General Yozarro should
be called to the head of the confederation?"

The crimson countenance became more crimson; the breaths shifted to
pants, and the tiny eyes twinkled with a sinister light.

"Impossible! Such an outrage can never be."

"Let us assume that it does come about; it is best, you know, to
consider all sides of an important question."

"I would never consent! I would withdraw from the union! I would
shatter the whole scheme, if I were treated with such shameless
ingratitude."

"You forget that each republic would bring forth its own particular
crop of favorite sons, and you would stand no more chance of selection
than I. You declare yourself warmly in favor of the confederation;
which do you place the higher,--the beneficent scheme itself or your
own ambition?"

"It is not ambition, sir, but simple justice that I demand _and will
have_!"

"Do you consider yourself the only man on the South American continent
qualified to be the president of such a union?"

"By no means; there are plenty beside me, but none with such paramount
claims to the honor."

"Admitting this, our own Washington or Lincoln, or any one of our
leaders, was ready at all times to lay down his office for the good of
his country; that, and only that spirit, is true patriotism; I don't
believe there are ten native men between Nicaragua and the Straits
of Magellan, who have ever experienced the feeling. Your strongest
republics refuse to pay their just debts, and when England, Germany
and some of the European Powers try to compel them to be honest, they
bellow over the Monroe Doctrine and are ready to fight the United
States because she won't come down and help them play the defaulter.

"No, General; the first step toward the success of your scheme is an
impossible one; that is, the reconstruction and making over of the
_genus_ South American. When somewhere a so-called republic is
set up, and a President elected for a term strictly defined by its
Constitution, the President refuses to go out of office at the close
of that term and starts a revolution. Several others with a similar
ambition do the same, and there you have the normal republic in this
part of the world. Atlamalco, Zalapata and most of your governments
are simply world's nuisances."

"Your statements, sir, are not only false but insulting; I have more
faith in my patriotic countrymen than you, for I know them better;
they are brave, unselfish, long suffering----"