A New Federation in America.

Evening Post, Volume LIV, Issue 147, 18 December 1897, Page 4 (Supplement)

A New Federation in America.

Quietly and unostentatiously the Greater Republic of Central America has become an accomplished fact. The first step was taken over a year ago, when Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua united in a Confederation for mutual defence. Now (says the American correspondent of the Dunedin Star), Costa Bica and Guatemala have joined, and the Federation is complete. The new Republic will possess considerable strength. Its population will be over three millions, of which Guatemala has nearly one-half. The area will be 155,525 square miles. Its population is made up of native Indians and mixed rates, but Europeans and European stock are steadily increasing. The arrangement of the new Federation is both wise and sensible. Each State retains complete autonomy and absolute control of its domestic affairs. Outside matters — treaties, commercial and industrial relations with other nations— are managed by a sort of Congress, which meets in the various capitals at stated times, and which is regularly elected. Representatives to other Governments are appointed by the authority of this body. In a word, the relations of the Greater Bepublic to the outside world are managed practically the same as ours are, and the rights of the States to control their own affairs remain untouched. Thi* union will give the Bepublic an army of 175,000 men, regulars and militia, which will be sufficient for defence. If this union have no other result than to put an end to the interminable wars and revolutions 'in that section it will be_H great blearing-.