The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-03-11

Whatever 1t may be due TO. whether
TO The teachings Of our school histories.
which set out con amore and with some
exaggeration Of detail our side of our
Revolutionary quarrel with Great Britain
or to the teachings of those protective
tariff statesmen who persistently tell us
that the Golden Club is always bribing
us to participate in the blessings Of free
trade, it is beyond question that there
is a large body of our fellow-citizens,
particularly amongst those who live north
of US, who look upon England as the
ogre amongst nations, licking her chops
amidst her sea-girt rocks. and ready at
all times to spring on and devour all
that come within her reach. This is the
spirit that is behind Senator Morgan's
movement in the Senate directed towards
enquiring into the recent landing of Eng
lsh marines at Bluefelds, near the At
lantic entry into what is expected to be
the Nicaragua canal. 1t is just as well,
then. that this canal should be under
stood at once, and we lay its principal
facts before our readers as far as we have
been able to ascertain them.
There lies along the Atlantic front of
Nicaragua slice of territory about one
hundred and fifty miles long and some
fifty miles wide, one Of the most fertile
territories in Central America, inhabited
by tribe of aboriginal Indians $50 far
as not adulterated), called the Mosquito
tribe. The Spaniards never reduced this
tribe TO subsection, but, in the wars be-
tween Spain ana England long ago, Eng
lish negroes were carried to the country
from Jamaica to cultivate fruit. who
spoke the English language These mixed
with the native Indians, and the English
became the prevailing speech. England
has always since exercised a sort of
supervision and protection over the place.
Wthou. going into details and explaining
how IL came about, it is sufficient TO say
that some fifty years ago very serious
complications arose between this country
and England concerning che control which
she undertook TO assert over the terri
tory, which, however. were finally adjust
ed by what is known as the Clayton-Bul-
wer treaty, signed and ratified in 1859. set
ting forth and fixing the views and inten-
tons of the two governments with refer
ence TO any means of communication by
ship canal which may be constructed be-
turaap tho Atlantic anb Dacffic ocea,,
The first article OF that treaty provides
that
Neither Government shall erect or
maintain any fertilization. or occupy or
fortify or cOlOnize or assume or exercise
any dominion over Nicaragua, Costa Rica.
the Mosquito coast or any part of Central
America. nor make use of any protection
which either affords or may afford, or any
alliance which either has or may have
10, or with. any State OF people for any
Of the above purposes"
In 1850 Great Britain entered into a
treaty with Nicaragua by which she re-
llnquished all claims whatever to the Mos
quito coast and acknowledged the sover-
eighty OF Nicaragua over that territory.
She made certain reservations. however,
for the benefit OF the inhabitants OF the
ragua shall collect no customs duties from
imports or exports 10 or from that coast.
England has had 20 call Nicaragua 10
book several times under this treaty. In
1870 the Nicaraguans set up a custom
house at Bluehelds, and. upon complaint