Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1885-01-03

WASHINGTON, Dec. 27th, 1884.

The coup d etat Of the present ad-
ministration has been the Nicaraguan |
treaty. No subject for long time has
excited such interest among politicians
and officials at Washington. At the
Capitol, through the lobbies, and about |
the hotels one hears little else now but
this Nicaraguan question. AS the mat
ter comes to be fully comprehended it
opens up possibilities that are startling.
1t not only means liberal construction
Of the theory Of our government relating
to foreign occupation of any territory
on this continent, as enuaciated by Presi-
dent Menroe, but the acquisition Of ter
ritory more than thousand miles from
our southern border, and the mainte-
nance oil free ship canal, and the con.
structon of powerful forts and their
occupation by garrisons sufficiently
strong to hold the territory acquired
and enforce our canal regulations against
any foreign power. The scheme has
all the essential attributes Of Mr..
Blaine's plan of an imerlal republic;
that is, republic the southernmost
boundary of which would be the equa-
tor-the most audacious as it was the
most dazzling scheme Of our time.
With a view of finding just how this
matter appeared to ether, and in par
ticular to the Army, Navy and the best
political thinkers, interviewed persons
who are representative men Of the class
mentioned "It will be q great thing
for both Army and Navy" said an Off
Ger OF high rank, a member of The
Swain court martial now sitting at
/ Washington, ''and for tins reason: Two
strong forts will be required, one at
each end OF The canal, and perhaps a
| third midway between the two. These
will need to he Of the best modern type
known to military engineering science,
Otherwise they would be perfectly use
less, and a special garrison OF not less
than three thousand men, perhaps more
will be needed TO man them. You see
this action of the President and his
Secretary of State is pretty audacious
piece of business. We have notified
all the world that we intend 10 control
the inter oceanic canal route, build it
ourselves, and regulate the passage oi
commerce and was ships through it, as
we may see proper. This means a great
deal when you come to look at it. To
England it is a notice that this Govern
ment will open and keep under its own
control line Of communication 10, ooo
miles nearer to the British colonies in
the Pacific than any existing route. But
don't misunderstood me. | am for the
canal. We need something TO stir up
the military spirit of the nation, which
the all-peryading anxiety among our
people to get money, has somewhat
stopped, and this would do it. We are
very rich and very weak. The Presi-
dent has done a wise thing and we can
not 90 back on him now."
After this interview | hunted up a
naval officer who was a prominent par
ticipant in one OF the most famous en-
gagements OF our late war, and to him
/ put very much the same questions as
were propounded 10 the military COM
mander. "NoIhing since the Virginius
affair has created such lively sensation
in our service as has this Nicaraguan
treaty." said he, Sand don't see how
either branch of Congress can disregard
it. The President has put us into deep
water before we knew it. II we fail TO
ratify this treaty all Europe will under
stand that we were simply afraid to do
it, and a pleasant position that would
be If we do not ratify it then we
must get ready to maintain our preten'
sions in the Caribbean sea by something
more than talk"
81 think this Nicaraguan treaty will
be ratified in the Senate" said Demo
cratic Senator with whom next talked.
"We have talked it over somewhat and
the general opinion is that we will dc
we'll for the country, and our party too,
to stand by the President. Unless this
nation is weaker and meaner than | am