The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1856-02-29
OBJ qailp gournal.
SPIRIT oF The ENGLiSd JOURNALS ON
AMERlIAN AFFAIRS.
Another War Blast nom the Thunderer The
,,Ulited States to be AnnihiateG if it uoes not
3 have Better VIII the Americans ArbitTate
or Not!
[F.on the 1imes,3 !

| | F.O
The Means IA Pac EicaEion Exhausted
! We have two questions still to settle will
the United States-tirst, the arrangement o
the alta rs of Central America; and, secondly
the termination of the dispute which has arisel
out of our ill-deviSed attempt at enlistment il
Canada. We sincerely wish that we could
Sc some more decided effort on our part to-
wards the solution of the first of these ques-
tons, and little more good sense and mode
ration on the part Of the American Govern
ment in the consideration of the second. We
offer no opinion as 10 the construction of the
treaty under which the first dispute has ari-
sen, although we think in SO simple matter
we have every right to complain chat the mu-
ituai understanding, whatever it was, has not
been embodied in and lntelhgibe Ian
lguage. Our present object, however, is not to
grumb!e over the past, but to suggest remedies
ior the future.
For what useful or honorable purpose do
we keep open this contemplate quarrel about
the island of fRuatan and our rights of protect
ling that polished AMI cvi e community the
kingdom of Mosquito? When the quarrel
arose our policy was obvious enough. 1t was
not the love of mosquitoes nor an abstract de-
Hight in the pestiferous lsthmus of Darien, nor
all opinion that the, possession Of Ruatan ad-
Ided any perceptib ] IStre of the Queen OF
! Great Britain and Canada, of India and Aus
tralia, thaG made us seek so earnestly to retain
some hold on those miserable regions. 1t was,
we believe simply and solely because it was
thought they would be the seat of the canal
destined to unite the Atlantic with the Pacific
and to confer a lasting dominion on the Power
lin whose hands this key of two oceans should
Ib, placed. Bus when we had obtained from
America an understanding not , to colonize Or
(ctupy these counti S, and Were thus secured
from the only rivalry likely, in this respect to
be really formidable, our possessions became
valuelesS, our rights not worth the breath
which their assertion cost us, and our claims
mere worn out properties, which true wisdom
would have thrown aside and thought of no
more.
Nor while we thus reprobate the conduct
of our own statesmen, do we see any reason
to speak more highly of that oftNe statesmen
of America Ii it be ridiculous in us to cling
to the worthless inheritance, is it not equally
absurd in them to expsnd their diplomacy and
their casuistry i'll attempting to eject US from
it? If we protect no more the King of Mos
quito and swelTer no more under the sun of
,Ruatan, what will they have gained or what
shall we have lost? Nothing that we know
Ol, except the SIdliIcdllOn OI lEe VANITY OF the
one and of the obstinacy of the other 1t
seems impossible that such difference can
really present any serious difficulty. Asto
the point of honor which is said to be engaged
in the quarrel, if honor there be in.adhering to
what we do not want, because Somebody else
who wants it as little as we do is seeking to
disposseSs US, could not the wound of our hon
or be sufficiently salIe by ewing the matter
to the arbitration of the Emperor OF the French,
the King Of Belgium, or some other discreet
potentate?
Certainly, whatever other cause of quarrel
we may htv or this at least it would not on
ly be AZ lnlg ". but an absurdity, to break off
our friend y relations with America. With re-
gard to the quarrel about the enlistment The
case is very different. The English Govern
ment, it seems, committed an error in Sc ehing
to enlist soldiers on the American conti It.
That error was perceived, promptly retracted,
and candidly acknowledged, 1t does not suit
the electione ering purposes of the Americ
President and his Cabinet TO be content win
this ample satisfaction. They seek to push the
quarrel further, and they can do SO if they will.
The nation must decide whether or not it VII
adopt and ratify such a course. On or side
tie means Of paqjGoatioa seem toJe exhausted, a
q0e 1oait 0jttoM fear, as l1itsot enace aoltateUcr
it may please the GoUernment Of tie United States
to do, resolved, we trust to respect the rights
of Others but equally resolved to maintain our
own dignity and support our own honor.