New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-04-03
THE CENTRAL AMERICAN WAR.

Now that we 10 longer have bulletins from Sc
vsstopol and the excitement of the public regard.
ing the Eastern war is over, heed may be given to
the promised battles in Central America. These
looked for fights, though conducted on a small
scale, may nevertheless have an influence on the
political condition of the new world hardly less
important than that which the late gigantic havoc
has bad on the old one. We would do injustice to
the whole history of America were we to measure
the importance Of historical facts by the mere
number of men engaged at the momept in any
battle, or by the pounds of gunpowder consumed
in destroying human life and property. Whatever
may be the immediate result of the struggle In
Central America, now beginning to extend over
the limits Of the small State of Nicaragua, the
present contest in that quarter may, very likely,
result in radical political changes for that portion OF
the Continent, and hence bear emphatcally upon
the interests of this country. In this view we pre-
sumo that the subjoned facts, which we derive
from Trustworthy source at Washington, will not
be found wanting in interest;
A coalition against the present Government of
Nicaragua, of the four States of Costa Rica, San
Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala positively eX-
ists, result to produce which much has been done
in this city. Besides, a project for annexing the
State of Costa Rica to the Republic of New Gran
ada is oil foot intended to bring greater forces to
bear against the North Americans in Central Amer
lea than the small States of that region could them
selves raise. South American dlplomatsts, guided
by English and other Influences, are active in this
political intrigue. These movements would not lose
their interest even ia case of Walkers signal de-
feat For take Walker and the North Americans
away from their thcater of action in. Central Amer
lea, and what them Their extinction or e1pul-
sion would not close up further consequences.
Left to himself, Walker might have done modest
flhbusteripg business; but attacked IN the way
contemplated, he will, if successful. probably not
only conquer Central America but even the lsthmus
of Panama, and other territory, while his defeat
may, without any great stretch of Imagination,
be seen TO involve the annexation of Central Amer
lea to the United States. These things have been
vyrriuvnno1 by our English friends.
But the chances are that, in the muscular exer-
else of fllibusterism, he will prove more than
match for bis enemies. According to present ap-
pearances, it is their plan to draw him and his
forces into the territory of Costa Rica, for the pur
pose of exposing Nicaragua 10 an attack from the
side of Honduras, San Salvador, and Guatemala
But it is more than probable that his movements
will be TOO quick for Central American strategists
He is actually in possession of all the steamboats,
on the Lake and on the River San Juan; and Costa
RIGA is tho theater of his first operations and the
long disputed Province of GuanacOste, formerly
belonging to Nicaragua, but now appropriated by
Costa Rica, is on the southern shore of the
Lake, be may avail himself of the opportunity TO
adjust this old frontier question, and add to Near
aqua a very valuable territory formerly belonging
to t. Then, in case Of necessity he can be back in
few days to protect the City of Granada against
the forces of the Northern States On the other
hand, the Coalition are making every possible eff
fort for his overthrow. We are informed that the
Minister of New Granada at Washington has even
gone to Central America in order to expedite the
arrangements for the suppression of Yankee
influence in that country in the formation Of which
he has taken a leading part. The next arrival
from there cannot fail to bring intelligence of ex-
citing Interest