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

Al It's uIcllon with the great lake, and another
lower down, al Casiiio-t ieJo, the left bank of
the river, 10 protect The interior, compelled %
sasiy herself wlih detachment IT corporal aud
four men AT PoIt 81 John, who remtlped there
under 'he safeguard OF Mosquito good faith.
from all this II Is apparent mat during the
close alliance which bound England and Mos
quito Together, The latter was able 10 maintain
her position, aud independent existence. Such,
then, was the state Of things, when, IN ISL,
the dominion OF Spain was shaken In the 18TH
mus OF the Americas Before the end OF 1923
the revolutions there were complete a Mexican
enp re, including the former kingdom OF Guate-
mala, had been established, and as rapidly dsap-
ptared. This eventual year, in these annals, closed
upon iederative State Of Central America, COM
pTistd within the territorial limits which had con-
stiiuied the kingdom OF Guatemala, with the sole
exception Of the district OF Chlapas to the NORTH,
which renamed annexed TO Mexico. IL does not
appear whether, ~ the time when the political
coLvusions took place, 10y which this consunma-
ton was preceded, Spanish corporal ane four
men were stll in peimlssiye quarters at Por 81.
JOIN. or whether there was any occupation OF Cas-
uo Vieo but it is certain that, long before their
termination, every vestge OF Spanish force had
disappeard from these ouposts, as likewise from
Fort San Carlos Thus ceased all connexoA be-
tween Spain and the Mosquito territory:
Having once cast off the authority OF Spain, the
people Of the different districts and provinces, over
which the Captain General OF Guatemala had exer-
cised jurisdiction, claimed the right, as inherent 10
each Of them, OF constituting themselves into sepa-
rate State governments, and OF tree sci election as
to the State TO which they should adhere. Thus
were constituted the separate States OF Guate-
mala, ST Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and
Costa Rlca, under federalve organization, and
the common name OF Central America. The de
marcatlons OF each Stale being much the same az
those of the provinces whose names they adopted,
were during Spanish rule, with the exception, al
ready notice d, of Chiapas and that of the district
of Guanacase, which last elected in favor of nd
herence 10 the State of Costa Rica.
Sod. If 1,nar f,1au he SaId
10 have practically existed until 1888, but alter this
period The civil wars which ragged among the sepa-
rate States composing II, prevented any common
elaboration, and 1t Is now finally extinct by gene
raj consent the attempt 10 restore the federal bond,
which was made IN 1876, having utterly failed
During It's existence, the Fort OF San Carlos, at the
entrance of the lake, was occupied, by direction
of the federatlve President, by small force from
Nicaragua for revenue purposes. Meanwhile, the
Fort Of ST. John, where the Spanlards had made
no settlement, became occupied by a huctuating
population Of Mosquito men and British settlers:
This excited the jealousy OF the Nicaraguans; and
thus, in 1886, fifteen years after the struggle for
independence arose, and thirteen subsequent to the
constitution OF the Central American, Federation,
a iorce from Nicaragua came suddenly down and
took possession of the place, and claimed the
whole territory OF Mosquito.
The King OF Mosquito, before TAX ing any step to
vindIcate his nights, communicated with Colonel
Macdonald, then Governor and Superintendent OF
British Honduras, for his advice and assistance, in
| accordance with the proteciorate tie which had
long previously been renewed with his two prede-
cessors and himself. fortunately, In Colonel Mac
donald, an artillery officer who had served with
distinction under the Duke of Wellington, through
out the last war, he found man OF as much lntel-
| lgence as known resolution. He at once deter
mined TO visit the spot In person, and make tour
of inspection along the coast OF Mosquito. He ac-
| cordngy proceeded, IN man-of-war steamer, 10
| Port ST. John, and informed the Nlcaraguan COM
mandant, Colonel Qsuano, that he had no BUSH
ness there nor could he be allowed to collect reve-
mr. cyl mi isdIc a m.
| which was part Of the territory Of the King OF
Mosquito. Quuano declared his government did
not recognise any Mosquito territory or king, and
declined to depart. The whole matter then at
once summarily concluded, by Colonel Macdonald
removing hun by force, and landing hun on ano-
ther part Of the coast, while his followers dispersed.
A complaint was made on the subject to the Bril-
tish government, on the part OF Nicaragua,
which shortly after re-occupied the place, and
was left In possession, pending the receival Of an
answer; In reply, they were Informed, through
MIR. Chaifield, Consul General TO the Central
American States, that the King claimed the port
OF -. John, part OF his territory, and they were
requested 10 state on what grounds they founded
a night TO Its possession.
land, and Mr.. Walker, who had seen his secre-
tary, was appointed by Lord Aberdeen Consul
General IN Mosquito. Meanwhile, no answer
could be extracted from Nicaragua on the subject
necessary TO take some step; and the King OF
Mosquito gave notice, IN 1871, that unless the port
was restored 10 him by the LIST OF January, 1913,
forclble means would be taken to obtain reposses-
sion oft.
The result is known. The King having been
quietly reinstated, the Nicaraguans, on the depar
iure OF the force which accomplished this, sent
troops TO pull down the Mosquito flag, and 10
capture the Mosquito authorities Upon this, a
Joint British and Mosquito force, under Captain
Lock, X ~, proceeded there, the Nicaraguans
r.treated up the river, but were dislodged, and
the expedition proceeded into the Lake Of Mica
rsgua, having captured Fort San Carlos on the
way. There would have been great difficulty
IN the three or four hundred Brush troops aud
marines, and the force Of Mosquito militia, pene-
traiing TO the capital Of Nicaragua. However,
they were not driven TO that necessity The Pfesi-
dent and Congress Of Nicaragua signed treaty,
by which, rcscrvlng the night To prove the justice
OF their clam, they undertook not to modest Mos
quito IN her occupation Of the point IN question.
Indeed, the course pursued NY Lord Pamerston
In directing these proceedings was most oppor-
tune, and he has thereby rendered great and
essential service TO the best interests OF England
A government IN this counryjs more strengthened
In public estimation by such timely acts Of neces-
sary himness and prompt decision. than they can
be weakened by the most rabd and concentrated
attacks directed by the leaders of organised assem-
bies, animated by zeal tor passive endurance Of
wrong, in feeble dread OF the possible results Of
a vigorous and unilnching maintenance of UNI
doubted and important rights. No true statesmen
cen be regardless Of the future dangers and dh-
cuiies which are certain to spring from every con-
cesslon wrung from weak policy.
Thus, then, the matter stands. The Mig OF
Mosquito maintains hrs ancient rights and has,
besides, the fact In his favor. that whatever these
were, he fret, on the retirement OF SPAN and the
Reinsurance at his Independence, against which
that power plotted, occupied the port OF ST. John,
now known as Grey Tewn.' Further, that at the
time when the NIcsraguans sent to take the place,
and their expulsion, there was not a single ha-
btaiion belonging to or held by Nicaragusn citi-
zens, while the smaller settlement which existed
consisted Of English settlers and Mosquito In
dams In fact. we should never have heard n
word on the subject. had not the United States
recently acquired California and the Panama
route, through which they anticipate establishing
their polncal and commercial pre.emnence IN
the Pacific. The question, as put by themselves,
even in their official reports, IL plainly this-we
must have NO independent route between the At
tantc and Paclfc-we must sccere TO ourselves
the command Of every route, and establish prac
tical control over, and monopoly OF, the trade and
communications with the Pacific. and alone have
the right TO transport troops and munitions of war
across the Central American lsthmrs. Thus this
question becomes Of the utmost importance
NOT ~ Enolsud alOne- hui In all Enroo.sa