Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-10-15
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

wholesale condemnation OF the condition OF
Washington society, involved in such publica-
lions concerning the state of this metropolis as
that quoted in the Star from the New York
TTibUne Our fellow-citizens at large, we
know, feel with us that great injustice is thus
inflicted on Wasbington's good name. What
can induce such wholesale misrepresenta-
tons of our ,city's fair fame, unless it be a
disposition to play over the literary role of the
never to- be forgotten Ned Buntlne, we cannot
imagine. lie set up for" the great reformer
of abuses-attacked those around him by class
es, ran up fictitious circulation for the me-
dunn of his attacks, for the idle and unthink-
ing for the time being patroniIe such litera-
ture Intensely black-mailed all who were
willing to pay to escape his attacks; and soon
showed himself to the community in his true
colors-the associate Of those he assailed-as
bad as an individual, in all the elements of his
character, as any one of them. So Mr.. Ned
Buntline and his system g. blew up" suddenly,
one day; and New York found itself no more
moral-purer-for his nominal efforts for her
regeneration.
All the world comprehend now that such re-
formers OF society are really its worst enemies.
instructing youth in vice, and encouraging its
practice while pretending to be aiming to Grad
icate it. As financial crises occur periodically,
so it seems the world is to be afflicted with Ned
Buntlines in its literature every ten or twelve
years-'f one may draw conclusions from the
tone Of many of the publications to which We
refer
WALKERS CAREER IN NICARAGUA-CelOw
will be found the conclusion of the interesting
sketch of the career of Walker in Nicaragua,
the publication of which we commenced on the
day before yesterday. Measurements are true
to the letter, for it is from the pen of one who
having been in Nicaragua during Walkers in
vasion, knows more of the details of his opera
tons in that Inflated country, of his plans, Sc
cret councils, &C., than any other living per-
SON:
He (Walker) had, before this, established a
system of surveillance and espionage. that pene-
trated the privacy of every household and any
criticism OF his conduct was sure to be reported
and punished; for he construed ANYTHING said
against himself as treason against Nicaragua
About this time he commenced opening the let
tiers going and coming in the Post Office, and de-
stroying such as suited his views. Then, too,
was started the newspaper, Ell NicaragUense, of
which he was the secret editor, and with char
acteristic' modesty he amused his private mo-
ments in writing fnlsome paragraphs Of his own
O =. Ss soT~ sTg
Man." &c, Of which he is himself the author.
Much was expected of Rivas on taking his seat.
But, alas, he was a mere automaton in the hands
OF the mountebank. The only independent act of
his administration was running away to Leon
when 1t was no longer safe for him TO stay in
Granada.
a few days after he was nau9uraed, he went
to consult with Walker about devising some
plan Of revenue, when he ordered to mind
his own business. Walker then made out a list
OF fourteen names-citiZens of Granada-and fol-
lowing his own caprice, without reason, Justice,
or knowledge Of the resources of the parties,
assessed them, in the aggregate, Si0Cg, and
handed the list to one OF his military officers for
collection. III the unfortunates murmured or de-
layed payment, they Were consoled bv situation
in the chain gang. One merchant, Mr.. Lycavo,
now in New York, was In this manner forced to
paw some S35 900 in the course of year.
On one occasion Walker was in great need of
ready money; every honest source was closed
but money must be had. A soldier, unknown
before, and never seen afterwards came before
him and made oath that he saw deSerter hid in
Lycayo's plantain patch, on his estate some miles
from Granada. He was summoned before the
despot to answer the charge OF concealng a de-
Serfer. courf-martiai was convened, the afi-
davit of the mythical soldier making the charge
vas read. and Walker stood up and swore that il
was genuine, but that its author had disappeared
he knew not where. Iycayo proved that he lived
in town and had not been on his estate for MANY
,weeks. The court-martal willing to oblige their
master, were yet compelled to acquit him. Walk
ct in great rage convened them again saving al
did not assemble Won here TO make of your
selves. Do your duty" But the humane grey
eyed man was willing 10 spare the guilty Lycayo
so ne placed him In the chain gang for a mouth,
and committed the sentence to a fne of five thou
and dollars in cash.
Corral's death was predetermined French W.
selected by the doomed man as his defender be-
fore the court-martial. and really did all in his
power to save him. When found guilty he an
pealed from the decision to Rivas and the Cabi-
net, as higher tribunal. The cabinet stood
equally divided on the subject; Walker claimed
to he member Of II by virtue of his being com
der-in-chief-the timid natives admitted him,
and by his casting vote Corral was doomed to be
shot in forty-eight hours. at l2m. When twenty
four hours had elapsed, Walker anxious to have
the whole thing over, took him from the priest
then STRIVING him, and had him shot In thirty
minutes notice The brave old man took his seat
in chair against wall, refusing to I've bound or
bindfOlded. and with wonderful composure met
his inevitable fate. He slid from his chair while
the blood from his many wounds flowed over the
pavement. The weeping crowd of women and
chiIdren-for strange to say, there were no men
present-sobbed with deep emotion. az they
pressed around the murdered form Of their be-
loved chieftaip, wiping the blood from his wounds
and the pavement with their rebosos and hand
kerchefs and even with the skirts Of their dresses
then carefully folding them up they departed
weeping to their homes.
The limits Of this article preclude record
ing NicaIaguan events in their chronological
order; ii is only intended to illustrate certain pas
sages OF them now misinterpreted OF not sufd-
ciently understood; hoping that il may be instru-
mental In lettering some of the ardent young
men OF our country from following Walker 10 the
ruin that certainly awaits all who follow him to
Central America. When Walker was attached
to the Democratic State Journal in California his
associations We're northern, his writings conser-
vative, and his tendencies strongly free-soil; so
much so, that many leading Democrats remon-
stTated with him. He was accused Of abolition
ism, and his editorials at the time confirmed the
accusation; and he dissolved his connection with
that paper on that account. During The first wear
OF ms stay IN Central America he had not chang
cd his views
On Mr. soule's appearance in Granada the Off
GERS gave him a dinner; during the evening he
and Walker sat apart, for a long time in earnest
conversation on the subject of slavery. The next
morning the decree reviving slavery in Nicara-
qua appeared
Rivas never signed it, although his name is at
tached to 1t. How could he, for he has African
blood in his veins, lie has singular afinities be-
tween MS pro-slavery sentiments, and free-sol
prOclivities
Walkers foolish ambition to I've called Presi-
dent betrayed the means by which his vanity
was gratifed IL is well known that the entire
population Of Nicaragua Is not over two hundred
m Ia fIaf l.