Washington sentinel., 1856-05-17


if you please, gentlemen-one fair in particu
lar
From the New York Irish News.
General walker.
A strong feeling has, for many weeks past
prevailed here in favor of this brave soldier o.
republicanism Heretofore, somewhat subdueG
in its expression, the Executive and Congress
were allowed full leisure to take the initiative
which the interests Of America, and the grea,
principles underlying its Constitution, sug
gested. Wearied Of delay, impatient of the
restraints thrown in the way of their generous
action, fearful of fresh difficulties thickening
round their countrymen in Nicaragua, the citi-
zens of New York have broken through their
silence.
The meeting at the National Hall, last week,
attests the sympathy of the mass of the people
for the Democratic army Of Granada. The
Red Ribbon was displayed. The flag of the
Five Volcanoes, unfurled above the chair, re-
ceved the enthusiastic recognition of men OF
all parties. The speeches were hearty and in
structive. In their conclusions they were not
only inspiring, but practical. Not cheers, not
resolutions, not men even, but arms aud
money-the snews of war-do the Democrats
of Nicaragua require; and these they shall
have. Such was the decision of the meeting.
| To give prompt effect to it, committee was
named to collect subscriptions, and forward
| them.
With all this we are thoroughly delighted
! The noble work has our heartest good wishes,
and whatever service it is in our power to
render.
On subjects of an interest exclusively Ameri-
can-on those, rather, which divide the Com
monwealth into great parties, and give rise to
contests at the polls, in Senates, and Conven-
tions-we reserve our opinion, until, with the
privileges, the obligations of citizenship justify
its utterance Not SO with those questions
which rise above the debates of mere political
| parties, swell beyond the frontiers of the coun.
try, attract with their glowing magnitude the
sympathies of all men, and the consequences of
which will spread and deepen, like great rivers,
through the future.
/ Such are the revolutions of Europe; the la
bors in the white Arctic fields; the breaking OF
that antique seal, which has till now shut out
| the world from Japan; the tunnelling of the
Alps, or any of the other great actions of hu-
man genius, bringing sterility, decay or tyranny,
into fruitfulness, harmony, life and liberty.
Such, too, is the question now debated with
fire and sword upon the Isthmus of Nicaragua;
question of infinite interest, and, if men would
only look upon it with honest eyes, and from q
clear, bold height, instead Of from a cobwebbed
corner, a question of the grapdest aspect. Not
since Columbus set his foot on the sands OF
San Salvador-not since that prophetic bell oi
Philadelphia proclaimed liberty to the ends oi
earth-has question of grander import an.
nounced itselfin thunder to mankind.
| But were the events now occurring in Nicar-
aqua to be limited with their issues to that
country; were they never to affect the commerce
and sovereignty Of the United States; never to
proclaim themselves as that tocsin Of the Dec
laration has for all ages done; yet must they
deeply excite the sympathies of all who desire
to see country in the fruition Of peace, pros
perty, and freedom.
The cause in which General Walker has
staked his life is just, generous, and glorious.
Invited by the Democrats in Nicaragua, who
are to that country what the Wings of the Rev
olution were to the old Thirteen States and their
struggle, he sets sail for Realess, and with q
handful of intrepid followers strikes down the
Aristocrats, who in that quarter perpetuate the
instincts and example Of the Tories Of the old
colonial days
No one disputes this. No one ventures a
breath in defence of the Services of Granada.
But General Walker, it seems, had no right to
interferel The cause he has chivalrously helped
must be suffered to perish, until some text from
Grotius is found to justify his prompttude to
succor the oppressed. That's the argument.
| That's the argument of those who in cold blood
stand by to see the Services Of Nicaragua once
more with their grasp upon the throat of the
people, the Costa Ricans in possession of the
route TO California, the English with lease OF
it for 999 years, in payment Of the services of
| the Euridice at the mouth Of the San Juan, and
other value less publicly bestowed.
The world has not thurst its arms ebow-deep
into its breeches pockets, put on its spectacles,
hemmed and hawed solemnly, turned over
Grotius, Burlemachi, Vattel-a page every
half hour-to Justify Lord Cochrane in Calao
Humbert in the bay of Killala. Devereux in
Venezuela, Byron in Greece, Dembinski in
Hungary, Lafayette at Brandywine. There
are some events, the loftiest planted in history,
which-as Grattan said Of the Irish Volunteers
contain in themselves both principle and
precedent. -
On the lst day of January, 1896, in reply to
the Minister of the French Republic, on the
latter presenting the colors Of France to the
United States, George Washington pronounced
these noble words:
"Born, Sir in land OF liberty; having early
learned its value; having engaged in perilous
conflict to defend il; having, in word, devoted
the best years of my life to secure its permanent
establishment in my own country, my anxious
recolections, my sympathetic feelings, and my
best wishes, are rresistibly excited, whatsoever,
in any country, l see an oppressed nation unfurl
the banners Of freedom"
In the spirit Of these sentiments, New York
has spoken out New Orleans has done the
same. Nicaragua shall bel freel The Democracy
Of America DEGREES it.