Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 February 1896 — SNEAKS, NOT COWARDS. [ARTICLE]

SNEAKS, NOT COWARDS.

Latin-American Soldiers Age Often: f ' hesjrirnt* Fellows. Every English speaking man whom I met in Central America spoke contemptuously of Central American soldiers. They were called cowards, of course, and it was asserted that they had neither tact nor persistence. It was said over and over again that one English or German regiment, properly equipped, couljd sweep the country from Han Jose de Costa Rica to. Guatemala City. To my mind this is all nonsense. These men may be sneaks, but they are no cowards. I heard -such talk in' the presence of natives, and the natives listened, as it seemed to me, in an attitude like that of a panther crouched in the brush when the gauchos are after him. They did not resist, but they were right dangerous to attack hand to baud In such circumstances. But I have at hand many Instances of heroic bravery shown by soldiers of this blood. In the last revolution in Nicaragua a mere boy crossed Lake Nicarauga with a small force and, attacking Aan Carlos, carried it as a panther kills an antelope, by a mighty dash. The boy actually killed, it is said, the commanding colonel in a fair sword fight. ; . -'* ;_•• ~ -; - The statue to Juan Santa Maria seen In Aalajuela, Costa Rica, perpetuates the memory of a deed as brave as any that has been celebrated id song. There was a call for a volunteer to set fire to the market place thatches In San Jorge, Nicarauga, at the time Fillibusterer Walker's men were cooped up there by the combined-forces of Nicarauga and Costa Rica. That was a eall for a man willing to give his life for his' country. No man could cross the open street to the market place walls and back again and escape the billets of Walker’s riflemen. Every one knew that, but Juan was tlie man for the hour. He burned out the filibusterers, but it cost him his life. When Peru fought dear of the Spanish yoke there was a case of like character. A hody of patriots, left to guard a large magazine of powder, were attacked by a royal force so great that resistance was hopeless. So the commanding officer sent his Wen flying for safety, but remained liiiu*solf until the enemy were Upon him, when be fired the powder. Samsonlikc, he destroyed more in dying than he had destroyed when alive. Brazilians have been known to make as brave a charge, perhaps, as any in history. While reporting the revolution that the Brazilian navy made two years ago, I saw something of the attack the insurgents made on the Government troops holding the city of Nietheroy, opposite Rio Janeiro. It was a dash of 600 men among 3,000 equally well if not better equipped, and tlie 600 well-nigh woq. And then there were the prisoners taken by Gen. Vasquez from Bonilla’s forces, who were shot to death while I was in Tegucigalpa. They stood up against the church \\all watching the squad of executioners form in line with loaded guns, and then, as the guns were aimed, with one accord they shouted: “Hurrah for liberty!” So died nine typical Central Ameri can soldiers. The man who says the Central American soldiers are cowards is wholly blinded by the pride of race or the prejudice of religion, or both. There are quite enough Distances of individual bravery to offset all cases of individual cowardice of which travelers have told. —John It. Spears, in the New York Sun.