New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-05-31

larged It's domain in Belize. For ten years III
chung tenacously to its protectorate over the Mos
quito coast and then abandoned its pretensons
under conditions which leave it to-day at liberty
to intervene as the guardian Of the Indians ana
negroes. if autonomy be withheld by Nicaragua.
The treaty of 1860 nominally restored the
sovereignty of Nicaragua over the Mosquito
coast but II also ratified sanctioned land titles
acquired by the settlers from the Indians assigned
territorial limits to the reservation and armed
British subjects with political power. Differences
Of Interpretation arose between England and Mic
aragua and the questions at issue were submitted
to the Emperor of Austria for arbitration. lie
decided that the treaty invested Nicaragua with
limited sovereignty over the Mosquito seaboard,
1t cocd hoist its flag symbol Of sovereign
ty and could appoint resident commissioner to
secure protection of its rights; but it could not
tax exports or imports nor regulate the trade OF
the reservation. nor interfere with local legis-
lation. The Mosquito Indians or rather the ne
groes from Jamaica. were granted by this treaty
a larger measure of home rule than either Mr..
Gladstone or Mr.. Parnell has ever sought to OBJ
tain for Ireland. They have flag of their own.
they act without reference to Nicaraguan law.
they have their own tariff and revenue systerh
and they have full rights Of self-government.
award was made free port the Nicaragua Govern
ment practically has no revenue control over
its eastern or Caribbean coast from
Cape Gracias to the frontier Of Costa
Rica. Great Britain in removing its
protectorate over the Mosquito reservation has
constituted itself the guardian Of the Indians and
their negro masters. 1t is the only Power which
can intervene if Nicaragua either refuses to pay
arrears Of annuity due to the Indians or invades
the reserved rights of autonomy granted by the
treaty.
The joint protectorate of the Nicaragua Canal
established by the Clayton-Bulwer treaty was
subject to conditions which have been violated by
Great Britain. Not only has Belize been con-
verted from a squatter settlement for the cutting
of logwood and mahogany into Crown colony,
but the Mosquito reservation has also been kept
under a quasi form of British guardianship, and
that too, under the decision of European arbi-
TRAITOR the Emperor of Austria Neither in
British Honduras nor on the Mosquito coast has
there been that absolute withdrawal from COLOMBIA
ton and from the exercise of political control
which, according TO the Clayton-Bulwer treaty,
was and is the indispensable requirement for the
joint protectorate of the canal. There are valid
grounds in both instances for the abrogation of
a treaty which involves a fatal compromise Of
the highest canon of American diplomacy-the
Monroe Doctrine
brief review Of recent events on the Mos
quito coast will demonstrate the urgent necessity
for diplomatic action on the part of the United
States Government. That. seaboard lies few
leagues to the north of Greytown, the Caribbean
terminus of the canal, and stability of govern
ment there will be essential to the construction
and operation Of that great interoceanic work
Ilt,ri tha CT do has q of
race intrigue, and the only security which is now
offered to life and property there is the British
guarantee embodied in the Treaty of Managua.
In 1880, when w. H. Clarence the Mosquito
chief died, conspiracy was formed for enabling
to intervene and take possession OF
the reservation. This was thwarted and new
chief was chosen, g. w. A. Hendy, who was
pupil Of the Moravian missionaries and was bap-
tized on the day of his election. In 1882 another
was formed by Spaniards in the inter
est of Creole, who desired TO be made chief.
They planned the seizure of the arsenal and the
occupation and destruction of Bluefields, but
acted prematurely and were arrested. In 1888
lIendy was either poisoned or drank himself into
the grave. Another chief was elected and died
the following year. Jonathan Charles Frederick
was the next chief, and he died November IL,
1890, under mysterious circumstances. Robert
Clarence, who is now in his nineteenth year. Is
the present chief. The short terms of office and
astonishing rate of mortality among these Mosquito
chiefs cannot be adequately explained by chronic
habits of intemperance in the descendants OF the
royal family There are strong reasons for believ-
ing that several OF these chiefs have been poisoned
Certainly Nicaraguan intrgues are constantly
forming for the overthrow of the Mosquito Gov !
eminent and the acquisition of coast which is
more valuable every year, from the de-
velopment of the banana, mahogany and ruDDer
trade, and Of gold placer mining
On the edge of the Mosquito reservation the
Nicaraguans have established trading town and
camp. This is at Rama on the Bluehelds RIVER,
where the banana steamers now call Tor irult
The plantations on the river are p6 o%ned by
their base of supplies. There are two steamers
which make regular trips twice every week by |
wharf and taking bananas to Blueaelds for ship
nent to the United States. These steamers often !
nave over hundred passengers and they are In !
he main Nicaraguans who Gi are opposed 70 negro
Up the river ardently desires the conquest OF the !
reservation. railway which is to cost between (
80, 100000 and S4,000.000 has been surveyed /
between Rama and San Ubaldo on Lake Nicaragua, (
distance of 102 miles, and the construction OF |
he road has already begun. This line will con- !
Tert Rama into port for the shipment OF coffee ,
IS well as bananas, especially when ii is extended
round the lake to Granada and brought into .
with the western railways. Nicaragua,
when these projects are carried out, VIII be 0cnt
lpon forcing her way to the coast and establish
ng practical control over IL, in place OF the /
PRESENT nominal sovereignty, which is of no real .
-aue. The planters on the river will not be /
atisfed until Bluefields is wrested from the
resent conditions OF negro supremacy and Mo-
avian influence.
Meanwhile one chief after another is baptized,
Installed and buried, and the signs of a race con-
ct for the control Of the Mosquito reservation
re multiplying. There would be annexation at
moments notice if the Treaty Of Managua did
lot constitute Great Britain a guardian of the
lights of the Indians and their black masters.
{ Is only the fear of complications with England
hat prevents Spanish invasion of Bluetieds.
% one installation follows another, the British
'onsul being present as the sponsor Of the Mo-
avian candidate for chief; and every negro in
he reservation when he sees Nicaraguan Colonel
auntering along the roadway Of Blueticlds in
whispers, " l am a British subject and
esire protection!" These are not the conditions
or which Mr. Clayton bargained when he was
Wrapped into that wretched diplomatic travesty-
he canal convention of 1880 The abrogation
( that treaty before much more work Is done
n the Nicaraguan Canal is the American diplo-
latic policy The settlement of the Mosquito reser
alton question can then speedily be effected, for
ord Salisbury in his latest publication on the
ubect-his reply TO Mr.. Bayards incsive and
atrotc letter-has expressed strong desire TO
elieve England from its present responsibilities
n this coast. /. n. L.