The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-01-17

called the province OF Tolagalpa. Further, tho
coast line southwark of this river was defined by
Spain, as being within the limits ct Costa Rica so
much for the Atlantic ports Of Nicaragua under
Spanish dominion.
A distinction, however, arose as regards one
OF these ports-that of San Juan. 1t arose from
nj cess,ty; for while Spain arrogaied TO herself
nominal sovereignty over the Mosquito coast,
and divided II INTO provinces, above de-
tailed, the aboriginal Indians, continuing to
present bold front, and successfully to defy
every attempt TO bring them into subsection, or 10
establish Spanish settlements among them, the per-
mission 10 trade through two Of the potts Of Mos
al tribute. Thus the port of San Juan in the no
minal province OF Tolagalpa, and the port Of Matt
M. within the limits assigned to COSTA Rica, be-
came available 10 Spanish trade
BY royal order of the King of Spain, dated
AraDguez, Feb. rs, l796-(and We especially adj
vert to it, because II Is upon that which the Mica
raguan government seems chiefly to rely IN sup
port Of its assumed rights TO the port of San Juan)
certain privileges OF trade were accorded to ''the
province OF Nicaragua and others OF the kingdom
Of Guatemala This order is confined to giving
the liberty to "trade direct with the metropolis"
and to declaring San Juan ga port OF entry" for
''ihe city Of Granada, on the lake OF Nicaragua"
leaving, therefore, the territorial demarcations al
ready defined precisely where they were; More
over, this royal order In no way affected the rights
Of The King of Mosquito, for we learn from Mr..
Quin, highly respectable and wealthy inha-
bltant in Corn Island, adjoining the Mos
quito coast, that tribute continued subse-
He deposes 10 the fact that, in 1902, he
met craft belonging to the Mosquito kng,a
Boca del Toro, manned with Mosquito men and
chief, who informed him they were bound to San
Juan de Nicaragua, to receive from the Spanish
400 dollars as tribute from King Stephen, which
they said was paid annually for that port" As re-
amy Of the State of Nicaragua cerfes that, &c in
the State Of Costa RIGA, an annual tribute has
always been paid to the King of the Mosquitoes,
and this has always been the case since my in
fancy, by order of the Spanish government"
The relation maintained by The Mosquito Kings
towards the Spanards at Nicaragua, Is further ex-
emplfed by, an Incident of a more recent date,
which will show that they were not considered as
subjects by the Spaniards, and also that the Mos
quito sovereignty was no fiction Roberts, who
wrote IN 1916, relates that when he was taken prl-
soner by the Spanlards at San Juan, with some
Mosquito Indians who accompanied him In his
trading voyage, and carried to Leon, he was, after
being liberated and his way down the river, met
"by courier in dispatch boat from the Spanish
commandant of the battery at the harbor. He was
the bearer OF letters OF the Mosquito King, written
in the Spanish language TO the Governor Of San
Carlos and Leon. IN which were demanded the
instant release Of Brown and his other subjects,
and in case of refusal, he rOundly threatened to
commence an Indian warfare all the Spanish
settlements bordering on his territory"
Bat our proof that, at all events, Nicaragua has
no claim Of right through Spain to any of the ports
OF Mosquito, can be carried yet further, leaving 1t
as fact beyond all question. BY the royal order,
dated San Lorenzo, the 30th of Nov 1903, The King
and the part of the Mosquito shore from Cape Gra-
clos Dlos inclusivey, towards the river Chagres,
shall be separated from the Captain Generally OF
Guatemala and annexed TO the Vice Royalty Of
Santa Fe." Hence II is clear that any right which
Spain may have had, II II vests In any OF the new
Spanish American republics, can only do SO In
that OF New Granada, and the alleged right OF the
State OF Nicaragua is therefore ''arbltrary and
null"
But assuming Mosquito to have been depen-
dency Of Spain, If the right be conceded to the
n.
the lie of allegiance TO Spain, and and re-
MODEL their social and political existence into,
first, federal republic, and since, into DIS
tinct sovereign unltles, and to form such al-
ances as TO them severally seems good, so
must the right be equally conceded 10 the people
OF the provinces of TaguzaIpa and Tolagalpa. Thus,
as these people, known best as the Mosquito In
dams, have, through their king and chieftains,
again sought TO renew the ancient ties winch exist
ed between them and the British crown, 1t was az
competent for the Queen OF England to accept their
voluntary fealty and extend to them coveted pro-
iecton now, as II ever was at any anterior time.
Thus, In 1870 and In 1924 and In 1916, have three
Mosquito Kings been solemnly crowned at Jamaica
and Honduras, as their ancestors were OF yore.
No rights OF Spain could pass to the Nlcara.
guans, TO the detrment OF the natural right OF the
Mosquito Indians TO establish their Independence
nom Spain, or preclude Great Britain, on such in
dependence becoming unquestionable, from re-
newing the old ties by which they were formerly
hound. IL Is ndlsputable, the facts stand, that
Spain alone could have had a right TO demonstrate
against this. She did not do So she no cause to
DO circumstances had exunguished, together,
her interest, her power, and her rights In the mat
er; These have long since become a mere page
IN her past annals.
was made with Spain, by which Great Britain
abandoned her proiectorate Of Mosquito to Spain.
AT the previous treaty OF Of September, 1888,
when the evacuation Of British subjects from terri
tory claimed by Spain, in the neighborhood Of
Belize, was stipulated. 1t was declared to be
only ,'from any other. parts (than those
expressly gwen to them by the said artcle),
whether on the Spanish continent or in the islands
whatsoever dependent on the Spanish Continent"
The term American continent, pressed for by Spain,
was not allowed by Great Britain, on the ground
that this would involve the Mosquito shore, which
was independent of the crown Of Spain as any
OF those other parts of the American continent held
by other independent States and powers. But in
17S6, TO the astonlshment Of every one, another
treaty was concluded with Spain. the first article Of
which fuDs as follows
"The subjects Of His Britannia Majesty, and the
other settlers who have I'LL now enjoyed the pro-
lection Of England, shall evacuate the country Of
the Mosquitoes, and the continent In general, and
the adjacent itles, without exception, situated be-
yond the ironuer line OF the territory granted by
His Catholic Majesty to the English, for the uses
speclfed IN the third article OF this convention"
This convention excited general Indignation in
Ergland; II was utterly uncslled tor, purely a
gratuous act; and was Justly stlgmatIsed as pro-
fipate surrender Of Important rights and interests
THIS step was said to have been the result OF ihe
jealous notions OF some influential West India pro-
pretors, who apr, hended that the settlements on
the Mosquito would rival with the staple pro-
duce and trade of the West Indies.
motion Of censure made in the House Of
Lords by Lord Rswdon, IN l7s7; he was supported
by the Duke of Manchester, who had negotiated
the prior treaty of I7s3 when the BRUSH protecto-
rate was maintained, as more important than the
conclusion OF peace. We got nothing whatever Ia
exchange Tor what we surrendered by this con-
ventitn, as the /" uses specified" consisted OF the
night ITO cut logwood aud all other wood''-a
night we already enjoyed, without the permission OF
Spain.
Ii Is TO be observed, however, as regards this
treaty, that u Is distinct recognition Of lhe exist
ence OF a Mosquito nation and territory indeprn-
cent OF SPAN; Tor in the article cited above, il
speaks OF the "country OF the Mosquitoes" and
hey are also spoken Ut IN subsequent ARTICLES, az
lndisns situated upon the froatier OF the Spanish
losses sions." The Northern and Western .. from
ueis," where this +" country Of the Mosquitoes" vas
situated, being the then I" Spanish possesslons'' or