Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-05-10
KANsAs-NICARAGUA ADmINIs-
TRATION.

4
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES ADMINS.
| TRATION.
vi all the governments with which a grea
people can be cursed, is that government tina
is not only afraid of the shadow of the enemy
but even affrighted at its own. We have 4
few plain, brief suggestions to put to oul
readers for their consideration, as it is not oul
purpose to-day to elaborate them. We address
particularly our southern friends, with some Of
whom we have felt sincere regret to differ
with respect to the nominee Of the Cincinnati
Convention, because upon all matters of prin-
ciple we SO fully agree with them.
We have been, as our enemies will not deny,
the enthusiastic advocate of the Kansas bill
from its inception to the present time. We
cannot, therefore, be suspected of receding in
the slightest degree from our often expressed
opinion of the indispensableness of Kansas to
the southern States, when we say that we con-
slider Nicaragua and the interests involved in
the fearful conflict going on between that bril-
liant and brave but outraged government, and
the half savage Costa Ricans, as of equal con-
sequence to the South. OF the course of the
Administration upon the Kansas question, of
the unnatural policy pursued in its organiza
ton, Of the tagging and hang-6re policy pur-
sued towards Governor Reeder, and the many
other blunders connected with this great ques-
ton, we have said so much that they are quite
familiar to our readers. Suffice it to say in
this connection, that whether Kansas comes
in as slave State or not, is at least very pro-
blematical. If she does not, the most fearful
consequences may ensue, and those conse-
quences viii be justly laid at the door of
Franklin Pierce. If she does, it will be des-
pite all the obstacles that he has thrown in the
way, and despite all the fearful blunders of his
ever laundering Administration.
And now, as if such blow were not sufi-
cient at the institutions of the South, he directs
with not less unnerring aim, an equally fatal
policy towards Nicaragua, in whose destiny
the whole country, and the South in particu-
lar, are SO deeply interested.
In the first place, Nicaragua is an estab-
lished governmental de tacto government
which our government for its own stupid
reasons, has refused to recognize. 1t has been
the practice of our government hitherto to re-
cognize every government that presented it.
self with sufficient evidences of its de facto
existence. But the Nicaraguan government
is government de jurie as well as de facto
Its stability was not nearly as questionable as
the government of Mexico. Indeed, if we had
it, and thus given it, as we should
have done, by every consideration of interna-
tional comfy as well as common humanity,
The prestige, and encouragement and counte-
nance, it would now have been as firmly seated
rs our own. But how is it now2 There is
not an American there who is not impressed
with the idea of the hostility of our govern
is not one who does not consider
himself as being hunted down like wolf by
is not nation who does not see this,
and of course such q fact is calculated to dis
courage and dispirit them. On the other hand,
the Costa Ricans see the government of the
United States on this side Withholding their
and recognition of the Walker.
Rivas government, and they are encouraged
and regard us as allies, while on the other
hand the British government is affording those
aid than our own, of arms, ammunition, and
perhaps men. And who are these Nicara-
guans who deserve such brutality at our hands?
But little while ago AMERICAN CITIZENS
Ay, it is the throats of American citizens that
are to be cut, and whom our government has
done everything to repulse and Cypress. Are
the people of the South prepared to justify the
course of the PierceMarcy Administration in
this matter? Are our own citizens 10 run the
risk Of their lives and their treasure between
our Pacific possessions and our own2 The
Panama difficulty would never have occurred
but for this policy of our government in this
Nicaraguan question. Panama must be in
friendly hands. Nicaragua must be protected
for the sake Of the South and southern insti-
tutions. The South must not lose it by the
Of British Abolitionists. The
Monroe doctrine, that doctrine alike Just and
essential to the great American mission, must
be preserved intact
But here are old fogy Marcy and the eager
and insane candidate at Cincinnati not con-
tent with their first fearful and universally con-
demned blunder of recognition, but in
crease that blunder by a more dangerous and
perhaps fatal delay in receiving the second
minister from Nicaragua.
What viii be the position Of the govern
ment, if the next steamer brings us the sad
tidings Of the overthrow of the Democrats
Or what, on the other hand, will be its pitiful
condition il the arms of Walker and his gal
liant army are triumphant? In the first case,
they will deserve and receive the universal
condemnation of our own indignant people |;
in the latter, the contempt from every quarter
of being such stupid and imbecile asses. We
shall have occasion again to refer to this sub
loot