The Feliciana Democrat., 1858-01-16
THE NECESSITY OF A NATIONAL POLICY IN
CENTRAL AMERICAN AFFAIRS.

The almost daily events that are developing around
us, says the New York Herald indicate with pressing
urgency the necessity Of adopting national po-
| Icy i'm relation to the dsorganzcd communities in
habiing the ishmus countries of this continent
Not only have we their own ncessant chickering's to
endanger our iter-oceanc commerce. but the tone of
public sentiment in the South, as evinced by large
popular gatherings in favor of Walker, the unanimi
ty of the press and the known feelings of the South
ern representatives in Washington, all show the di
recton in which the country Is drifting, without o
lpolcy or an adopted course.
Thatsths Is SO is not al all strange The same law
of progress holds good in the Southern as in the Nor
thern States; and while we are crowdng its dcvcl-
Opmcnt out OF Kansas and much OF our western ter
ritory, it must seek exit in another quarter The
South made hold and u strong effort to obtain
foothold in Kansas and has been defeated II we
now endeavor to crcumscribe its progress within
certain territorial limits, while the North is encourage
ed 10 go with unchecked advance the result will
be domestic discussion 10 far greater extent than
has hitherto been known. We cannot circumscribe it
and maintain peace at home. The only thing, there
FORE that we can do is to establish new policy in
our relations with Central America and Mexico, and
seeking to give them that peace and political stabli
|y which they require TO maintain their positions as
civilized nations obtain at the same time vent for
the impulse which pcrvades our national life.
Such policy is not only called for by the very cir
cmstances of our existence, but it is in perfect
ormity with those rules that govern the civilized
tons of the world. The great Powers of Europe
have all double policy in their foreign relations
one Of which il exercised in their intercourse with
each other to rcpress either popular tumnlt or M
tonnl aggression while the othcris that under which
they obey their civilizing mission. The law which
guides French diplomacy in Europe has no re-
lation 10 her extension is Northern Africa,
where she is digging wells in the desert and Civ
ing the wandering tribes fixed habltation. SO, too
England in her Indian policy cons,lts only her own
development and internal safety. The course of Rus
sia toward the Mongol Tartars has nothing in COM
to do with her European policy. In all of these
things those countries are in fact obeying an impulse
which springs from their higher civilization, and do
ing work which must rebound to the advantage of
each and of ALL
But we have never had any policy in this respect.
Our government has hitherto confined itself to max
ing commercial treaties with all foreign Powers, and
pressing the claims Of our citizens against some OF
them holding all alike in its intercourse. England,
well knowing that such restricted intercourse could
not always be maintained sought for q long time TO
draw us intoa scheme Of joint intervention in Cen
trail America but failing in this she succeeded in ne
gotatng the Clayton Bulwer folly, by which we bind
ourselves to refrain from exercising our natural intu
ence, and from accepting our manifest destiny in the
countries south Of The result has been that what
the government has agreed not to do the people have
determined they will do. From this springs the
spirit of ilibuscrsm that backs up Walker and his
movement, and which will eventually Americanizc
Nicaragua, whether the government is willing or not
unless the government itself takes the lead and set
ties the question. In such movement as this the
people is far ahead OF the government, as it is
cry other great question But the time has come for
the government to act.
We must abrogate the Clayton-Bulwer treaty and
we must authorize the President to carry out the st
pulations of the treaty with Nicaragua. These two
steps Will inangurate our, southward movement with
dignity and success. If England or France protest
against it, and cndeayor practically to stop lis i'll our
national path we must defy them at once. We have
been humbuggcd enough with the Elliotts in Texas,
the Packenhams in Mexico, the Chatlclds, Wykes and
Manningsi in Central Amerca-al intriguing against
us, all belying national character and all strv
ing to inirrc our interests and that national influence