Buchanan County bulletin and guardian. (Independence, Iowa) 1866-1869, 1867-07-12

1t is little singular that Mexico
and Central America have been the
poradisc of freebocters ever since the
discovery Of the continent. The world
generally seems to have INDUCED in
the belief that they were open fields
the worlds commons -for free plum
der, and acting upon this theory, ad-
venturer after advcnturcr has held out
his hand for the prize only to. meet a
we'll mcritcd doom. The latest in
stances of this kind have been in the
persons Of g fillibustcr Walker and
the /" Arch-Duke Macmillan. We
beg our readers not to be deceived by
the dignity Of title. William Walker
was better man than Macmillan, fol
he was never guilty of declaring out
lawry against his enemies and Of
shooting down prisoners Of war in cold
blood. The title of Arch-Duke does
not in the least modify or palate Max
inilian's infamous orders 10 murder
the adhcrants of the great national
cause in Mexico upon capture. His roy
al blood only grows darker from his
inhumanity in adding to the horrors
Of war, by attempting to break down
that merciful principle ofthe common
law Of war which renders the life of a
prisoner sacred.
William Walker was an untitled
American citizen Who at the request
of a political party in Nicaragua went
to that country with body of armed
Americans to assist the party in gain
ing the ascendency. Temporarily sue
cessful, his name began to command
respect and he become the "grey eyed
man Of destiny who was to liberate
all Central America and establish
powerful nationality. But unsuccess-
full, he became fugitive and once
more an American "fillibuster :"
Again venturing forth on frceboot-
ing expedition, he was captured on
the coast of Honduras and shot by the
soldiers Of the government he sought
to oyerturn tie acorM dll,td,tds
tie act. lie was but a mrrdcrous adj
yenturer, who. protesting to be inspir-
ed by honest motives, was en-
aeayoring 10 bring the horrors ofcivil
war upon guiltless people.
Macmillan was titled scion Of Aus
TITAN ro, atty. member of despotic
III ,use which chance had fastened up
on an oppressed people as their lords
and masters. lie was sent as the tool
Of an unscrupulons Emperor to assume
authority over people struggling for
nationality. Under cover of French
and Austrian bayoncts he established
the semblance of a regal government
and in the full fush Of apparcnt success
but forth that heathcnish, devilish de-
cree which declared the defenders Of
constitutional liberty in Mexico, out
laws, to be shot upon capture. Hun
dreds Of prisoners Of war were shot in
cold blood under this decree, and yet
its guilty author expected
mercy and a free pardon when the
fortunes of war had thrown him into
the hands Of the Liberals. Simple
i usticc dcmanded his death. and the
Mexican government deservs h'nor
FOR its moral courage in meeting the
Obligations Of justice in the face ofthe
mcnaces Of the world.
But why all this uproar over the
death of Macmillan Walker was
even more Of a man. but the world
was not moved by his death. lie sim
,ly lacked a title, Which among fy-
rants aud aristocrats universally COM
Inauds more consideration than man.
hooa. Juarez possessed the uniiinch-
lug courage to treat 'he usurper pre-
cise|y in accordance Will the usa5cs
II ral, il defiance Of tho tryarnies o. |