The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-05-23


ways frm on great questions for twsnty-four
hours.
interesting fren Havana-FoReigM Inter-
Hieadling IN Central America.
It viii be found, on referring to another
column, that q rumor is prevalent in Havana
to the effect that the Spaniards are about to
send large body of troops, under q general
officer, to the aid of the Costa Ricana It il
said that four thousand men are to be des-
patched at en- early date, and that whise
abroad they are to make . demonstration
against the karbor of Vera Cruz and the port
OF San Juan d'Ulloa, in order to enforce pay
inert OF some Spanish claims Of old date. In
support of this information all witnesses con-
cur in stating that the arsenals, dockyards and
barracks of Havana present q scene of un-
lsual activity.
Nor would there be anything unnatural in
Gxatemalan States are the entrenchments OF
Cuba; her fall cannot be far distant from
theirs. The contest now pending in Central
America is precisely that contest Of race from
which Cuba has so much to fear, and the very
apprehensicns of which have caused her to
and works Of defence. If Walker aud bis
Anglo-Saxops overspread the Isthmus, aud
replace the decayed Institutions Of the Spanish
colonies by others, borrowed from those Of
this eenfederacy, and full of life, vigor and
sap, the corresponding relics of Spanish feu-
dalism in Cuba will exist by very precarious
tenure. To endeavox to check Walker, there
fore, is merely an act of common prudence on
the part OF Spain-the sgt Of the general who
does not wait till his enemy reaches the battle
field, but attacks him at the very outset Of his
march, and tue furthest outskirts Of the place
attacked.
Al the same time, however natural it may
be in Spain to want to sustain Spanish decrepi-
tude in Central America, as an outwork of
Cuban decrepitude, the people of this country
will not view their interference with the less
jealousy. General Walker may be all that
his enemies say he is, still he promises to
establish law, order and good government in
the country through which we must pass in
order to reach cur Pacific States; aud we CAN
not be Indifferent to his fate. 1t is not the
opinion Of those best qualified to judge that
the consolidation OF his authority ID Central
America would-in our time, at least--be the
means Of adding territory to the republic
and therefore whatever sympathy he has in
spired is due, in part, to his American blood,
but much more to the solid prospect the public
see Of his restoring peace and order and enter
prise and prosperity to country which is one
OF the fairest on the face of the globe, and
through which it is vital for us to enjoy free,
undisturbed, safe right of way. But this last
consideration Is nlomentous enough to pur-
chase for Walker very material degree of
support here and it would, Of course, in the
same manner excite very strong feeling
against Spain if that Power took any overt
steps to prevent his accomplishing the end
for which he receives credit.
We find in the Paris Constitutional . long
article on Costa Rican affairs, in which .
strong feeling of satisfaction is expressed at
the rumored defeat Of Walker by the Costa
Ricana, and hopes are uttered that the "fli-
busters may be expelled from Central Ame.
RIGA. Considering the average Information
possessed by the French press on American az
faire, this effuson would hardly have been
worth notice but for the rank held by the jour
nal in which it appears, as the Napoleonic or
gan, and the private mouthpiece Of the Empe-
ror. This station entities it to warning: not
such warning as in Paris is the usual cost Of
tree speech, but warning lest by indiscreet
intermeddling the friendly relations of the
United States with France should unhappily
be disturbed. Frenchmen should try to ascer-
tain what the consequences of Walkers success
will be, as we'll as what foolish acts he may
bave committed. They should seek more facts
about him, and less scandal They should try
to forget for moment the glorious old priE-
ciple of European politics-that the first duty
Of nation is to iDjure her neighbxs; and de-
vote some thought to an inquiry whether tas
progress Of one nation necessarily hurts others
whether, tor instance, France has been
loser by the growth Of the United States. For
unless it can clearly be proved that it has, the
French would have no business to complaio
even though it were true, as they seem
TO think, that Walker was an agent OF
this republic, employed to bring about
the annexation of Costa RIGA; and they
would figure as suicides If they tried to
impede him. In fact, Walker has no more to do
with the United States than he has with France;
he is hired servant Of Nicaragua, much as
General Bonaparte was Of France sixty years
ago; and We in this country who see these
things msre clearly, and watch them more
closely than it is possible to do In Europe,
infer from all his past history and general
prospects, that unless he is crushed by TO
reign war, he will prove the first founder of
commercial enterprise, political freedom, and
uniform honest laws in Central America. That
we regard as contamination TO be wished:
would the Constitutional be good en- ugh, II it
thinks differently, to speak out plainly aud
~ &c.