The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-01-26

to encourage one another in preserving and pro-
noting peace at home and abroad. Third-Ni-
caragua is free, sovereign, Independent State,
and as such has an undoubted right to regu-
late all its affairs, internal and external, and to
employ such servants as it chooses It may
change its government every month, and send
a new Minister every week if it thinks fit;
and if our government desires to maintain
amicable relations, itmust receive these agents,
or else withdraw it's own Minister and Consuls,
and leave our commerce to the mercy Of an
insulted people.
In this connection we might inquire what Mr..
Wheeler is doing at Granada? Ia there gov
eminent in Nicaragua, at all If 50, is it not
headed by Rivas? Are our diplomatic rela-
lions suspended? Does our Minister commu.
nicate officially with the Rivas government?
If he does is it not recognition, for all prac-
teal purposes, by the United States through
its agent? If the Rivas administration is not
the government of Nicaragua, why was not
Mr.. Wheeler recalled? And If Mr. Wheeler is
not recalled, then he is excused, and then Mr..
French should be received.
1t has been urged by some foolish persons
that Mr.. Marcy, the essence of political purity,
declines to receive Mr.. French on personal
grounds. We thought that the principle Of
law in this matter was too widely known to be
misunderstood. Mr.. French is Invested entire
ly of his individuality. He is here as the
Nicaraguan government, and, fguratively, he
is portion of that country, sojourning here for
the transaction of its business. For all that
appertains to him personally in the matter, his
name might as we'll be John Smith as Parker
II. French. 1t was reserved for the genius of a
Marcy to set aside this immutable principle OF
international law
1t may be urged that the government Of
Nicaragua has not been sufficient length OF
time in existence to be firmly established. This
we have shown, in the case of Mexico, to be an
invalid objection. Mr.. Marcy, however, may
be of the school of an old casuist who thought
government could not be considered estab-
lisbed until it had existed hundred years
By the same rule, our government is only an
experiment, and it is certain that no time can
be fixed. The circumstances in Nicaragua are
apparently more favorable to the permanency
of the present government than they were in
the United States when we were recognized
by France.
There is still another reason why the Mica
raguan government should be recognized; and
it is very important one. Our commercial
interests there are daily becoming more extern
sive. Across the territory of that State com
pany of North American citizens are carrying
thousands Of passengers and millions Of trea-
sure. Hundreds Of North American merchants
have their shops in it's cities, and the sails of
North American ships whiten it's harbors
on two oceans. Diplomatic intercourse will
facilitate these persons in their business ar
engagements; and while we lend to weak re-
public a helping hand, we are assisting our
own citizens and opening new fields for the en-
terprise of our traders.
With all these facts pressed home to them,
who can wonder that the people of the United
States call loudly for the recognition Of the
Nicaraguan government? Who is not sur
prised at the stupidity of the administration
if that can possibly be matter of surprise at
this late day--which shuts its ears to this call
and closes its eyes to the precedents on file in
its own archives? The case of Nicaragua is a
climax to the stupid and laundering diplo-
macy Of our Premier, and confirms US in cur
opinion, that though he may have been a fair
village politician, he is utterly incapable of
managing the foreign affairs of the nation. If
the administration fears to do al act of justice
and courtesy because it may be misunderstood
abroad, it is time that the people should be
made acquainted with the fact We can ex-
cuse anything but cowardice and imbecility.
Mr.. Marcy's assigned reasons for the rejection
Of Colonel French are not Of the slightest
validity. II he has any others, let US hear
them.