The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-11-30
THE NICARAGUAN AFFAIR.

Talk of war between this country and
England over the Nicaraguan affair, or
any other affair likely to arise. is pre-
posterous. The relations between the two
people are as intimate and as close as
It is possible for relations between two
separated people to be. They are growing
closer and more intimate all the time,
and the interests of the two touch at
so many points and are so interlaced
with each other, that war between them
would be the very greatest calamity that
could befall either. Talk of war. there
fore. is absurd. The people of neither
country will tolerate a suggestion of such
a thing, and If crack-brained public men
should get the two countries into rela-
tons that threatened any such disaster
we have not the slightest doubt that
popular uprising in each would take the
situation in charge and quickly end all
disputes to the credit and advantage of
both.
But whilst this is true. in our opinion
IT is very important to our own self
respect that the case now in hand shall
be dealt with on lines compatible with
the dignity and justice of this country.
and the semi-official announcements that
come out from Washington Of the plans
which Admiral Walker is maturing for
a sensational sea campaign in Central
American waters and the number and
names of first-class warships that are TO
be concentrated at Bluelelds are not
altogether consistent with that dignifed
reserve which a great nation like ours
should preserve when dealing with an
other great nation in regard to differ
ences that have arisen between the two.
There is little too much Of the lingo
and of the bully in sensational state
ments OF that sort TO suit the disposition
Of orderly and self-respecting Americans.
When this case is looked at fairly and
justly, what possible ground could there
be In II for any disturbance of the
friendly relations between Great Britain
and the United States? a part of the
Atlantic front Of Nicaragua. {: tending 10
within about fifty miles of what is expect
ed TO be the Atlantic outlet Of the Nicara-
qua canal. is called the Mosquito reserva-
ton, settled principally by negroes who
were British subjects that emigrated there
from the island OF jamaica. England
has always asserted jurisdiction over
these people and that territory, and has
long had a treaty in force with Mica
ragua, by which Nicaragua acknowledges
England's rights In the territory. and
agrees to refrain from exercising over IT
certain sovereign rights, while others are
accorded TO her in II. A controversy has
now arisen between England and Mica
ragua upon the question whether or not
Nicaragua has violated the rights which
the treaty guarantees to England, and
the jingoists and sensationalists assert
that IL England uses force 10 compel
Nicaragua TO respect her rights as she
understands them under the treaty, this
Government shall take Nicaragua side
and oppose Englands force with our
force. What sense there is in such an
idea is beyond our comprehension. There
In nothing In England demanding that
Nicaragua shall respect her rights in the
MOSQUITO reservation under the treaty
between the two governments that has
the faintest tendency 10 interfere with
any rights we may have 10 control the
proposed Nicaragua canal. The southern
most point of the Mosquito reservation
"a Il least nifty miles north OF what is
expected 70 be the Atlantic outlet OF the
canal. u England should sttsrapt to IN