Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1859-01-14
From the courier de Paris, Dec. IA.



Opinions of the French and English Press.
The latest news from the United States, announcing
that the government at Washington had taken into Sc
rous consideration OF france
and England and had decided to put stop to the ex-
petition of Walker gives us only an incomplete security
as TO the fate of Nicaragua That bold adventurer
(Waker) has shown that in of need he is able to
deceive the complaisant watch (surveiance) of the
American police and should not be surprised to learn
by subsequent dispatches that he has succeeded in eav
ing Mobile. Mr.. Buchanans administration will not
be embarrassed in proving that it has this occasion
used all the allowed by the constitution to pre-
vent the guilty enterprise and it would thus shelter its
responsibility towards the two great European powers
But admitting that t1e government Of the Union
sincerely wishes to keep its engagements and that it
succeeds in preventing the sailing of the busters, the
fears conceived about Nicaragua and the other small
States of Central America will remain the One
cannot deny that the schemes of Walker inspire lively
and almost an unanimous sympathy beyond the Allan
TIC where they do not much about what constitutes
old international laws. The federal government it.
SELF by its neglect to punish the busters, rather by
its evident connivance with them has fully shown how
it looks upon them. If now it resolves to oppose them
it is we believe because Of the firm attitude of the Paris
and London cabinetst does not consider it prudent to
do otherwise But we would be wrong to expect from
the former President of the Ostend Congress greater
zeal than he has hitherto shown this question.
Besides, there, more than any other point of the
American continent, the policy of annexation is
California renders debouche for them on the Pacific
coast Indispensable 1t is longer sufficient for them
to dean it, hey have done hitherto with the lands
the West, simply by improving them. They ought, at
every sacrifice apd with little delay, to establish sure
and easy COMMUNICATIONS between the State and the
rest of the Union. Thus, they should relinquish
the pckaXe of the pioneer and the Ratchet of the woods
man-their ordinary instruments of conquest-to take
in their stead the dangerous perhaps, but expeditions
mode of coup de main.
41o ~
such enterprise The considerations which led
them to undertake the the East exist here with
an equal force, and they sustained by motives Of
general interest which there would be danger in forget
ting By her situation Central America is destined to
become the point of the concentration of the commerce
of the world and to let the United States take possess
ion of it would be to yield to them the monopoly of the
future transactions between Europe and the entire Orient
On the other hand, ought France and England to de-
ermne upon keeping themselves in those ATTITUDES forces
sufficient to oppose every act OF piracy? That step
would create ncessan causes of conflict and thus rem
der the maintenance of peace always precarous What
it is necessary to d. then is to strengthen the little
States to show them how to protect themselves by them
selves. 1t has been said for days past there
project for mixed monarchy for the Island of Cuba and
that of Porto Rico which would give to those posses
sons independent existence nationality of which
they have always been deprived. 1t is possible ALSO
that in the near future Mexcoaas! for her internal
cOnvulSlOnS-Wlll become more calm she then fol-
low their example, and intimate alliance between the
three kingdoms would suffice to protect them against
the aggressions of their powerful neghbors This plan
is said to be irrSstabe, and Spain, the first who has
taken the initiative would not hesitate moment to
put it in prace Perhaps for herself it is not to be
regretted for she does not at present succeed in main
tanning her dominion Cuba by example, but has to
aid it by display of force which renders that rich col
ony burthensome charge upon the mother country.
There has been question, likewise but with more
foundation it appears confederation between the
diverse States of Central America and it is also added
that the Presidents of those five republics ought to
semble in Congress at Guatemala at the end of this
month"; for the purpose of laying the bases of that union
France boldly encourages that combination and will
even name delegate to assist at the conference.
We make these observations, since obstacle ap-
pears to hinder the realization of this idea Those States
ought to cast aside all rivalry, and remember that their
isolation only makes them feeble, and leaves them with
out defence against the attempts of invasion by the Uni
ted States. 1t is only by contracting among themselves
confederation upon liberal and sincere bases that they
will preserve their independence and arrive to the degree
of prosperity which the future promises them.
Under the influence of grand international move
ment which plans tor itself each day important role
is reserved in reality to Central America The centre
of the world, from the point of geographical view, it
that she ought to be day the centre of the
of the Orient and Occdent The space which she
occupies compared to the two vast continents which she
connects relatively exceedingly SMALL being only So,
900 miles square, or 475000 kilometres Her popula
ton does not exceed altogether two millions of inhabi
tants, who divided between the States follows
Guatemala, 485,O00 San Salvador, 394O00 Hondu
ras 100000; Nicaragua, 100000; Costa Rica, l25,
| 900.
That is only an average of thirteen inhabitants fol
four square kilometres and if it is remembered tina
France which far from being the country least popu
ous in Europe contains in it sixtyeight, will b.
struck with the smaness of that proportion. But tn
vicious and demorazng system of Spanish colonization
hoo
since their emancipation has contributed to keep thos
beautiful regions in the condition Of solitude in whic
they were found. Nevertheless, a calm political situa
ton and the construction of the projected canal through
Nicaragua, of which M. Belly has obtained the cOnces
sion, will create a commercial activity which will rapid
draw there the current of European emigration which
hitherto has been borne toward the United States anC
there no doubt that the population ought rapidly tt
acquire increase that in several years it would b.
I found to be doubled or t1ebled.
! This prediction of Europe for the United States has
only been too largely justified heretofore. There life il
active, fruitful powerful it astonshes by its ncOmpar
able prosperity it attracts consequently the floods
emgrants who go to seek with their homes the liberty
work. reward and property which they miss in their ma
tive land In the old Spanish colonies of America f
does not to have activity but the contrary, tt
be destroyed 1t evident that the attention OF th
Old World should bear itself in preference towards tn
aboring and rich people, contact with whom regeperate
and strengthens
But commerce and industry will resort promptly t.
Central America, so admirably situated to serve for
transit and emporium to the transactions of the unvers
the rival and competitor of the America of the North
1t is through them that she will begin to iron
the ethargy in which she remains ensaved they sure
contain the germ of strength of richness of grandeur
of cvilization-in Short of life of that life in which
their impatient folly the inhabitants have too frequent
demanded in the anarchy which brings only ruin an
prepares only regrets.
Il Markets.