The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-03-25


# that extraordin' AIRY nation, and the little
State Of Costa lea. Close upon that came
he seizure of the left bank of the Renian
liver in Hondu fas and the organization of the
Islands belong ing to that State as a British CO.
lony. The government Of Nicaragua, to be cut
up by Me ssrs Champion and Webster was
bullied al id insulted, and her minister in the
United S Gates, for steadfastly opposing the same
project, was dismissed in disgrace.
As IN inevitable result not only were the LII
bera' Is and the friends of union and of our coun-
try disheartened, but many of them, believing
II ley had been betrayed, became converted into
open opponents. The name of America in Nj
caragua, which had been an open sesame every
where, from the house of the rich proprietor to
the hut of the poorest Indian, actually passed
into term of reproach Our influence became
wholly lost.
In the other States the feeling Of disappoint-
ment and the reaction, if not SO obvious, were
vertheless as effective. The Constituent AS
sembly, sharing the popular sentiment, discou-
ragged, adjourned, and only met again after a
long interval to find the fire of nationality
pondent, while the services and factionists
were exultant and gathering strength. 1t
nevertheless endeavored to proceed with its
duties But in the month Of June of last
year, the Governor of San Salvador for
mally recalled its delegates, disav owed the
pact, and resumed its national attributes The
predominating causes of this step have already
been indicated. But there was another more
direct. By some ill-fortune, man who had
been priest and friar, Duenas by name, had
reached the post of Chief of San Salvador
True to his instincts he abandoned those who
had raised him to power, and fraternized with
the priests and aristocrats of Guatemala and
the dictator of that so-called republic, who
promised to aid him in resisting the other
States, in case they should consider themselves
bound to sustain the pact by force Of arms.
The bad example thus set was soon after fol-
lowed by Nicaragua, so that Honduras was left
alone in her adhesion to the principle of nation
atty. Since then she has been exposed to the
constant assaults, open and covert, of the reac-
tionary party, who, as we have said, have their
stronghold in Guatemala, the seat of the old
vice-regal court. The hostilities now waging
upon Honduras by Guatemala are directed to
the avowed object of driving from power the
leaders Of the liberal party, who are at the
head Of affairs in that State. Her government
have openly declared that they will entertain
no negotiations for peace until the personnel
and policy Of the government of Honduras are
changed-in other Words until Honduras aban-
dons her independence and falls into the reac-
tionary movement, the tendencies and objects
of which we have heretofore explained
Such is the present condition of affairs in
Central America. A reactionary anti-demo-
cratic and anti-republican administration
exists in every State except Honduras. And
Americans may well blush to reflect how much
the responsibility of this state of things rests
upon the past conduct and policy of the United
States. Had that been manly and consistent,
as it should have been, not only would American
influence have been preserved, but the peace
and ultimate prosperity of the greater part, if
not the whole, Of Central America, would have
been secured. 1t will require long and serious
effort to regain the ground which has been lost,
and much will depend upon the zeal, activity
and perseverance of our representatives there.
Meantime, it is the obvious policy of the
United States not less than her duty, to see
that the State of Honduras shall not suffer from
her attachment to our country and it's insttu-
tions and her devotion to republican princi-
Piles.