The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-02-23

The Queens 81 eeoh and the Debate I'm Parfsa-
ment.
We give in another column The speech or mes.
sage which was read on the Queen's behalf at'the
opening of the British Parliament; her Majesty g
delicate situation forbidding her to perform the
ceremony in person. As usual, the document is
meagre in the extreme and throws no new light
on the questions to which II refcrs With regard
to the only question in which we have direce
interest the Central American difficulty it refers
briefly to the fact that her Majesty has "been en-
gagged in negotiations with the government of the
United States, and also with the government of
Honduras, which she trusts will be successful in
removing all cause Of misunderstanding with
respect to Central America"
Nor did the debate which followed supply the
deficiency. As usual, it appears to have been a
playful eladiatorial contest between the mem
bers of the government, Lords Clarendon and
Palmerston, on one side, and the leaders of the
opposition, Lord Derby and Mr.. Disraeli on the
other; though the speeches are sometimes funny,
they are not particularly striking, and reveal no
novelties. The opposition seems to have gained
some slight advantage over the government by
putting the case-suppose the United States re
fuse to ratify the treaty, shall we not have given
away Ruatan, without equivalent? But Lord
Clarendon met this by assuring the lords that the
United States had nothing to do with the csssion
OF Ruatan; that it had been given to Honduras
to enable that State to build an inter oceanic rail
way. And 80 the matter rested.
We are inclined to believe that the Derby
party will make good deal more of this sub
ject when the news reaches Parliament that the
treaty has perhaps been killed in the Senate
For, Lord Clarendon may soy what he likes, but
the general British idea undoubtedly was that
England was giving up Ruatan as d bonus to the
United States for friendly adjustment of the
Central American dispute, such as the Claren.
don Dallas treaty contained; and it will appear
in England as though we had got our reward
and then refused to fulfil our part of the bargain
We do not say that this is co. Of course; but this
is the light in which the transaction is likely to
be viewed in England. 1t may need something
more than pleasantries. or vague illusions to
railways in Honduras to safety the British PEG
pie that the PalmerstOn government has not been
tricked by Mr.. Dallas. In this view of the sub
ject, the task Of the incoming administration
appears likely to be arduOus. II Mr.. Buchanan
has to settle the long pending dispute about Cen
trail America with Dritish government i'm
pressed, on the one hand, with the notion that il
has just been overreached, and, on the other,
alarmed by the flibustering "reminiscences With
which Mr.. Buchanan's name may at one time have
been connected he may not find it as easy to adjust
as it lately appeared. The English certainly seem
sincerely anxious to meet US on terms that shall
be fair and honorable 10 both nations But it
must not be supposed that they are any freer
from passion and prejudice than other nations
We learn from our London correspondent that
the British government have sent to Nicaragua
Mr. Oliphant, young gentleman who was at one
time secretary Of Lord Elgin in Canada, and
who subsequently, served under Omer Pacha in
the Russian war. We give elsewhere one of hi
letters on the war in Central America England
1t seems all reports to the contrary notwithstand
ing, intends to steer clear Of all the local dis
putes between Costa Ricans and Nicaraguans
Americans of the north and Americans of the
centre, and simply to acknowledge whatever
government appears on reliable evidence to be
government de tdoo. This sensible policy is the
only one which she could pursue without doing
mischief. That it will prove at least q negative
help to Walker is pretty certain; the mongrels OF
the coast have all along been comforted in their
distresees and confirmed in their hostility to Walk
er's brave little band by the confident expecta-
ton that at no distant day the English would
land party of troops and hang Walker to
tree. They will now learn-at least such of them
as possess capacity to learn anything-that il
Walker holds his Own and maintains himself
short while longer in Nicaragua, the English will
recognise him, and be as forward as this or any
other country to make treaties OF peace and com.
MERGE with him, leaving the spanisrds TO III,
natural fiuits Of their disor1erly and incapable
conduct The intelligence is likely TO proda,e
damping effect upon the chivalry Of Costa Eica,
and their ilibusteriDg allies.
We are not done with this Central iuericnh
matter, nor docs the end seem near. Appear
iIccs on all sides indicate that Mr.. Bachantu
will not rest on bed OF roses
TnE NEws fRos NicAIAarA-The accouois
rom Nicaraoua receiyed an Saturdav no ,h,