Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1858-11-24
On, Interests in Central AmerieA-Insihca'
CIV OF the Monroe Doctrine"

~
The "Centml American question" over
which there has been already sufficient er'
pendilure Of words, again assumes Importance
in the politics Of the country. We have q
rumor that General Walker is prepared for an.
other descent upon Nicaragua We have nn
assurance that the British fleet will intercept
! his expedition; and finally, we have authen-
tie intelligence that Nicaragua is about 10 ad'
nit England TO dominant influence over the
Isthmian Transit. In these circumstances we
find abundant justification OF the interest
which the public begin TO exhibit in the affairs
Of Central America.
General Walker does not propose hostile
invasion of Nicaragua. He invites assocates
in peuceable adventure. lie goes TO Mica.
ngua upon no wurlike. enterprise, but merely
in pursuance Of plan Of legitimate emigp-
1 ton. Such at least are his declarations, and
whether they are trustworthy or not, this GOV.
ernment has no right 10 molest him so long MS
he avoids an offence Ngnins; public law and
our own international engagements. Nobody
will pretend tina, the United States authorities
can interrupt him in an enterprise Of emigrr.
ton The question is, shall Great Britain be
permitted TO inerpose for that purpose p
Would This government consent, under any
circumstances, that England might assume The
office of protector Of the Central American
States? Clearly il she may interpose upon
one pretext, her own will must be the only
| limit of her intervention, and we might MS
well recognize her supremacy on the Ameri'
can Continent. II the United States are 10
exert a predominant influence in Central
America, they must assume to themselves an
exclusive interest in the affairs OF that coun.
try.
But The intended expedition of General
Walker is exempt from any circumstance
which might warrant the lnterpositon OF Tor.
cign governments. 1t con,empates legi,.
mate object, it is conducted in Pursuance of
law, aud il abstains from violation of those
principles Of the International Code which all
governments are concerned 10 vindcate. May
Great Britain employ her naval forces to de.
feat it, from an apprehension of IFS ultimate
issue in the as endancy of American infiu.
cnce in the lslhmus? Certainly not. except
the United States are prepared to abdicate
their position as the leading Power of the
Continent. and to renounce all the traditions
of their American policy.
1t is urged by particularly journals that nas.
socia,es of General Walker, they become nm.
lawful Immigrants and may be repellcd BY the
intervention of foreign Powers. We never
heard before that enc Government is under OBJ!
| legation TO enforce the police regulations OF an.
other nor do we imagine that the United States
will allow Great Britain to assume a protecto-
rate Of Central America upon any such slender
lpretex
In respect of the Treaty which the inevitable
Huseley is about to negotiate with Nicaragua,
all will agree that it is repugnant to the Just
preensions of this Government. 1t claims at
least an equal partnership of power in Central
America and is SO far incompatible with the
settled policy Of the United States We pre-
sumo it will be opposed by the diplomacy of
the American Government, and, if necessary,
BY some more energetic assistance.
We do not understand the need of invoking
the "Monroe doctrine" whenever American in
teress are menaced by foreign intervention
At best it must be regarded as a very uncertain
tradition, and as a very insufficient guaranty
of our ascendency on the continent Why
not be done with that ambiguous, Declaration"
and instead of feverting to the monuments of
an obsolete age for present instruction and lv-
ing power. be determined in our policy by the
exigencies and opportunities of the actual oc-
casion? Why protest against the encroach-
ments of trans Atlantic nations upon the ground
that they infringe the "Monroe doctrine ."-
! Why not declare that we resist them because
they are derogaory to the dignity and incom-
patble with ihe interests of the American Re-
public? If the Powers of the Earth recog-
nized the "Monroe doctrine' us an obligatory
principle OF public law, there might be some
sense invoking its virtues. It'is plainly absurd
to attempt to fortify our case by reference to
an authority which is respected neither by the
court nor the contestant. .f-.,
The necessities of nation may be urged be.
fore the tribunal Of public opinion. The. .ob.
vous interests of a government will Justify its
policy against the world Then let the United
States protest against European intervention
on this continent-frst, because it endangerS
the balance of power; second, because it haz-
ards the security of existing interests; and
third, because il restricts 'he legitimate devel-
opment of the country. These are good pleas
sound in argument, pertinent in application,
and of binding authority and effect. They
make much better support for our policy than
that indefinate and substantial basis which
statesmen have been content to find in the Mon.
roe doctrine.-Rich, South. g
JUDICIAL NOMINATIONS IN TENNEssEE.-The
result of the effort in the Tennessee Democrat
ic Convention, to incorporate the political ju-
diciaI nomination plank, stolen from the Phil
delpha platform, and the signal failure re.
corded in our news items should make the in.
dependent Democratic masses of Texas, who
repudiate this effort at "expediency," feel proud
of their position. Tennessee-the State Of
Jackson-ihe cradle Of his brilliant career
the land where repose his remans-in con-
venticn near the very neutrality-suspicious.
the slander upon his memory, that ne, once