For purposes beyond a traveling Transit, the Rio San Juan will not be used for many years to come; and should a Railway be constructed through the Chiriqui District, where advantages are greater for a similar mode of transportation, travel would decrease on the Nicaragua Transit, inasmuch as there is wanting capital and energy with the inhabitants, and the state of the country will be no doubt for years as it has been, unsettled, and foreign Capitalists will not venture where there are so many chances for outlay, and so few for revenue, without the Cass and Yrisarri Treaty be fully and fairly entered into.

Should the Government of Nicaragua be once firmly based, and not made the butt for contending factions, as heretofore it has been, this State may occupy the most important position on the Map of New Spain; and should her mines be explored, her revenues would guaranty extensive public improvements worthy of a nation, which in many respects is far superior to the different races which surround her-remnants of the exiles from dismantled Azatlan.

CHAPTER XXXI.

CARDINAL SOURCES OF A NATION'S GREATNESS-THe future oF NICARAGUACONTAINS ALL THE ELEMENTS OF WEALTH-MUST AWAKE OR SLEEP FOREVER-A VIGOROUS REPUBLIC ON THE WING-THE GREAT NATIONS OF THE EAST FEELING HER INFLUENCE-HER SHADOW ALREADY ON THE HALLS OF THE MONTEZUMAS-BLIGHTING INFLUENCE OF THE MOTHER COUNTRY-THE REPUBLICS OF THE GREAT SOUTHERN CONTINENT-CALIFORNIA A VAST NATIONAL MART-SAN FRANCISCO THE CONSTANTINOPLE OF THE AMERICAS-OUR GOLD HUNTERS AND THOSE OF THE CONQUEST-MOUNTAINS NEVER KEEP ACCOUNTS-THE GREAT PACIFIC RAILWAY-THE PRESENT MAIL ROUTE-AN AVENUE NEEDED FOR THE TRADE OF ASIA-OUR CONTINENT A WORLD IN ITSELF-ADVANTAGES OF THE PROPOSED SHIP CANAL-GREAT BRITAIN VERSUS

THE UNITED STATES.

THE cardinal sources of a nation's greatness are, no doubt, Agriculture, Commerce, and Manufactures. Nicaragua can. only, to a very limited extent, claim them as standards of her present position as an independent and vigorous Republic. Weak in her army, devoid entirely of a marine, she possesses

but little ability to defend herself from the armed aggressors or fillibusters, who seek wealth, pleasure, and repose in her

inviting territory.

With a population sufficient to rouse her from the lethargy of the Past, with products capable of enabling her to assume her proper rank among vigorous nations, and with a superabundance of mineral wealth where with to support her dignity as a Republic, naught seems wanting save an innate spirit of Enterprise. As yet, her minerales yield gold only to strangers; her extent of public lands are unredeemed from total neglect; Disunion, that baneful, leprous curse, prowls through her realm, and Religion, in the absence of her first-born-Education, doubly mourns the inattention to her invocations. Lying in the path of the thriving, enterprising Republic of the United States, she must either rouse from her apathy, or she will indeed add, in a few years, but one more star to our Banner.

A wise provision in the Constitution of a State may woo the stranger to her domain, a cold reserve will chill his approach. The Plain of Leon is admirably adapted to the cultivation of sugar, and many sections to the growth of cotton. Her tobacco ranks high, her soil is generous, and to the agriculturist indeed inviting. Her mines are abundant and wealthy. Can it be that she will indulge in the apathy of the by-gone? Where the rank grass waves, crops of maize should flourish, and where the swarthy Cayman re

MUST AWAKE OR SLEEP FOREVER.

347

poses, the settler would obtain his muck for vegetation. A little liberality upon the part of its Government would quickly meet an ample recompense. From San Jorge to Realejo are found haciendas, with but few exceptions, in even tolerable condition. Everywhere is a lack of enterprise and capital. A system of drainage would produce an ample supply of excellent water, and the climate would hence be improved. To an American, life in this land would pass as a pleasant dream.

To him who, reared in the mountainous districts of the United States, seeks bracing air and a life of excitement, Nicaragua offers great inducements; to the ardent Southerner, Rivas, Granada, Managua, and Leon appeal; to the enthusiast who would woo Nature, here is she prolific in charms, and to him who has dived deeply into the yawning gulfs in search of ores, I can only add, bere he cannot be disappointed. With a population introduced, composed of such, the Future of this State would indeed be glorious. With the proposed Canal and her subsequently-developed resources, we could proudly acknowledge this Central Land as a kindred Republic. But as I write, her destiny is being recorded. She must awake, or sleep forever; for while she apathetically resigns herself to an inactivity neither "masterly" nor advantageous, a vigorous Republic is on the wing, whose tramp is heard on the neighboring islands as she marches to her Pacific children.

7

The European powers are concentrating on the eastern borders of Asia. Australia, from being a penal colony, springs magically into importance, her gold replenishing the exhausted coffers of the Eastern Hemisphere, while her agricultural resources, vast, illimitable, invite and retain the thrifty husbandman, alike with the industrious and enterprising mechanic. Japan is opening her sealed ports, and American influence has impressed its masses with our ability, courage, and advancement as a great people. China and Cochin-China are peering from behind their ancient walls, and inquiringly scan us vis-a-vis, while Russia, cold in climate, breaks the fetters of her serfs, and without jealousy, marks our Flag upon foreign lands and seas, and meets us openly and fairly in our national exchanges.

Spain perceives our shadow lying on the threshold of the halls of the Montezumas-on the dominions of the Incas-on the shores of the Antilles-and she feels we must eventually plow her ancient empire on this Continent. And how true the suggestion that whatever France, England, Russia, and Spain may accomplish here, our Republic must eventually become enriched thereby. The Empire of Brazil exists, 'tis true, and Portugal possesses in her transatlantic territory a treasure. Yet her minerals are undeveloped, her forests unknown, her diamond mines but imperfectly worked, and her agricultu ral resources certainly not in a progressive state