The Press.
London, England, 1857-06-20 00:00:00

FILLIBUSTERISM.

IT has often been remarked that the American
Government and the American people by no
means exhibit the same unity of action as we
observe in the nations of Europe. Like their
own white servants, the Yankees will only
render a qualified obedience to the authorities
set over them. Masters and servants are
equals—and so are the governors and the
governed. The consequence is that when any
difference of opinion happens to arise between
them, the citizens of the United States, in-
stead of having recourse to our system of
petitions and public meetings, and orderly
agitation, which would imply an acknowledg-
ment of subjection, boldly lake their own
course, in defiance of law, Congress, or Presi-
dent. Had England, for instance, been
America three or four years ago, and the
people imagined that Lord ABERDEEN was
dilatory in the declaration of war, instead of
noisy meetings and empty resolutions, we
might have expected to hear of an expedition
fitting out at Southampton or the Orkneys,
and the subsequent seizure and pillage of
Odessa or St. Petersburg.
Such is the origin of what is familiarly
known in this country as fillibustering ; and
what constitutes its danger is that such expe-
ditions almost always represent a considerable
amount of popular feeling. The conviction
that the whole continent of America is one
day to fall under the dominion of the United
States is so strong in the minds of the masses,
that the Government is unable directly to
control it ; and, consequently, such men as
General WALKER, though particular acts of
barbarity may be disapproved, are not likely
to meet with that wholesale execration which
they deserve, and which would alone extin-
guish the breed.
WALKER'S expedition to Nicaragua was
from the very fast regarded with sympathy by
a large number of the inhabitants of the
United States; and the decided success
which attended his career as leader of the
Democratic party in the civil war procured
himself still more important encouragement.
Rulers arc but men ; and American rulers arc
not of course strangers to the aspirations of
their countrymen. What they disapproved
of as representatives of law, and international
right, they secretly admired as citizens of the
great American Republic ; and as soon as
they could decently do so they extended a
qualified recognition to the Government of
the successful soldier who had pushed for-
ward the national supremacy into new regions.
There can be no doubt that Colonel WHEELER,
the American Minister in Nicaragua at the
period of Wauczn's occupation, must have
acted upon instructions from his Government
when he formally acknowledged the regime of
the military adventurer; and that the latter
thus acquired a certain degree of moral
strength which the vigour of his arms alone
could never have obtained,

Thus openly supported by the American
people, and virtually by the American Govern.
ment, WALKER'S position about a twelvemonth
ago wore every appearance of security and
permanence. But, led on we suppose by the
destiny of all military Governments, the neces-
sity of flesh conquests, in an evil moment for
himself he was induced to invade the neigh-
bouring State of Costa Rica, which had refused
to acknowledge his dynasty, and maintained
a vigilant and warlike, though we believe
neutral, attitude. Here the conqueror of Nica-
ragua at length found his Russia, and, after a
desperate struggle, has been compelled to re-
linquish his prey and abandon his prospects
of empire.
Now it is very difficult to say what conclu-
sion is to be drawn from the recent overthrow
of this man. We fear it would be decidedly
premature to imagine that it indicates any

SATURDAY,

decay of the aggressive spirit in America, or
that his own crimes have met with their just
retribution. We should be loth to predict that
his restoration is impossible, or indeed, on the
whole, improbable. Before his attack on
Costa Rica, his Government had at all events
introduced a reign of security to which the
Central American States had long been stran-
gers, and it does not appear very distinctly
who is to take his place. No doubt, his recent
atrocities will for a time rob him of the support
of all but the most degraded of his country-
men ; but these sort of crimes are soon glossed
over, and, in the state of society which exists
in but too many parts of America, cannot be ex-
pected to excite as much detestation as in
London and Liverpool.
It remains to be seen to what extent the
personal brutality of General WALKER will
diminish the admiration accorded him as an
efficient propagator of the Monro doctrine.
We would fain hope, though we are not very
sanguine in the matter, that fillibusterism has
received a check. Better a thousand times a
regular and protracted war on a grand scale
than these licentious and piratical descents
upon neutral territories. When one country
is sufficiently strong to conquer and civilise
another, and the latter sufficiently weak and
disorganised to be so conquered, the act, how-
ever unjustifiable in individuals, may be a
blessing to the people at large; but just that
superiority which allows of invasion and pil-
lage without permanent settlement is an un-
mitigated curse.