New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1859-07-07
ON THE HORNS OF A DILEMMA.

1t begins to be convincngly apparent that there is
hitch in the treaty negotiations for the opening OF
the Nicaragua transit route which may prove gor'
dian knot that only the sword of armed compulson
viii unloose. This hitch in the coil Of diplomacy,
which IT had just begun to unwind with no little
promise Of happy conclusion, had no fair represen'
taton in the grand flourish of segratuation over Its
astute policy with which the Administration, through
its organs, announced the proximate opening OF the
Nicaragua transit in the most peaceable and crafty
ing manner and also the satisfactory amende OF the
Government of that country for the Indulgence OF s
thievish propensties in laying hands on the steamers
of the Lake. The hitch arises from the circumstance
that, as in all bargains, there are two sides 10
treaty. and the Administration, having fixed up Its
side Of the coyenanting agreement, did not MINK
necessary to dampen the little gush OF popular appro
baton which its management called forth by suggest
ing that there was possibility that the other side
might not be consummated, for the delightful sensa
ton which it experienced in even murmur Of ap-
provsl of its course too rare and sweet obaton
to be tempered with, or to be endangered by an I'M
necessary exhibition of righteousness on its part.
With the lights we have, it would seem that all
conclusions Of the prompt and peaceabe opening of
the transit have greater claims to reality than can
be aptly expressed by such contemptuous comment
as "bosh," "humbug," ETC.. for it appears that
Gen. Jerez is not Nicaragua, the Administration
permitted the people to believe; that Nicaragua's
policy ia not what Jerez may nscrbe on official cap
that Jerez's Nicaragua popularity and authority is
much more matter Of veritable entity in Washing.
ton than in Nicaragua, the Government Of which
simply refuses to acknowledge its existence, and thus
saves itself the trouble Of repudiating it, The Marti
nez Administration party Of Nicaragua have wonder
fully educated noses for dlibusters, and smell
one as readily a. . dog can wolf; they are quite
certain that they can detect 6libustsr faint in the
atmosphere poisoned by the presence Of Gen. Jerez
simply because his views have betrayed that he pos
sesses some little wise berality of sentiment and he
becomes not only practically unetus ocio instanter,
but very miserable object of the suspicion and con-
tempt of his bound countrymen. The refusal to
recognize his treaty is positive.
This state Of affairs places the Administration at
Washington on the horns of dilemma Of somewhat
unpleasant character, and all through its own want
Of foresight and ordinary shrewdness For assuming
Gen. Jerez to be nothing less than the Government
Of Nicaragua and with eyes fully open to its dupli-
city and Justification to its unreliable and dishonor-
able character it proceeded unhesitatingy to adjud
cate the Johnson White Nicaragua Transit mail con-
tract thus guaranteeing it to the contractors and
binding itself to see them through-a responsibility
assuredly involved by its obligations. But as the
matter stands now the Administration will have the
choice Of seeing the contractors through at the point
of the bayonet or else prove disgracefuy renegade
to its engagements. The business may possibly be
yet fixed up without recourse to arms, though should
ii not we would not regret the fighting alternative,
as we think it the discipline which Nicaragua is
spelling for lack Of but we should almost pity the
Admin istration complete would be the somersault
which its own buDgling management had forced
upon it, completely oyerthrowing that wretched line
Of policy which it has followed out in Nicaraguan
affairs in the face of right and the wishes of
the people. Think Of poor old Buck being com.
PEELED at last to send CON- Paulding to fight against
instead Of fight for Nicaragua, and in the very transit
cause in which he was then on the other side 1t
would be an exquisite point of humiliation.