Several times in the 19th century, Central America attempted to unite politically. It in some ways made sense, it was how the area had been administered by the Spanish, and independence theoretically would give a greater voice to the indigenous peoples that were the majority in Central America. Unless of course tiny El Salvador can unite their 14 Spanish families. So slip on your smoking jacket, fill your pipe, take your first sip of your adult beverage, and sit back in your most comfortable chair. Welcome to todays offering from The Philatelist
This stamp shows President Pedro Jose Escalon. The transfer of power to him and then from him had been peaceful. That hadn’t happened in El Salvador in quite a while. If only he could have managed to not invade his recently united neighbors, he might deserve a stamp.
Todays stamp is issue A65, a 50 Centavo stamp issued by El Salvador in 1906. This was a 12 stamp issue in various denominations. There are imperforate versions of this issue, also overstamp versions to reflect currency devaluations. There are versions with President Escalon’s face blotted out after he left office. There is a later reprint in a different size. Anything they could think of to sell a few more copies on the world market. According to the Scott catalog, my original version is worth 35 cents unused.
The 19th century saw power consolidate in 14 large landowning families whose main export product was coffee. The many updates of the constitution insured that the large landowners had the majority of seats in the legislature set aside for them they were also well represented in the upper ranks of the Army. This took power away from the indigenous majority in the country. It also left El Salvador hopelessly poor. The other countries of Central America were in the same boat. Perhaps if the example of the former united administration could be emulated by new institutions uncorrupted by the powers that be, a larger, stronger entity could make things better.
In 1896, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua agreed to form the Greater Republic of Central America. The capital was Amapala in Honduras. Guatemala and Costa Rica were invited to join but hadn’t yet ratified the union. The United States recognized the new entity.
The landowning families of El Salvador saw this as a threat to their power. In 1898 there was a military coup and General Tomas Regalado was put in charge and quickly pulled El Salvador out of the Greater Republic of Central America. In an effort to put a better face on what they had done the powerful arranged an election and a peaceful transfer of power to President Escalon, a former General. By now the spirit of union in central America was gone and El Salvador invaded Guatemala. The war went poorly and General Regalado, who was still Minister of War, even managed to get killed.
You might think this silly war like behavior might end the power of the 14 families. Indeed the USA intervened and it was the beginning of the USA Marines being used to keep in line the banana republics. This however only helped the 14 families as Americans were soon investing heavily in the various agricultural operations that the 14 families controlled.
Well my drink is empty and I am left wondering if Central America could have done better united. Perhaps not, people probably get the leaders they deserve. Well there was always William Walker, see https://the-philatelist.com/2018/09/27/costa-rica-remembers-the-the-drummer-boy-that-saved-central-america-from-an-american-manifest-destiny/ . Come again soon for another story that can be learned from stamp collecting. First published in 2020.