Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1850-01-01
Great Britain on this Continent.

country to British pretensions upon the
question now raised IN Central America.
Though we do not assume TO have any
special intelligence as 10 the purpose which
the President and his Cabinet entertain in
that matter, we think we may venture TO
reassure these anxious gentlemen. i, or all
people in the world they ought the least to
be terrified by the calmness and Iiiodera-
ton with which the negotiations TO ensue
on the arrival of Sir Henry Bulwer have
been approached at Washington. No
body has had so much experience as they
In gasconade and buster, singing small at
the moment of trial. They would do well
to remember so 40 and never again speak
aloud about compromising the dignity OF
the nation.
We cherish no fears either that our ma
tional reputation will suffer on the one
hand, or that we shall be brought into any
serious difficulty with England On The
other. There can be no reason for doubt
that when the subject comes 10 be treated
at first hands it will undergo different
sort of management with a more reasona-
bic result than it could expect if left to the
decision of secondary agents. Whatever
differences may appear between the two
governments are CT a nature to be AMIGA
bly, arranged as alone suits the position
which the parties mold IN The world
Moreover both Main and Oregon show
that neither the United States nor England
have passion for getting at loggerh-.as
with each other. Both nations have too
much good sense 10 perpetrate the absurdi-
ty of going to war without the EXTREMIST
necessity, or not 20 ohviate peaceably such
necessity; should it arise.
We are no admirers Of the foreign poll
cy of England, especially Central Ameri-
ca, though We cannot see with what con-
sistency it .S lssaiied by tic party which
annexed Texas, and made the Mexican
war, and which waits with impatient gree
diness for the United States 70 follow out
its maniie-: destiny" The instinct
which has proE: pied the spread OF British
Colonial possessions, even at the expense
Of violating some Of the principles OF strict
public morality, is certainly as respectable
as that which has lately enlarged our own
borders. What we have done for the pur-
pose of extending and strengthening Sla-
veIy-Aa purpose destined TO ultimate de-
feat-England has done for another end,
which, were her case ours, we should say
was to give new spheres to the ambition
and activity of freemen as it is, we say
it was to enable her traders and manufac-
turers to make more money. Any way,
we do not appreciate ou right to call her
bad names.
The main point to be discussed between
Sir Henry Bulwer and the Secretary Of
State y';il probably be the Ship Canal
through Nicaragua. AS for the insult to
our flag committed by direction of Mr..
Chatfeld, should it finally appear thatsuch
an event has happened, there can Of course
be no hesitation on Inc part Of the Eng
lish Minister in making all proper apollo
gies as to the island of Tigre, we do not
know that we need it, OF that we have re-
ally obtained lawful title TO it; but if it
is rightly ours, there will be no effective
trouble made about our keeping it. Nor
is it to be supposed that the canal question
will be hard to settle, though some per-
sons take the ordering of British fleet to.
the coasf,-a perfectly natural MEASURE
an ominous of quarrel. All that Eng
land or any other power can want, is that
the use of the canal should be guaranteed
on equal terms to all nations, and certain
ly, neither the honor nor the ability of the
United States require anything else.-
Where then is the ground for apprehen-
sion
Ii exists we are told liz the fact that the
English are determined to have a foothold
in Central America, and for that purpose
have trumped up the Mosquito protecto-
rate on one coast while they have just
seized the territory OF Honduras upon the
other. Admitting all this TO be true, what
then!
The doctrine of Mr.. Monroe that no
new foreign colonies shall be permitted on
this continent appears to us more speclous
than tenable. 1t is q sort of extended
Nativism, and Nativism on the large scale
is little better than on the small. We can
conceive of some new colonies which we
could see founded on this continent with
great satisfaction either by England or
Germany. It would be no loss to the
United States if Mosquito should become
genuine British colony, orif, for instance,
the flag of St. George should be set up in
Yucatan, or even if large Anglo Saxon
infusion were made into the whole Span
ish american race. And (what is alto
gether unlikely if any other civilized
power should succeed in procuring piece
of moccupied territory and establishing
respectable colony, we should not be num-
bcred among the complainants. Instead
of misfortune to lament or an injury to