Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-10-08
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

the public inkling Of the character of the last
important dispatch from the American Secre-
tary of State to Gen. Lamar, the American Min
lister to Nicaragua, because it was understood to
embrace full foreshadowing Of President Bu-
chanan's truly American policy with reference
to the future interests of the United Ststes, in
connection with their Central American rela-
tons
Doubtless the Stars readers will remember
our comments on the paper on the occasion in
question. The recent PRONUNCIATION of import
ant extracts from it, which first found their
way into the New York Herald, from Mica
ragua, has served to substantiate all we said of
it in advance. That it is one of the ablest,
most important and truly American State
papers that has so far emanated from any
branch Of this Government is SO apparent that,
without a single exception, every journal of
whatever leaning in politics that has so far
spoken of it, has hailed its emphatic positions
and conclusive reasoning as being precisely
what the exigencies of our national interests in
Central America require, and as embracing
the policy, for our Governments future in that
quarter, in support of which all patriotic
American citizens may be expected cordially to
unite.
The truth is, all now comprehend the vast
ness Of our national interests in Central Amer
lea, the results of the geographical position of
those States in connection with the two great
great divisiOns-the Atlantic and the Pacific
of our own country. Whether we do or do not
desire to have the future of Central America
involved with our own future, Providence has
ordained that it should be, and there is no help
for it. The question is not whether we will
mix ourselves up with Central American at
fairs; but whether, with our Arms folded, We
will permit Central American affairs, which
Providence has mixed up with ours, so to event
uate as to prove a serious injury to our national
future. There is nothing whatever embraced
In the document to which We refer indicative
OF disposition to interfere unduly in the af-
fairs OF Nicaragua, or to sacrifice in the future
policy Of the Government of the United States
a single interest of Nicaragua, substantial or
immaterial. Nevertheless, it claims for us all
our rights and above all things, the right to
receive from Nicaragua, hereafter, treatment
In her ofhcial intercourse with US such as the
Government of the United States would not
hesitate to exact at all hazards, from any DOW.
erful and usually considerate foreign power
such courtesy as We have not, up to this time,
exacted from Nicaragua, only in consideration
that she may not lay claim to position in in
ternational affairs of a government conducted
strictly in accordance with international law
and the comfy of nations.
Monsieur Belly's project of an European pro-
tectorate of the Nicaraguan route of inter.
communication between the two great divisions
OF our country, is blown by Gen. Cass sky-high
in this memorable paper-because, to explode
any propensity of Nicaragua to be cheated
into such dreams by the vagram Frenchmau.
was doubtless its main object On this head
he says:
But the establishment Of a political protecto-
rate oy any OF the powers Of Europe over any Of
the independent States Of this continent. or I'm
other words, the introduction ofa scheme Of pol.
ICY winch would carry with IL a right to inter
iere In their concerns Is measure to which the
United states have long since avowed their on
position, and which, should the attempt be made
they will resist by all the means in their no,v.r
The reasons for the attitude they have assumed
nave been fully Promulg ated and are every where
we'll known. They are founded on the political
circumstances OF the American continent, which
mas interests OF Its own, and ought to have pol.
icy OF its own, disconnected from MANY of the
questions which are continually presentipp them
selves In Europe concerning the balance Of power
ahd other subjects Of controversy arising out of
the condition Of its States, and which offen And
tnelr solution or their postponement in war IL
IS OF paramount importance to the States of this
hemisphere that they should have no entangling
union with the powers of the old world con.
nectlon which would almost necessarily maize
them parties to wars having no interest for them.
and which would often involve them ia hostiIi.
ties with the other American States contipuous
which have
since this principle Of separation was first am
nounced by the United States have served still
more 10 satisfy the people Of this country Of its
tain II, happen what may"
Upon the right of the Central American
States to manage the isthmus inter-oceanic
routes within their boundaries, which are now
Of so great Importance to the United States, to
our detriment, it says:
The progress Of events has rendered the in
ter-oceanic routes, across the narrow portions of
Central America, vastly important to the com
mercial world, and especially to the United
States, whose possessions, extending along the
Atlantic and Pacific coasts, demand the speediest
and easiest modes Of communication While
the just rgh hts Of sovereignty Of the States occu-
plying this region should always be respected.
We shall expect that these rights will be exer-
cisco In spirit oeftting the occasion and the
wants and circumstances that have arisen. Sow
ereignty has its duties we'll az its rights and
none of these local governments, even II admin
istered with more regard to the Just demands of
other nations than they have been, would be per-
United In spirit Of eastern isolatioI to close
these gates OF Intercourse the great highways
OF the world, and justify the act by the preten-
sion that these avenues of trade and travel beon
TO them, and that they choose to shut them, or.
what Is almost equivalent, to encumber them
with such unjust regulations as would prevent
their general use. The United States do NOT
seek either the control the exclusive use of
these routes. They desire that the advantages
should be equally common to all nations Nor
do they claim TO interfere with the local govern
ment IN the determination Of the questions con-
nected with the opening Of the routes, and with
the persons with whom contracts may be made
for that purpose. What they do desire-and
mean % acconplish-is that the great interests
involved In this subject should not be sacrificed
TO any unworthy motive, but should be guarded
from abuse; and that when contracts are fairly
entered into with American citizens they should
not be wantonly violated. Other nations will no
doubt pursue the same course In relation to their
citizens or subjects who may have similar inter.
ests -
ARMY LIFE IN UTAH.-We have received
the following from an old favorite of the Stars
readers-the most readable of all the Utah let
far nj tha