The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-09-26
FOR A UNITED STATES OF
CENTRAL AMERICA
THF TO"EKA STATE JOURNAL
INFORMATION BUREAU
BY Frederic j. HIskin. Director.
Washington ID. G.

way, and probably will lead to the
formation of a new and wealthy
American republic, which will prob
ably be called the United States of
Central America. Furthermore the
negotiations leading to this new fed
Grafton may be held in Washington
and at an early date.
II A conference of Central American
republics to discuss a Central Ameri-
can union was recently suggested to
the governments of Nicaragua, Sal
vador, Guatemala and Costa Rica by
DR. Bertrand, who is the president of
Honduras. His suggestion met with
a response which showed that the
same idea had been cherished by all
of them. The government of Mica
ragua, which sent its reply only few
days ago, added the suggestion that
the meeting be held either in Panama
or in Washington, D. c., instead of
San Jose, Costa RIca as DR.. Bertrand
had suggested.
Wherever it is held this meeting
will almost certainly come about, and
it will be a meeting of great signifi-
canoe in the development of Latin
America, and the relations of the
southern republics to the United
States. Particularly significant is the
suggestion of Nicarag qua that the
meeting be held at Washington. For
Nicaragua has long been in a state of
military occupancy by the United
States. This suggestion from the Mic
araguan government shows how it
feels about the aid the United States
government has given it. For our
marines not only killed few revolu-
| tionists and established peace, but
they fed starving people, and showed
a genuinely friendly spirit. They then
esta bliShed themselves at the capital
in the somewhat dubious status of
| legation guard, and the fire. breathing
editorial writer's of the local press pro-
ceeded to emit hot inVective against
them and their designs. But it soon
| became apparent that their only de-
sign was to keep the peace by sup
porting an honest government. Mic
aragua, which had been the most rev.
| olution ridden of all these perpetually
revolving little countries, knew a long
period OF peace and prosperity. The
marines became "mucho amigo all
| thru the country. The Nicaraguan
forces instead of lighting them, played
baseball with them. ana srrove TO en-
ulate them in such matters as clean
linen and polished shoes.
In this way the most turbulent of
| the five little countries was pacified.
Another sphere of American influence
and example was established at Pan
anna, where the United States govern
| ment supervises elections, and other
wise helps to maintain a peaceful and
orderly state.
| AS a result partly of these influ-
ences and partly of their own prog
ress the Central American countries
| have of late years enjoyed unusual
peace and prosperity; and the re-
| crudeScence of their old dream of d
| united Central America is a natural
| result. For these little republics were
| one state under Spain, and they were
| once\a free federation for a few years.
| The leaders in all of these countries
4 realize that in union lies their best
| hope of prosperity and strength. They
| have been deferred from realizing
their ideal of unity by those revolu
| tons and wars which are the disgrace
| of all Latin-America.
| To the casual reader of newspa-
pers, who has never Travelled in these
| countries, their case seems well-nigh
| hopeless, for their history is of nothing
but wars. and plots. Their lack OF
| stability is an international joke. They
| are the prey of concessionaires and
| filbusters. All of their officials are
| grafters.
This picture has been quite true in
| the past, and is all too nearly true at
present, but there are elements of
progress in all of these countries
which are to triumph in the long run.
The ignorance of the masses of dheir
| peoples is at the bottom of their diff
| great needs. The educated Central
American fully realizes both the
shortcomings and the possibilities of
| his country and he is a patriot of the
| most fervid sort. But he has not the
| funds to realize his dreams. And he is
| often literally forced to be a revolu-
zionist and a CRATER because in his
| national politics he has to compete
| with revolutionists and grafters. He
| must resort to fighting and plumber to
accomplish his ends because they are
| the only measures that make any i'm
preston on his half-wild constituency.
| For the strange thing about Latin
American society is that, tho the up
per classes are intelligent, well-edu-
Gated and wealthy, the lower classes
| are often little better than mere bar
| barians.
In recent years. however! various
| forces have been set in motion tend
ing to ameliorate this condition. One
of these is the growth of American
| and foreign interests, which, while
| robbing the natives of the natural re-
sources of their countries have new
ertheless given the poor work at bet
| ter wages and acted generally as civ
| ilizing influence. Another is the in
| PREVENTION of the United States in
| Cuba, Santo Domingo, Haiti, Nicara-
| qua and Panama.
The great thing accomplished by
i these interventions is that the little
| republics have learned 10 trust the big
| ones. They perceive that Cuba has
| not suffered by a protectorate, but
quite the contrary. Dominicans ad-
init that the military occupa ton has
I been a good thing for their country,
| as do also the Nicaraguans and
| Haitians The Latin-Americans are
! beginning to believe the American
| protestation that we do not wish to
annex or to dominate, but merely to
/ help establis order and prosperity.
The United States government,
| owing to its traditional and we'll
known indifference to everything out
| side its continental borders, has
/ neglected great opportunities to do
| constructive work in these countries
| In Santo Domingo, for example, there
| is an excellent opportunity to super
| wise the spending of the national