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terrorized enemies well-warned and at a long distance, their barbarous pride humiliated, encouraged and gratified by the faithful Nicaraguans, and the national honor saved. In this unfortunate retreat there were painful losses, illustrious vic- tims which the cholera snatched from us on crossing the solitary road, so rough as well as lacking in all kind of aid. Grave charges have been made against us by our adversaries, but to all we can answer triumphantly.- If skill, if foresight and mili- tary intelligence could be found in a volunteer and undisciplined army, never accustomed to the hardships and the difficult art of war,-only comprehensible in long drawn out campaigns and bloody battle fields- the boldness exceeded the suffering, the abnegation and valor even the heroism.- Where were the profound tactics, the emi- nent captains? In what warlike enterprises had our · compatriots studied the science and the genius of war?- What more can be de- manded of chiefs and of volunteer ·soldiers than the generous sacrifice of their tranquility, of their interests, of their domestic joys, and of their very existence?- Indeed, I who participated always in their calamities and their joys, in their privations and enthusiasm, swell with pride on speaking of that army before the National Representa- tives.- That army of laborers and artisans, that army of peaceful and honorable proprietors, has conquered in that holy war against the usurpers of Central-America, [and they have gained] imperishable glory. It has given an example and a lesson to our friends and our enemies, and without that example unanimously applauded, without those re- peated triumphs, not a single shot would have been fired even in de- fense of the scorned Central-American rights,-Nicaragua would not be in arms as it is today already against its oppressors, the two fac- tions which seemed irreconcilable, giving each other a fraternal em- brace,-the forces of the States would remain still in their homes, and later, they and we, all, all, we would lament the unfortunate error of having fallen into a cowardly or stupid indolence. Honorable Representatives, people of Costa-rica, eternal praise to that invincible army l gratitude and protection to their widows, or- phans, and maimed !- Your chief and Country know they cannot forget that to them they owe today, the peace, the honored name, the integrity of the Republic, and the uprising of Central America against her bold enemies. We returned then, to the bosom of our families, and you know from bitter experience the mournful scenes which these settlements have pre- sented.-·The cholera has swept the cities and the country; the people have fallen into mortal anguish, lifeless at the aspect of the deadly invasion; country estates, homes, and even small villages entirely aban- doned,-the mother dying suddenly in the arms of her idolized son, the father seeking to give his life to the daughter of his soul who expires in the flower of her age,-the husband seeing his wife pass away in an instant,-the brother not being able to aid his dying brother,- youth and death, agony and hope, science and the contagion struggling terrifically,-weeping, desolation, horror and graves on all sides.- Such has been the insup2ortable prospect which the country has offered during six long weeks. Worn out, sick, attacked by the deadly pest and oppressed by the
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