CENTRAL AMERICA. 



83 



Peace prevailed throughout the republic, 

 with unimportant exceptions. There was an 

 attempt at revolution on the Mexican frontier, 

 headed by Serapio Cruz, who, for two years 

 past, was constantly trying to disturb the 

 peace. He and his band secreted themselves in 

 the mountains, and made occasional raids in 

 the surrounding country. On the 6th of De- 

 cember, 1869, a severe fight took place be- 

 tween the forces of Serapio Cruz and those of 

 the Government, in the town of Huehuete- 

 nango. The Government forces to the num- 

 ber of 200, under the command of Captain 

 Calonge, were intrenched in the plaza, behind 

 barricades, which were defended by two small 

 pieces of artillery. Cruz had 1,000 of all arms, 

 a majority of whom were Indians, under his 

 command. He endeavored to take the place 

 by assailing it simultaneously at all available 

 points, and at the same time setting fire to the 

 houses in different parts. The firing lasted 

 twenty -five hours, at the end of which Cruz re- 

 tired with the loss of 100 killed and 150 wound- 

 ed, besides war material lost in the retreat. 



President Cerna granted full pardon to all 

 prisoners undergoing punishment for crimes, 

 who rendered useful service during the late 

 epidemic in Escuintla. He was, in 1869, re- 

 elected to the presidency, for the period from 

 May 24, 1869, to December 31, 1872. 



3. San Salvador. The President Duefias, 

 who was reflected to the presidency .for the pe- 

 riod from 1868 to 1873, draws in his message 

 to Congress, in January, a cheerful picture of 

 the condition of this little republic. 



The indigo crop of 1868 was estimated at 

 14,000 ceroons. Several large sugar-machines 

 were imported, and have given a new impulse 

 to the growth of sugar-cane. Coffee and cotton 

 are the next most important articles of export. 

 The official report of the income and expenses 

 of the Government for 1868 shows a balance 

 in favor of the State of $59,988. The revenue 

 for the same year has been $938,412, being 

 $106,251 over 1867, showing how the coun- 

 try is progressing under the management of 

 the present Government. The reports from 

 Acajutla, the most northern port, shaw a great 

 increase in the export of coffee and sugar. 

 The value of the exports for the nine months, 

 ending September 30th, amounted to $739,680. 



4. Nicaragua. President Guzman enjoys 

 the confidence and esteem of the republic. 

 When an attempt was made by some of his 

 political enemies to poison him and his family, 

 the greatest sympathy was expressed for him 

 throughout the country. Had the attempt 

 succeeded, probably a general revolution would 

 have been the consequence. Some serious 

 charges having been made in and out of Con- 

 gress against the President, he made known 

 his intention to resign, when Congress passed, 

 on the 19th of March, a resolution approving all 

 his acts and those of his ministers ; for all that 

 he sent in his resignation in a message termi- 

 nating in these words : " I am resolved to re- 



tain no longer a position wherein I have only 

 reaped ^ deceptions, bitterness, and miserable 

 disappointment." Congress returned an answer 

 full of praise and satisfaction, refused to accept 

 the resignation, and amid much apparent re- 

 joicing succeeded in prevailing upon him to re- 

 tain power. 



The contract made by Mr. Ay on, minister 

 of Nicaragua at Paris, in October, 1868, with 

 the French Senator, Chevalier, for the opening 

 of a canal across Nicaragua, was ratified by 

 the Senate, and Senator Montealegre was ap- 

 pointed special envoy to the Republic of Costa 

 Rica to enter upon negotiations. Treaties of 

 friendship, and commerce with Costa Rica and 

 San Salvador were likewise confirmed by the 

 Senate. 



Congress authorized the Government to 

 establish at the most convenient place a hospital 

 for lepers. By another decree, approved by 

 the President, Frederick H. Alberding and his 

 copartners are granted the privilege to intro- 

 duce Chinese coolies, engaged voluntarily in 

 their own country or elsewhere, and brought 

 directly to Nicaragua. The privilege is for ten 

 years, the coolie contracts to be for eight years, 

 after which they shall be free. Vessels bring- 

 ing coolies are to be exempt from anchorage 

 and tonnage dues ; the said Alberding & Co. to 

 pay fifty cents for each coolie brought to the 

 hospital at Leon. 



Nicaragua has not enjoyed peace throughout 

 the year 1869. There was, however, a mutual 

 desire to settle pending questions without shed- 

 ding much blood. An armistice was agreed 

 to between the Government and the insurgents, 

 which was followed by an agreement signed 

 October 25, 1869. The terms of peace are 

 briefly as follows : 



" 1. That the Government will in no way 

 persecute those who have taken part in the 

 revolution, who shall have entire liberty to 

 leave or return to the republic. 2. That the 

 Government will nominate General Sebastian 

 Gutierrez as Governor of Leon. 3. That the 

 Government will, within six months, convoke 

 a Constituent Assembly. 4. That this Assem- 

 bly shall decide in what manner the debt cre- 

 ated by the revolution shall be paid. 5. That 

 all arms and munitions of war in the power of 

 the revolutionary forces shall be warehoused 

 in Leon and handed over to a person to be 

 nominated by the commander-in-chief (the 

 United 'States minister was the person subse- 

 quently so nominated) ; clauses 6 and 7 guar- 

 antee liberty in the elections, and arrange for 

 the appointment of civil officers ; and, finally, 

 the eighth article stipulates for the punctual 

 observance of the foregoing clauses." 



Immediately afterward a general disarma- 

 ment commenced in Leon, the previous head- 

 quarters of the revolutionary party. The 

 President, with his troops, entered Leon on 

 the 30th October. Of the revolutionary leaders, 

 General Martinez went to San Salvador, and 

 General Jerez to Costa Rica. Great credit is due 



