The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-12-15
The Present CONDITION or Central America
Possible Result sf the Walker RsvsIu-

ton.
Public attention il now especially directed
to the States known under the general name
OF Central America, and therefore we have
deemed it proper 10 give detailed state
meat, historical, geographical, financial, com
mercisl, military, mineraloeical, and so forth.
IL wEi be found in another part OF to-day's
paper, together with some statements gathered
by us from Col. Parker II. French, the newly
appointed Nicaragusn Minister, who has just
srrived en- route for Washington. We desire to
direct public attention to this carefully pre-
pared statement, and vt the same time offer a
word or two of comment upon the extraordi-
nary state Of things which is exposes.
Success, says Horne Tcoke, is the criterion
Of merit. This dying declaration of u great
man-who was never successful, and there
fore, in the worlds opinion, never meritorious
has passed into proverb. No words could
so nicely express the state OF public opinion
OF this metropolis, or the general feeling
throughout the country, in relation to the ex-
ploits of Mr.. William Walker and his coadju-
tors, who have lately overrun ans conquered
the territory belonging to the Republic of
Nicaragua, and who are now forming q scheme
to unite the whole Of Central America under
one strong government.
Only short time since, when Mr.. Walker
failed in his Qui1Okio adventure in Lower
California, he vss sligmatized as robber, a
marauder, filibuster, and called by various
other bard Names And now when he has,
like General Taylor at the battle of Buena
Vista, "met the enemy" in another place, and
succeeded in maintaining his position" we
find an almost entire change in the opinion of
the majority as to his character and position.
Lately, it was Walker the pirate; now, it is
his Excellency William Walker General and
Chief OF the Armies of Mica
ragHa, Military Dictator and Champion of
Free Government in Central America.
1t may be urged, with some truth, that Walker
the pirate at Cape ST. Lucas, and Walker the
General of the democratic army of Nicaragua,
are different persons, because in the latter ca
pacity the invaders simply joined democratic
party that was fighting for the supremacy, while
in the former he invaded country which was
at peace, and sought to conquer it for his own
personal use and behoof. 1t might be peril
neDt to ask if Mr. Walker only interfered
to give Nicaragua freer government,
why does he not, now that peace is
made and the government established lay
down his sceptre, resign his epaulettes, and
like another Cincinnatus, apply himself to the
cultivation Of the two hundred and forty acres
of land which the republic gives to every &C
tual settler within its territory? He prefers
the character of Romulus to that Of Cincin-
natus.
In fact, there is nothing green about Mr..
Walker. The bent of his mind is not agricul-
tural or horticultural. He reads the Had, not
the Georges. His subjects may daily with
gentle shepherdesses in sweet Etruscan wales;
hut be must rule as the dictator on the Capt.
oline Hid, even though it is but one step to
the Tarpeian rock.
That proposition disposed OF, it might be Gu
lious to speculate as TO the real motives Of
Walker and the democratic party.
BY glancing at the map it will be seen that
the territory called Central America includes
seven distinct nationalities, to wit:-Nicara-
qua, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Salvador, Hoa-
duras, Yucatan and Mosquito. At various
times during the past twenty years. attempts
have been made to make a permanent union
of these States but the man and the time
had not come. And the governments have
been disreputable and have neglected to pay
their debts, and they were fash governments
in the true sense Of the word. Finally, Kin
ney, with his followers, came to Greytown,
like Remus when he retired to Mount Aven-
tine to escape the pernicious Influences of ci-
vilization. And he safe in his pine plank pa
lace, and was hero.
Then his brother Romulus Walker the elder
scion of Mars, came down in the brig Vcsta,
and placed himself on the Palatine Hill, which
is Granada. He was a general, and retained
martial law ana drumhead courts after a peace
treaty had been signed. This amiable person
shot Gen. Corral, and was another hero.
Now, to carry out our smile, we are obliged
to quote Gibbon and President Pierce. The
shade of the great historian will consider thai
We apologize for the connection.
MT. fIeice says, IN his last message, That the
Greytow settlement was a camp Of savages.
Gibbon thinks that the early Romans, Latins,
Sabines, and so on, were very sad fellows, and
we all know that Rome was founded by host
OF very bad fellows-what would be called n
common parjauce, roughs. "Romulus gave
welcome TO every stranger, outoast or malef l
tor that aed thithtr." These men began 4
world all over again; and, hardened in the
school of misfortune, they were wise In cou !:
ell and terrible in the field From the seven
hills the .fasces Of the commonwealth and the
eagles OF the Republic were carried in triumph
over al Europe; and to be Roman citizen in
those days was great deal better than it is
low to be wrapped up in the star spaugled
banner. Some OF the material in Central Anne
RIGA is not mnch more moral than the origin Y
Roman, according to President Pierce--tne