The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-04-05
The Common sense Solution or the Ceatral
American Question.


nuisance in Congress, under the denomina-
ton Of the 90 Central American Question"
Conventions have risen out Of it which nobo-
dy understands, aud discussions which nobody
reads. Ministers have been appointed in re-
ference to its settlement, each one worse THAI
the other, through every possible phase Of ig-
norance and folly. In short its whole history
has been one of hesitation when action was
necessary and might have been useful, Of spas
modic vehemence when caution and prudence
were requisite, and of o final serious, if not
dangerous complication when complete ad-
justnent was simple and easy. Let US now
bring little common sense to the rescue, aud
the world will see how much the whole m after
has been my atifed and involved by that rem
nant of medieval charlatanry called diploma
cy, and by the incapacity Of men whom party
machinery has raised from congenial obscuri-
ty TO the dangerous emineuce of power.
The Central American Question" comprises
three points only entitled to serious conside-
ration -
lst--Bri;isb pretensioas en- the Mosquito
thcre.
2d-British assumption Of sovereignty in Be-
lize and
3d-The occupation aud colonization of the
Bay Islands.
Now, as regards the Mosquito shore, without
going into the question of the alleged protec-
torate, we all know that the oaly real motive
which Great Britain had in reviviug aud Civ
ing force TO Der pretensons there, was to 90
tan possession or control of the port of San
Juan del Norte, which it had been erroneous
ly supposed wac the key to the line of com
munication between the seas. But when Pal
meIston tailed to obtain possession Of the cor
responding position on the other side Of the
continent, and when the influx of Americans
had converted San Juan into de facto American
town, then British interest in the Mosquito E'oy
began rapidly to declne--to such an exte
indeed, that we know Mr.. Champion had agreed
to the terms Of convention with Nicaragua,
BY which the authority Of that State was to he
again extended over the coast, and the So
called King was to retire on pension. fthis
arrangement was not carried out, it was b
cause Of the occurrence OF well KIN own even {
which need not be recapitulatad. Hence IL
follows that no real difficulties lie in the ,
of the adjustment Of the Mosquito issue, in the
Central American complication. Let Nicara
qua give George William Clarence" ten dol
lars month, and make San Juan free port,
and that question will be permanently dispo 4
of to the satisfaction Of everybody.
Next, as regards Belize: There is no dou ",
apart from all mere technical question: If
tight, that the British establishment there has
been benefit to the world. 1t has introduced
industry and relative civilization on a coast
which, if left to Spanish influences alone,
would still have remained in state of savage
nature-the congenial retreat Of tapirs and a.
ligators. No one on this side Of the Atlantic
would seek to disturb, much less to revere,
this state Of things, SO favorable to commerce.
and generally so beneficial to Central A neri-
ca itself. 1t is true, wide aud unwarranted
preteDsions to adjacent territory have been s.
up by the Governors of Belize. Were these to
be relinquished. as they should be, no OBJ
lection could nationally be offered to the per-
manent occupation of Belize by the people Ct
Great Britain
We CuMc uOW w enC Icnl, suUsthutldi - ic
in the whole controversy, viz:-the occupation
and colonization Of the Bay Islands. Ia the
fret place, il is demonstrsble, and it has been
clearly demonstrated, that Great Britain |
no shadow Of a right there The act OF
colonization took place two years after
she had solemnly pledged herself not
"to occupy nor TO colonize any portion OF
Central America Furthermore, as the nation
which possess vital interest in having the
lstbmus highway between her Atlantic and Pa
oifc possessions free from the domination Of
any great maritime Power, the United States has
the right to insist that Great Britain shall not
make use Of false pretensions, or even Of doubt
ful rights, to obtain commanding positions on
the line or en- the tanks Of that highway The
interest which the United States takes Ia this
matter Of the Bay Islands, results from the
paramount instincts Of national safety. She
has, too, an interest resulting from the terms of
the convention which she made with Great
Britain, in which the United States renounced
all purposes Of acquisition herself, In order to
keep the Central American Isthmus open TO
the world.
But still this issue is primarily and legit-