. Many Of the leading states
men of each of these small countries
realize that such a course would in
ure greatly to the benefit of all par
ties concerned, and that nothing but
conflicting personal ambitions stand
in the way OF the fulfillment Of such
a union They admit that the expert
ment was tried at one time and failed
after less than two decades, but they
assert that Central America has pro-
gressed in political wisdom since the
downfall Of the confederation three
quarters of a century ago.
Panama Cananl Benefits.
With such a confederation. main
tanning a system Of educating the
masses in the pursuits of agriculture
and other wealth creating industries. 1t
60 H0