The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-09-16


of the State by Thwlow Weed and his batch Of
big and little villains.
RESTITUTION OF THE BAY ISLANDS TO HONDURAS
Our RELATIONS WITH ENGIAND.-In another
column will be found copy, in full, of the con-
vention which has just been concluded between
Great Britain and Honduras for the restoration
to the latter of the Bay Islands The terms Of
this instrument are as comprehensive and salts
factory as any friend of Honduras or advocate
Of the Monroe doctrine can desire. The first
article, after setting forth as the motive of this
arrangement the desire of the contracting Powers
to secure the neutrality of the islands in refer
ence to any railroad or other line of inter oceanic
communication which may be constructed across
islands Of Roatan, Bonacca, Helena, Utila and
Barbaretta free territory under the sovereign
ty OF Honduras. All functions hitherto exercised
by the crown of Great Britain are to cease after
the proclamation of this convention, which is to
take place as soon as possible after the exchange
of notifications. The privileges guaranteed to
the inhabitants Of the islands by the convention
leave nothing to be desired. They are to enjoy
the right of self government, trial by jury, the
most perfect freedom of religious belief and wor-
ship, exemption from all taxation except such as
is imposed for the benefit Of their own terri
tory, and exemption from military service except
for the defence of the free territory, and within
its limits Honduras also binds herself not to
erect nor permit to be erected, any Notifications
on the islands, nor to cede them or the right of
sovereignty over them, to any other Power.
We know no arrangement of this difficult
question which would be likely to give such gene
raj and permanent satisfaction to all the interests
concerned as that which has been thus happily
concluded. BY it England gets rid of unprofta-
BILE dependencies, which endangered her relations
with this country, and at the same time secures
free transit across the isthmus for her Pacific
trade. 1t removes from our own shoulders the
onus Of dangerous quarrel, into which the en-
foTcement of our views in regard to these islands
must have inevitably led us. 1t also secures to
the same commercial advantages which England
and France will derive from line of communca-
ton placed beyond the dangers arising from the
jealousy or vindictiveness of foreign Powers. To
Honduras the benefits are still greater. Not only
is the integrity Of her territory restored but her
existence as an independent State is virtually
guaranteed by this instrument. OF the develope-
ment which this proposed line will give to her agri
cultural and mineral resources it is unnecessary
for us to say more than that the prospect which
it holds out has led to the formation Of the
strongest and wealthiest commercial combination
in connection with it that has ever inaugurated
any similar enterprise.
1t will be seen from the letter of our London
correspondent that a prga has been signed by
Lord Clarendon and Mr.. Dallas, constituting San
Juan free port and placing it under the sove-
rcignty Of Nicaragua. 1t is probable that as a
preliminary to the completion of this measure,
Great Britain will recognise the government of
General Walker. There is no doubt that this
step would have already been taken had not the
detection of Riyas, and the stand Of opposition
made by him at Leon rendered q temporary
delay advisable. Necessity, however, now die
tates an immediate selection between the two
rival Presidents, and there is no doubt that the
choice will devolye on the man whose courage
and firmness Of purpose hold out the greatest
promise Of stability for the new order of things.
1t is worthy Of remark that the three
great issues which make up what is
called the Central American question
the restitution Of the Bay Islands the
abandonment of the Mosquito protectorate, and
the remuneration Of San Juan in favor Of Nicara-
gua--might have been much sooner arranged but
for the culpable procrastination Of our govern
ment. In the desire to coerce Lord Palmerston
to send out another Minister in place Of Mr..
Champion, Mr. Dallas was left without powers
to conclude anything. 1t was believed that in
the alarm created in the English Cabinet by the
Spanish policy Of the French Emperor, almost
any concession might be obtained from 1t. We
do not know whether most to admire the gene
rosity OF this calculation or the disregard which
1t evinces Of the anxiety existing here on the
Central American question. To secure the tr-
umph Of ptiful vanity in the Champion affair,
we have been kept in suspense on this important
matter for weeks after it might have been salts
factorily settled. II is this system Of balancing
personal against public interests and OF disrc-
III tht Nohuussoi pupht Hhaicf
which has brought the present administration
into so much discredit. 1t is fortunate for il
that the necessities and interests Of the govern
ment with which 1t has to deal incapacitate them
from taking advantage of the errors into which
IL so frequently betrays them.
THE NAME ELEcTIoS-SyALL CRUMBS OF Gov
ISOLATION AccErTABIE-The Buchanan organs
are consoling themselves with the discovery that
their late aggregate vote in Maine is almost a.
large as any vote which the democracy have
heretofore cast in the State but what puzzles
them is where the tremendously increased vote
on the other side comes from. That is puzzler
that's fact but the mystery may be solved
If our democratic politicians, during the last year
or 50, had paid less attention to their rowdy
= a.