Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-01-20
WALKERS POSITION AND PROSPECTS.

I WALKERS POSITION AND PROSPECTS,
| The intelligence from Nicaragua Ia both obscure
| and contradictory nevertheless we have a sun
cieny distinct view ofths operations of the contend
ing forces 20 warrant positive opinion OF the proba
bic issue Of the struggle.
To "i;e like bulletin" ia proverb which express
mauknd's sense of the utter un,rustworthiness o
partisan reports of battles. But of all the bulletin.
ths, ever were written since people frs. engaged in
the amiabe occupation cutting each others hroats
the most lying those which profess 10 record the
achievements Of South American warriors. In read.
INK of these high sounding paperr, full of blood
aud thunder, person ignorant Of the character OF
the combatants would imagine that the slaughter Of
CGnue or of Waterloo VIA Ill innocent sham fight in
comparison In the pcmpous rhetoric o! Santa Annns
procsmations. Mexican vaor was triumphan. at Bue.
ma Vista and Cerro Gordo Senor Rafse Mora, o
the Republic Of Costa Rica, if not quite successful
in winning battles, Is equally accomplished in wr
ting bulletins the hero Of the cork leg. Hence hii
dispatches must be taken grano sails, and when
he claims victory We may safely supect ths. be hsi
suffered defeat.
Yet, with due allowance for the usual exuegeratons
Of their statements. there is no denying that at one
time the Central American allies had driven Walker
into rather uncomfortable position. In fact, some
Of his most sangune friends began 10 despair Of hi.
deliverance. But, just at the moment when every.
body is prepared to hear Of the annihilation OF his
little band, comes The news that he has escaped from
his embsrrassmen,s, and is fighting with unabated
vigor aud effect
1t will not do now to cay that Walker owes
his m tha nff 20
the contemplate imbec;lity of his adversary. To
paraphrasc Napoleons impoIs maxim, experience
proves that fortune avors the strongest battalons
Accident may determine the result Of single en-.
gagement, but the force Of genius or Of numbers is
to triumph in the end. II s incredible that mere
"luck" could have enabled Walker to surmount the
difficulties which be- he's encountered in his invasion
Of Nicaragua. Neither does ns owe his success 10
the moral aud material superiority Of his forces
the troops Of the enemy. His men may have the
advantage iu the single article Of personal
courage though, in this respect, general thing,
one nation is equal to another, and the most de-
generate race will fight with heroic vsor in defence
of their affairs and their fresdes. The people to
whom Walker 10 opposed are armed with oil the mill
tary appliances Of the highest civilization. The
troops Of Guatemala distinguished for their cou.
RACES the troops Of Costa Rica are we'll equipped and
In effective disoiplinei and tho allied army 10 con
Quoted by captains Of science and experience. On
the other hand Walkers forces are raw recruits with
rude skill 10 the Of FIRE arms, but utterly igno
rant Of the Of war; and impatient Of the restraints
of military discipline. To these advantages add
their inferiority In respect Of numbers and may
we'll wonder that their leader has succeeded even 10
holding his own against such p;odigious odds. The
capricious favor of fortune, We repeat, will not eI-
plain the mystery. IA the pluck sagacity fortude,
energy, aod iuviucble purpose Of Walker, We fnd
the only satisfactory solution of his extraordinary
successes. In combination these qualiiie, are capa
BILE OF anything but absolute upos,btyi and
perhaps Walkers destiny depends upon the practica-
biliry Of hi. enterprise.
At present hi, position &. certainly less desperate
than il appeared few weeks ago. Henn;ugsen hat
beaten the allies at Granada, and has Joined Wsker
AT Riva,. The united army never in better spir.
it's or more confdeu. OF success This is the sun OF
the latest intelligence from Nicaragua. The next
news, venture tho prediction, will assure us Of
Walkers actual triumph.