The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-01-20

contains the following reply to an article Of the
Gaceta de Guatemala, Of the 30th November, on the
affairs Of Nicaragua
The article, in speaking of the introduction OF
some Americans into Nicaragua seems at first sight
to have been inspired by patriotic feelings however
it will not do to consider its professions apart from
other antecedent circumstance They must be
brought in connection with certain precedents-the
causes, not the effects must be looked to. We mus
inquire how those who write now in this manner,
have thought written and acted in former times In
Older to discover whether they condemn the act in
iteelf. or whether they are not guided by rivalry
and hatred towards those who prevent the enemie
OF the country from achieving its ruin. When til.
Gacefa thinks that il has right to charge the in
habitants Of Nicaragua with mbecility for not hav
Ing fOreseen or avoided certain dangers to accuse
them OF want of patriotism because Of their riskng
their independence the inhabitants OF Nicaragua
have the same right to doubt the sincerity of the
editors of the Gacefa when reviewing their former
acts
For publishing these reflections we cannot Aatter
ourselves that they Will be well received amidst the
great diversity OF interest by which we arc sur
rounded. Our object lies not in the hope of seeing
our adversar1es do us justice; like sutors in court
Of justice, we do not aim at convincing our oppo-
nents but our judgeso we address ourselves to the
public OF Central America.
Everywhere, in private conversations and in soci-
ETY. generally the universal topic Of interest is Mica
sions being Of nearly similar character we content
ourselves with introducing here. by way of iilasrat
ing our subject, the following dialogue between
Honduran and Granadian. The lattor being inter
the article in the Gaceta aud his opinion in reference
to il, answered." To be s1re have and found 1t
eloquent forcible and consistent; it has entirely
satisfied me- not merely by its literary merit
attacks upon the government Of Leon for in
wiling to the country Walker aud those ID
Yankees, whom we all abhor so much How well it
describes the danger Of losing our nationality. How
Part Of America just $50 years ago by the humane
and merciful Pizarro Almagro, Cortes, and the
philosophic ard kind Pedro Alvarado those men so
M,n T a 1y Their , 9wm countrymsn Soils
Casas. with this occupation by the Yankees prophe-
cied in the same article What q charming
prophecy! 1t far excels those OF Isaiah ami Ezekiel
But what fills me with enthusiasm and consolation
is the ardor it breathes against foreign intervention
Sand do you believe" replied the Honduran,
chat those gentlemen say what they think and act
as they speak, Do yop believe that they really
rot wish for intervention?"
II do" replied the Granadan: eff 1t were not so
they would not print 1t in full In their Gaceta,
which pretends to be serious ! may sometimes be
mistaken, or it may be sympathy whi:h unites me
with them in conformity with my own opinions and
interests Be this as it may, it pleases me, and /
find 1t convenient to make them believe that they
reason well; for yon will not deny that axiom Of the
Jcsuts to be an excellent one-c0lumniase, calnm-
mare, aliqid semper hatret. And for that reason
told yon that have no scruples in d:credting the
party of Leon"
. cannot conform to these wicked precepts, )" re-
piled the Honduran; man must speak truth-be
frank and sincere; true policy is founded on honor.
can cite certain acts of those gentlemen which put
the sincerity and patriotism you cOnccde them very
much IN doubt as far as it regards their looking to
the support and the protectorate Of certain Euro
and mona rchicaI UOvernmpnts IN ann hat II,
this there is not much consistency nor conformity
with what they now WISH"
''You are right" answered the Granadian II shall
confess the truth we do not speak before the
public, but between friends and confdentially. Yon
know me thoroughly and You are persuaded Of my
being incapable to tell falsehood. How can shu
my eyes to the evidence Of facts? We Granadian
have committed very many bad acts, though neve
with wicked intention; acts OF which we now re,
pent Of our SINS One Of them was that disastrous
decree we issued in Nicaragua, to solicit the
Erotectorate. and Intervention of the Queen OF
abandonment Of our rights to Great Britain,
and the alienation Of our Territory. But
what could we do, seeing that those gentlemen
Of the Gaceta deceived US through the medium OF
Mr. shatfelds We fell into the trap. The hatred
with which they cunningly knew how to inspire us
against the Yankees, account Of their republican
institutions, copied and adopted by all the govern
ments OF Spanish America, did not contribute lit
tie to this object. However, we did no. fail to be
aware of the imminent peril by which our national
sovereignty was menaced in consequence of this
treachcrous step; TOR we had heard of the destiny
Ct the East Indies, where England holds under her
sway population Of ffty-nine millions OF inliabi-
tants treating them like slaves We also knew that
we had no conformity with the British in point OF
religion, for we happily profess the Catholic Apos-
tolic and Roman religion, and England the Protestant;
her idiom differs from ours her customs likewisc and
70 crown all, her government is monarchical. But
what conld we do! We yielded to these treacherous
suggestions as Eve did to those of the serpent
Therefore, when reflect dispassionately, and un-
moved by party interest, l draw this conclusion,
ard say to myself:n it were true that mentors
abhorTed the protectorate of foreigners-it tlis
hatred against the Leonese government Of Ncara.
qua ard The North Americans were the offspring OF
Just, liberal and republican spirit-we would not
have delivered ourselves up to the Emperor Itur-
bidc in 1922, nor would VIC have asked him for a
troop Of the imperial soldiers of Mexico, in order to
place ourselves under the orders Of Filisola to at
tao San Salvador and to occupy it, they would not
have driven Omoa to rebellion in 1882 by proclaim
ing the annexation Of Central America to the crown
OF the King OF Spain, for whose overthrow the in
habitants OF Salvador Guatemala aud Honduras had
shed oceans of blood. They would not have
instigated the inhabitants of Nicaragua to issue
decree soliciting the protectorate OF the Queen Of
England; they would not have argued in their official
gazette with SO much warmth to prove the conye
nience of once more, in conjunction with Santa
Anna in Mexico, placing these countries under the
heel OF the Spanish monarchy, nor would they have
resnscitated all the exotic trumpery of the absolute
government OF spain IN the times OF the house OF
Austria, as, tor instance, in he case Of the real es
t1tntO OF its University, received foreign orders
adjoining their jackets with those monarchcal trink.
cts, &c. Therefore, If they have done such things,
we must conclude that they do not abhor foreign in
PREVENTION. European or monarchicaD, but that
they do abhor free institutions republican customs,
and American friendship"
There is force in what you say" replied TIE
HoLdulan. al thank You for your frankness, and
therefore should wish you to explain the reasons
why the G0ceta speaks Of traditions slavery, Eng.
lish idicms, &c"
at appears to me-" replied the Granadan, that
these phrases parake something Of the character Of
threats, and something OF that of rhetorical
fourshes put forth in order to make people believe
in what the writers do not believe themselves. MY
colleagues OF the press are clever writers, and a
they ale, besides supported BY public authority they
always wri!e with the assurance of not being {. n
tradcted; for You remember the story of the En-
peror Adrian carrying the day in public discussion,
by txclaiming, who speaks alone Is always right