New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-05-21
NICARAGUA.
The Isthmus OF Nicaragus-Road 20 the Pa
eiao-EngIish Influence Ia Central ATner-
ea-squIer's Trsaty-Growl1g Unpopular
ity Of the Americans.

CANADA Dr. kICARAGrA, Aprli =, 1911.
NEssRs. EDITORS: Since | wrote 70 you last,
have visited the Departamiento del Sisr or South
ern Department Of this State, which IS contiguous
to Costa Rica. To this part the name OF Nicaragua
vas originally applied exclusively. Aiier"ard
il was adopted for the whole State bat here,
even now. in the popular speech, Nicaragua means
the Southern department. city OF this name,
though marked on the maps, does not exist Ane
name Of the chief place CT the Department, town
of about 10000 inhabitants, is RiDas. 1t "a STU
sted at q distance Of about 80 miles from Granada
and two or three miles from the shore OF the LAKE.
The country around ia perhaps the rcneSt ana
hest cultivated in the whole State. Il appears,
indAed. ike an immense and beautiful garden Ii
ia covered with all kinds Of plantations and frult
trees. and embellished with all TIE natural beau
ties of this part of the world. The character OF
the country changes, however, sssoon as youleave
the neshborhood Of the city and the villages sur
roundipgit A few hsciendss-lArge cattle farms
are scattered at great distances over the 18th
mus and the shores Of the Pacific, IN this quarter,
are formed by wooded hills without any naolsA-
tions. ,.r.
directions The eastern side, commencing at the
,bore Of the Lake, is partly formed oy plsn
which rises very little above its level and 10 near
" impossible IN the rainy season. Inc western
side is rich but wild, billy country, when re-
minded ms greatly OF European scenery the vese-
tation ss seen from distance, appearing entltely
of the character Of the temperate zone.
In one OF my journeys | crossed the lsthmus Dy
the ne " road constructed blythe American Attain
tic and Pacific Ship Canal Company, and generally
called the transit road. At present, this is
ant hair mn "a.
rior 10 the old road from Rivss to the Bay OF San
JuAn del Sur, San Juan de Ia Concordia, as 1t is
more generally called hefe) where the new one,
too has its western terminus. This latter partly
leads over the plain, already mentioned, covered
with wood bushes, jungles OF bamboo, saysnnas
and dreary swamps, now perfectly dry, but danger
Gus and even impossible during the rainy season,
and partly over the hills, wnere many q little
mountain stream, many aravine and many aateep
and narrow place 10 10 be passed. The whole dis.
Sepce between Virgin Bay bahia de H. Nugenl
Oh the Lake SIDE, and san Juan del Sur vi the "a
ciic side is y miles Through this whole length
the clearing OF the underwood and jungle 10 the
only improvement which has been made. L do
not doubt the further proceedings OF the Company
will be creditable 10 American character and en-
terprise At present, however the Impressions
of the inhabitants OF the country as well as OF foE-
eien settlers-Americsn as well as EuropeAn-Is
rather unfavorable. This circumstance, together
with the DAO impression WHICH uhb Dccu ucuC AZ
the country by the non ratification OF the Nlcara-
guam Treaty makes the situation OF foreigners
who wish to settle here, either for the purpose OF
farming or of doing business, at this moment very
precsroUs.
A. the time of the Centre American confedera'
ton, the settling of foreigners was very much ia
yored by legislation and by the Federal Govern
eminent When the confederation fell to pieces,
each of the five independent States into which it
divided followed its own course in this respect.
In Nicaragua, the hand of the English Govern
ment, which protects the interests of English cit
liens in the remotest corners OF the world, was
several times heavily felt. Foreigners began to
be feared here, and law was passed making
the acquisition Of real estate in this country de-
pendent on naturalization. 1t wss a matter OF
selfdefense in the eyes of the Nicaraguang, and
il has been considered as such up 80 this day
by the politicians of the country. l had dis
pute about this matter with one of the most
prominent men Of the State. Yet it is very easy
TO show that there has been a great " error In
cAlcuo' The right OF an English citizen &C.
CURED by births not lost by DECENTRALIZATION IN
q foreign country, or, to use another expression
which amounts TO the same thing, may be re-
gained at any time, so that the British Govern
ment will never be in need of pretext for inter
fering even in the case where an Epglishman
whose interests appear to be endangered, should
have forsworn his allegiance to Great Britain
English politics are NOT very fond OF theoretical
consequence. A principle which would never be
put in action by England against powerful ma
tiop, such as the United States, will be urged
against a feeble State like Nicaragua, as soon as
il may appear convenient-and 1t really has been
done so.
Americans, on the other hand, will not be much
inclined to exchange the citizenship OF the nited
States for that of State 90 weak, so lar behind
in civilization and Of 90 little solidity of existence
as this. Germans, Italians, and other European
nations OF similar political character, cannot ex'
pect the protection Of their respective home Gov
ernments. This could be expected only from
France, and even from that country not TO any
great extent. Thus It must appear quite obvious
that naturalization scarcely changes the position
OF a Government like the NicaraguRn IN respect
10 foreign settlers. And indeed the abolition of
| the law | mentioned was about to take place st
| this session of the Legislature. The molten was
prepared to be brought in, and some Of the most
influential men Of she State assured me thattheEe
was no doubt OF its being passed AS soon, how
| ever as the information reached here that the
treaty negotiated by Mr.. SQuier had been rejected
at Washington, the motion was retained. The
feeling against the Americans has been greatly
changed by this fact. In travelling through diff
ferent parts Of the country, had good oPportu-
nifty of making this observation. As soon as the
natives were informed that was not an Amer
icsno was obliged to hear expressions which
il would be improper TO repeat here.
There is no doubt that this state Of things is
highly Injurious 20 the interests Of the nited
States. II it continues for Length Of time, it
will throw even Nicaragua into the arms OF Eng
land in connection with Gustemaa, Costa Rics
and the famous kingdom OF Mosquito. San Sal
vador and Honduras would soon meet the same
fate. The States of Central America want the
influence and protection Of most powerful ally
Without il they will even prove unable to resu
late their own internal matters in satisfactory
manner. and fear the greater number OF foreign
ers settling or about to settle here, even If they
be good republicans in principle, will give prefer
ence to the Predominance Of English influence, in
comparison with the present state Of things which
| is unsettled and uncertain in 90 many respects.
! As TO American commerce and navigation, it
must be observed that until now English enter.
| prise has been entirely predominant here. On
one side the importation Of English goods is car
\ Rad on bv Uav of iemRicR uhenca the easte-n