Chap. IX. POLITICAL AFFAIKS IN NICARAGUA. 141 
CHAPTEE IX. 
State of Political Affairs in Nicaragua — The different Parties — Interference 
of Foreign Interests — The Canal Project and the Accessory Transit 
Company — Outbreak of the Civil War of 1851 — The Author hastens to 
Leon — Insecurity of the Eoad — The Aristocracy of Science and Virtue — 
Arrival at Leon — The Leonese Government protests against the Contract 
with the Transit Company — General MuSoz, his Character, his Party 
Position, and his Death — Character, Political Career, and Death of Fruto 
Chamorro — The Author returns to Granada, and thence to the United 
States. 
During the rambles which have been the subject of the 
foregoing chapters, the political horizon of Nicaragua had 
darkened more and more, and in the first days of August 
one of those revolutions broke out by which several of the 
Spanish- American republics have gradually ruined them- 
selves. These civil wars and dissensions reflect a sad 
picture, and it may appear an unprofitable task to direct 
the reader's attention to such occurrences. Their interest, 
however, might be easily underrated ; and the author is of 
opinion that he should not pass over a page of American 
history but imperfectly known and understood by those 
who have not been present on the spot, and still less a 
page containing particulars of certain far-reaching practical 
consequences. 
When, on the separation of the Central Amerian pro- 
vinces from Spain, the Royalists associated themselves in 
a revolutionary movement which they were unable to 
resist, they did so in the secret hope of establishing a 
Central American monarchy. Their political opponents, 
on the other side, aimed at a republican confederacy, after 
the model of the North American Union. The latter 
