In separating from Spain Chiapas had also separated from Guatemala, and had decided to cast in its fortunes with those of Mexico. For this latter step Guatemala was not yet ready. In that province political parties were quickly formed; one adopting republican principles with equality of all classes in the state as a political platform, while the other favored aristocratic ideas, rejecting such glittering generalities as that "all men are created equal." The junta passed important acts to organize the finances, the industries, and the commerce of the country; and appointed as captaingeneral the leader of the independents, Gainza.

The example of the leading province was followed by the rest. In Salvador independence of the Spanish crown was declared in September, 1821-an act that was followed by such confusion that Guatemala sent thither a representative, who restored peace and presided over the new government.

In Honduras, also, independence was declared, but one of the districts decided to join Guatemala, while the others preferred to annex themselves to Mexico.

In Nicaragua the same story was repeated: Leon declaring for a union with Mexico, and Granada preferring to send representatives to the Congress in Guatemala.

On the 27th of October Costa Rica, also, passed an act of independence; but did not declare what attitude it would take towards the other provinces.

On November 28th Panama followed suit, but joined the republic of Colombia, with which it had natural affiliations.

Independence of Spain was now an accomplished fact in all the provinces of Central America; but the country, with the exception of Panama, was distracted by the question whether the provinces should act together through a congress in Guatemala or should attach themselves to the new empire established in Mexico. Guatemala sent out agents, urging attendance on the general congress, and at the same time watched the progress of events in Mexico.

Iturbide, who was now at the head of affairs in that country, was very desirous of bringing Central America

José Maria Morelos.

under his sway, both to increase his power and to prevent Spain from reconquering it and threatening Mexico. Accordingly he sent a letter to the junta of Guatemala, urging that the province was too weak to stand alone and that it should join Mexico. The junta replied that the question of holding a general congress or of immediately joining Mexico must be settled by the vote of the people, and that within thirty days this vote should be taken. The letter of Iturbide, therefore, was sent to the various local governments, with instructions to take the sense of the people. Guatemala city itself the votes of the heads of families were taken by agents, but it is not clear that the people at large were consulted by the local governments in the rest of the province. Some of the towns returned no answer; but the great majority of the others declared in favor of annexation to Mexico.

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Thereupon the junta of Guatemala, after some discussion, decreed on January 5, 1822, that all Central America (except Panama) should be joined to the empire of Mexico, and the Captain-General Gainza issued a proclamation declaring that the proposed congress was unnecessary, and that all was well. In explanation of its action the junta declared that as Guatemala proper had voted for annexation and a number of the towns in Nicaragua and other provinces had previously voted in the same manner, it was clear that the majority of the people of the whole country desired to link their fortunes to those of Mexico. A number of deputies were accordingly sent to the Imperial Congress of Mexico, which pronounced the people of Chiapas and Guatemala to be Mexican citizens.

Disregarding the arbitrary ruling of Guatemala as to union with Mexico, Costa Rica held aloof, and so did the greater part of Salvador, the latter deciding that a general congress ought to be held, and that any towns seceding to join Mexico should be coerced. In Honduras and Nicaragua, also, some towns, fearing the tyranny of Mexico, persistently refused to approve the act of incorporation.

Iturbide, however, was not to be balked so easily in his plans. In order to bring the recalcitrants to their senses, he sent an army under General Filisola into Salvador, and having gained a victory over the troops of that province, forced it to accept annexation. Before doing so, Salvador made a bold but vain attempt to enlist the aid of the United States and to place itself under the protection of that power.

No sooner had the conquest of Salvador been made than Filisola received information that the government of Iturbide in Mexico had been overthrown and a republic established. Wishing to avoid civil war and feeling that he should not hold Central America to the alleged agreement now that Mexico had changed her form of government, he summoned all Central America to send delegates to a general congress.

With that rapid change of sentiment which characterizes the Latin races, there now appeared a universal enthusiasm for the congress. It met June 24, 1823, under José Matías Delgado as president, and assumed the name of the National Constituent Assembly. Like the National Assembly of France at the period of the Revolution it had a great work before it; its sessions were prolonged for a year and a half.

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In July, 1823, this assembly declared the provinces formerly under the jurisdiction of Guatemala to be free and independent states, confederated into a nation under the name of the Provincias Unidas del Centro de America. the formation of the Confederation Mexico had given her consent, and about a year later she acknowledged its independence. A new power had been born in the world, though it was one not destined long to endure. The city-states of Greece tried to combine into a union after the battle of Platea. The states of Central America now thought themselves ready for a similar experiment. In both cases the jealousy of parties and of states made the scheme impracticable.