The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-26
Vice Admiral Stephenson Serves Mo-
ticc that His Marines VIII Leave
the War ships at O'Clock a. m.
NO AID FROM UNCLE SAM
SECRETARY GRESHAM BLASTS MIN
IsTER GUzMAN's LAST HOPE.
He Informs Nicaragun'x Represents
ativc that the United states Will
Not interfere I'm the Matter.

states in her controversy with Great Brit
ain TO prevent the seizure of Corinto van
ished this afternoon. DIR. Guzman, the
Nicaraguan minister. who had been watt
ing with intense anxiety to sec Secretary
Gresham was finally successful about 3
o'clock, when the Secretary came into the
department from the White House, where
he had been in consultation with President
Cleveland, presumably on the same subject.
The interview was very short. In five min
utes the minister emerged from the Secre-
tarys office, locking very depressed. He
refused to say word as to what had taken
place. but 1t can be stated that the Secre-
tary gave him TO understand very clearly
that the United States would not interfere
in the case As II stands So there are now
three courses open to Nicaragua-namely,
to pay the indemnity, to permit the occu-
patton OF Corinto. or to hght--ahd the next
twelve hours must find the choice de-
clared. for the British troops are to land
at daybreak tomorrow at Corinto.
As already stated in these dispatches, the
position taken by the President in this
matter is that the dispute Is one entirely
between Great Britain and Nicaragua, in
which the United States has no call to in
terfere, unless there should be committed
acts injurious to American interests in
Nicaragua or there should be shown dis
position by Great Britain to acquire Mic
araguan territory. On each of these points
a favorable assurance has been had from
Great Britain, and 1t la said all that can
be done is to watch the course of
events This decision was not hastily
reached, for the entire subject of our re-
lations to the countries of Central and
South America was discussed very care
fully by the President with his constitu-
tional advisers, and there has been made
close scrutiny of the precedents that might
suffice for our guidance. These have been
found in at least three cases.
HOW WE BULLIED PARAGUAY.
The. first was fully set out in the mes
sage of President Buchanan to Congress in
1859, in that portion relating to Paraguay.
For several years preceding this message
the United States had great difficulty in
maintaining friendly relations with Para
quay, the latter country then being under
the iron Dictatorship Of DIR. Lopez, who
was carrying out palcy of excluding the
rest OF +sreAA,so44sfl ins~country by the
most drastic measures He had, as Presi-
dent Buchanan stated the most frivol-
Gus and even insulting pretexts refused to
ratify the treaty of friendship and COM
merce concluded with Paraguay, had seized
and appropriated the property of Amer
ican citizens residing in the country in a
violent and arbitrary manner, and finally
the Paraguayans had fired on the United
States steamship Water Witch in 1855 and
killed the helmsman while the vessel was
making a peaceful survey of the Parana
river to determine it's fitness for steam
navigation. The .honde as well as the inter-
ests of the United States demanded salts
faction, and the President. being clothed
by Congress with the necessary power,
sent a naval expedition up the Parana
river to the capital of Paraguay and COM
PEELED ample apologies from the President.
the payment of an Indemnity of s1eoe0 to
the family of the seaman who was killed.
and finally secured the ratification of the
treaty. The application of this case to
the Nicaraguan situation is not exact. but
it is regarded as committing the United
States to the recognition Of the principle
of the right to demand an indemnity for
the abuse of United States officers, and.
therefore, we could not consistently deny
the same right to Great Britain.
The second case which was relied on as
a precedent grew out of the difficulties
encountered by Spain, France and Great
Britain in their relations with Mexico in
1860. These nations asserted that they had
been placed by the arbitrary and vexatous
conduct of Mexico under the necessity of
exacting from the authorities of that coun-
try more effective protection for the
persons and properties of other states, as
well as the execution of obligations con-
tracted with them by Mexico, and, there
fore. they had combined to effect their ends
by force If need be. The United States, which
had similar grievances with Mexico. was in
vited to join the European nations in fore
ing their demands on Mexico. This invita-
1~xv 4En Jr~,t1
which was then in the throes of civil war,
but the significant point in the case is
found in this declaration by Secretary Sc
ward:
las the undersigned. has heretofore had
the honor TO inform each of the plenipoten-
raes G NOW s.rtn ne 70 ann does
he does not question. that the sovereigns
represented have undouhted right to decide
for themselves the fact whether they have
sustained grievances, and TO resort TO war
against Mexico for the redress thereof
ana or a.sg ne 20 ne ins states
have q deep interest. which, however, they
are happy to believe - an interest held by
powers and with all other civilized States.
that neither of the sovereigns by whom
the convention has been concluded shall
seek or obtain any acquisition of territory
or any advantage peculiar TO itself and
not equally left open to TO the he. United states.
neither one nor all Of the contracting par
ties SHALL as result or consequence of the
hostilities to be inaugurated under the CEN
vention. exercise in the subsequent affairs
Of Mexico influence calculated to impair the
right of the Mexican people TO choose and
freely to constitute the form of its own
government.
1t appears that these stipulations were
acknowledged by the contracting parties
TO the satisfaction of President Lincoln
although 1t was found necessary after the
close OF our own war 70 take steps to
expel Maximillian from Mexico.
A CHILIAN CASE CITED
The third precedent was found in the
case of the war between Spain and Chile
in 1855 when, on being appealed to in be-
half of Chile, in the name of the Monroe
doctrine, to prevent the hombardment OF
Valparaiso Secretary Seward wrote to
United States Minister Fitzpatrick at SAN
tiago as fellows:
.sThe government Of the United States
will maintain and insist that the decision
and energy which ace compatible with cur