The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-09-05

Moses and the Prop cts f; vsinly they stig-
matized the p rle Of San Juan as "pirates,
piggers and Enelishmen;" and vainly they
sought to deny the authority Of municipal.
government which the United 3. ,.,es had not
only recognized, ont directed its officers to
support The facts OF the case came for
ward too rapidly to permit these false
hoods and misrepresentation to produce
even a temporary effect. The destruction Of
San Juan came to be regarded, at once, and
with unanimity as remarkable as decisive,
as a cowardly outrage, disgraceful to the coun-
try and the age. It's wickedness was only
equalled by its stupidity, for 1t turns out after
all that it was chiefly American property
which went to make the Hollins bonfire. And
by way Of grand climax, the instrument--we
hope an unwilling one-in this marvellous feat
Of arms, is finally marched through the streets
of New York, in charge of the police, under ar
rest for destroying the houses and goods of his
countrymen!
From the humiliation and disgrace of the ma
tional verdict, the caution of England affords
the administration . timely relief. The
destruction of San Juan is no longer
justified as Precipitation to Borlands
outraged nose. It is invested with higher
dignity; and had, it seems, grander object,
even, than that. 1t was measure determined
on to bring oil foreign, and especially
British, pretensions in Central America to an
issue. It was measure conceived in wisdom
and secrecy by this great and patriotic admin
istration, for the sole and only purpose of vim.
dicating the Monroe doctrine-that grand and
glorious principle which the fathers of the re-
public enunciated, which every administration
has avowed, but which it has been left for
Pierce to inaugurate in brilliant and impress
sive manner! Such is the coloring which the
government now seeks to give to an act of
egregious folly and wickedness; and hence the
simultaneous outbreak Of the government or
gans on the Central American question.
Upon its face the dodge we can scarce
ly dignity it with the dtle of "move"-seems
not impolitic. But it is question how far it
will prove successful. If the government of
this country really wishes to settle what is
called the Central American question, q fair
and favorable opportunity is now offered. A
modicum of intelligence and foresight, and
a reasonable amount of frmness, are all
that is necessary. Let the outrage at San
Juan be promptly and fully repaired to
the extent of q just indemnity to the suf-
ferers there of all nations. This must be done
sooner or later, and should be done with good
grace. It is neither manly nor reputable to
talk longer about the insult to Borland
the absurd claims Of the Nicaragua Transit
Company, or any other of the ridiculous pre-
fences got up as justification for the destruc-
ton of San Juan. The world knows their utter
fallacy, and their reiteration can only disgust
without convincing.
Thus much accomplished, the government of
the United States can consistently and Justly
require the adjustment of every question now
in dispute in Central America. The af-
fair Of San Juan was, in one sense, def
ance Of the alleged British protectorate,
and offers . direct issue upon which to
test it's validity, not only as concerns the
single port of San Juan, but of the entire Nos
quito shore. 1t brings up, also, the Clayton
and Bulwer treaty, and the question whether
that wonderful document terminates British
pretensions, as Clay ton asserts, or confirms
them, as Clarendon as stoutly maintains
The position of the HERALD upon all these
questions is we'll known. We regard the al
legged British protectorate on the Mosquito
shore as fraud in itself, and gross outrage
upon the sovereign rights of Nicaragua and
Honduras, which it is the province and duty of
the United States, as the "head of the great
American family" to see redressed at every
hazard. 1t involves principles which cannot
be admitted without danger nor with
out the grossest qualification of our avowed
and true policy. Without discussing the ques-
ton whether the Clayton and Bulwer treaty
| recognises or ab0lishes the assumed protecto-
rate, we require the abandonment of that pro-
tectorate on the high grounds of justice to Gen.
trail America, and safety to ourselves. We
were the first to arouse the slumbering sense of
the country to the unwarranted seizure of the
islands in the Bay of Honduras belonging to
Honduras, and to their organization as colony,
in gross violation Of the Clayton and Bulwer
treaty, as we'll as of every principle Of right
and of international law. We believe, aud have
always maintained, that the English establish
ment at Belize is usurpation of territory, in
disregard Of solemn treaties, and equally vio-
lative Of the spirit and letter Of the Clayton
and Bulwer convention. We are, therefore,
willing to accept the new-light zeal Of
the administration organs on the same
truly American and national side Of all these
questions. We only regret that this zeal is not
manifested under less suspicious circumstances.
But whatever the motives of the administration,
we hope that it will not sneak away, cur-like,
from the issue which it now presents, at the
first stern growl of the British lion. We are