Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-04-09
Tag RAFTgMANss JOURNAL.
THE CENTRAL AMERICAN WAR.

simultaneously with the news of<Peaee TO
the Crimea comes that of War in Central
America, and the former was not more import
American hemisphere. The government of
Costa Rica, Which is the contiguous State to
Nicaragua on the south, refused to receive
Col. Schlessinger, the commissioner from Gen.
Walker, escorted him out of the country, and
declared war against Nicaragua. With great
decision Gen. ". put his forces in the field,
now amounting to about 1000 men, and was at
Virgin Bay the very evening the declaration
of war was announced. Costa Rica has about
800 regular troops and militia of some 590o.-
a writer in Bgaek1ood says apertion of the
| troops are armed with Mimic rifles, there is a
good provision of artillery, and numbers of
Germans in the country, many of them in the
employment of the Government, to whom il is
| stated to be indebted for an effective state of
military preparation. We hear, too, by the
steamer Illinois, that the British frigate Pres
ident, which had come down the coast with
silver to Panama, Immediately upon her arri
val at that port, hastened back to Punta Arenas
the seaport of Costa Rica on the Pacific, in or
der to defend the countryagainst an incursion
of Walker, which was expected by the author
tiles A French frigate was at the same port,
with the purpose of acting with the British
| force against Walker; besides which the Brit
| ish war steamer Eurydice was at San Juan on
the 18th ult. viii Walker be successful? is
now the question lie has tried to maintain
pacific relations with his neighbors, and having
been invited to Nicaragua by the Democratic
party there, he is no fillibuster, and Costa Rca
has declared war upon him. The news of this
outbreak will soon summon thousands to his
aid from California and New Orleans, like the
cross of fire among the clans Of the Highlands;
those States which have refused the olive
branch viii be oyertlrown by the sword, and
Central American Confederation viii be es-
tablished, where the Anglo-Saxon clement will
| be dominant.
| We observe that Major Heiss has reached
| the American Minister, Mr. Wheeler, with des-
patches from our government, and all who
know Major H., and are aware OF his deep
| sympathy with Walker, viii argue that he car
ried something encouraging to him. An en-
vOy, with pacific assurances from San Salvador
had reached him also. Under these circum-
stances, we believe that Gen. Walker will be
successful, unless France and England should
interfere with him. And if they do, the cause
of Nicaragua will become the quarrel of the
United States, for the maintenance of the Mon
roe doctrine of non-intervention by European
nations in the affairs of this continent. 1t is
necessary for our security that the Isthmian
States should be in friendly hands. or the tran
sit to California and our Pacific territories may
be cut off. Should Walker fail, our commerce
will be at the mercy of the Indians and mixed
races, who have SO long made that fair portion
OF earth disgraceful anarchy. This cannot
be permitted, and as a natural consequence,
the destiny of Walker, the ssmanifest destiny"
of Central America, and the safety Of our ter
rItorial connections, arc all unavoidably inter
ngled.-Pkii'G. San.