The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-05-10


will be anarchy or Dictatorship within short
period. Debating assemblies are bed governors
in peaceful times and worse In time Of
public disorder. Perhaps COmOsfort may make
coup dtta before he Is shorn Of tho power, 10
save his county from tho confusion that now
seems to await her.
Tho Isth,nus Routes-Ths Duty or tho ADJ
nAAnlstratasn.
The probable failure Of Walker In Nicaragua
presents again the question-wha& Ghall be done
to open that transit routef That 1t mast be
opened in q manner to make II available to the
safe and permanent use Of the commerce Of the
world Is evident to every one. Even X the
monopoly at present enjoyed BY the Psnsma
route werc placed on secure basis, the fact that
1t is monopoly requires that . competing route
should be opened to the use Of commerce. Post
master General Campbell, In his last annual TO-
port sets forth in strong language tho extortion
practised by the Panama Railroad Company for
the transmission Of our mails, and the exorbita0t
prices charged for passage and freight to and
from San Francisco at this time Is Q Just subject
of complaint on all sides But the existence Of
that route even rests upon q very insecure
foundation in the present preosrious state
of our relations with New Granada The
destruction of bridge, the tearing up Of few
rails, the suspension Of the trains for few days
In country where rains pour il torrents for nine
months In the year, may lead to such destruction
and washing of the embsnkments a. to require
an almost complete reconstruction Of the road
It is evident therefore. that tho Nicaragua
Transit route must be opened and made perma-
nently safe for the use Of trade. In considering
how this may be done we must first weigh the
state Of affairs there and the social elements Of
the communities in immediate contact With and
in possession of that isthmna Bet two Of the
States Of Central America, Costa RIGA and Nics-
rsgua, have any direct interest In the question.
The other States that have taken part Ia tho
struggle against Walker have done - from we'll
grounded fear Of bis undsguised ambition, and q
statesman. They I'll seemed united In their 40
ton, but the truth Is they have been united
only in their opposition to Walker. Even
In the presence Of the enemy quarrels
have continually existed between tho Central
American leaders to "a extent that has materially
impaired their action Costa Rioa ooly has been
the efficient enemy of walker, and to her alsae
has success thus far been due. A soon q
Walker shall have been finally disposed Of, the
troops of the several allies will be withdrawn
and disbanded, and the two States Of Costa Rica
and Nicaragua will be left to that action which
the social elements that form them may dictate,
The HrH Of these republics has populAtica,
according TO her Last census, Of 10000 whites
and 10000 Indians, including the savage tribes
still existing The greater portion Of this popu-
lahon-about four-Afths Of it-reides In tho
valley Of the Rio Grande, which does not average
more than twenty miles wide BY about sixty
long, and carry on their exchanges with tho
rest Of the world through the port Of Punts
Arenas, In the Gulf Of Nicoya, on the Psci6o.
This great prepouderance of the whites, In which
there L. . large foreign element, and tho ooaocn-
trstion Of her population. has constituted ooe Of
the greatest elements Of the strength Of Costa
Rioa in her recent contest.
Nicaragua, on tho other hand, contains popu-
lstion Of about $50. 900 people, most of whom are
ucRIUcb, uhoinoS M uilA0u reCo1. lhfco eIe
principally located round the two centres Of
Leon and Granada, and have long been known
from the bitter feud existing bstwceo them II
was one Of these psrties-that Of Leon-shat ln-
vited the interference Of Walker In their domestic
quarrelA During the late struggle Nloaragus
has played q worry Insignificant part, and now Is
about 10 30 divided among the other States
or ceded wholly over 10 Costa Rics "a the pre-
ponderating power in Central America
Whiohevs course may be adopted "a fruitful
of intestine disorder and external interference.
There are already abundant signs Of internal
strife for the future. Leoo shows little dispos-
ton to scquiesce In the division policy; and
Granada, that has hitherto poeessed tho control
Of the Transit route through Lake Nicaragua,
Will not rest satisfied under the complete sbsorp-
ton Of that route By Costa Rka, that has
lately been oonsummated The mougrd sod
always dissatisfied rsces that inhabit
Nicaragua will give abundant instruments
Of dlscord 10 the leaders, who have never ceased
10 quarrel among Themselves, and constant oon-
tsntlon Il likely 10 ensue along the borders OF
the route. The transit privilege vii always be
. source Of fruitful interference BY outside par
ties. Our steamboat Commodores who have
fought 20 long and 30 6eroely for its possession,
will not give up the struggle for the rich prise
until some strong power controls II and Restraints
them. Costa Rica herself will sooo 6nd this o1t,