The herald., 1895-05-03
THE PRESS ON NICARAGUA

fashionable evening for vaudeville.
THE PRESS ON NICARAGUA
Riverside Enterprise: 1t seems prob
able that the Nicaragua trouble may be
speedily settled--a result not to be antic
pated had President Cleveland pursued
the hot-headed, jlngo policy which his
opponents kindly mapped out for him.
Pasadena News: The attitude of Great
Britain in the Nicaragua question has
created the greatest furore OF the decade
and given the jingoes an opportunity to
shout for liberty in high and discordant
keys. 1t is an interesting study to note
the different positions taken by the press
and public men, and is a fact that those
who know the most a bout the Monroe doc
trine agree that the attitude taken by the
president is right Governor Budd. with
enthusiasm of a youthful nature, gives
utterance to what was. let us hope. an
| after-dinner composition.
San Diego Union: Nicaragua means to
maintain her dignity even IN the face of
defeat. 1t requires considerable back
bone to say that England shall withdraw
troops and ships before any steps are
taken to pay the indemnity demanded.
but this is what the little republic now in
sists upon. and it is more than likely
that Great Britain will submit, if the pay
ment is guaranteed.
New York World: Great Britain
has at last got tired of waiting for
Nicaragua to pay the indemnity OF
900, and today the custom house
at Corinto is to be seized and the indem-
nifty is to be come from ths commerce of
the port. 1t is of course. not agreeable to
| the people of the United States tc witness
the spectacle of European admiral block
| aiding port of an American republic.
But the truth of the matter is that the
| conduct of Nicaragua throughout has been
indefensble. 1t looks as if she mad de-
liberately evaded an easy settlement for
| the sake of drawing us into quarrel
! which does not concern us and which is
exclu sively one of her own making.
| San Bernardino Sum- 1t is not so long
since an European power landed troops
| on the American continent that the news
of the occupation of Corinto by the Brit
| ish is naturally causing much excitement.
| Cool consideration. however, does not
warrant the assumption that the dignity
! of the United States is at present involved
or that the Monroe doctrine is in jeop-
ardy. In a dispute between Nicaragua
| and England the former treated a consul
! lar official of Great Britain with disre-
| spect. unmindful of the courtesy civilized
nations IN peace accord the accredited
representatives of other powers. AS in.
demnity Great Britain required payment
of $75, 600. giving Nicaragua a certain time
W thin which to make it. That time ex-
pred and an English man-of-war landed
soldiers at the chief port and took meas
ures to insure payment.
Kansas City Star: Great Britain, con-
ceiving that she has been inj ured and IN
suited in the person of her representa-
tive, demands an indemnify of Nicara
| qua. The question is between Great
Britain and Nicaragua. and the relative
| size of the parties has nothing to do with
the morals of the case. No American
citizen is involved in the controversy. nor
is any American interest threatened. nor,
for all the Monroe doctrine" is the
United States under any obligation to
protect or defend Nicaragua or any other
of the miserable semiannual govern
ments of Central America. The United
States can defend its own honor, its own
territory and its now citizens, and is not
required on any principle of decency or
common sense so do more than that.
! Sacramento Record Union: The act of
| the NicAraguan government in declaring
Corinto no longer port of entry and in
ordering it closed. however looked upon.
| is indicative of sturdy patriotism. Despite
the face that the Nicaraguans are wrong
in their resistance, unwise and impolitic
we cannot but admire the patriotism that
moves an entire population to vacate
town and give up their homes. and of
| the nation that closes UP, to its infinite
damage. Its chief seaport in orler to out
wit and confuse Il great power that is
pressing indemnity demands upon it.
| But when this is said it remains that
| Nicaragua must pay. She is so advised
| by her nearby sister republics; she is so
urged by her great friend the United
| States of America. who stands between
| her and any possible invasion of con
| quest: she is certain to be coerced to do
J SO at the point of the sword by power
| that can crush her as strong man would
crush an egg shell.
The claim of the president of Nicaragua
that arbitration as to the right to dam
| ages and the amount should be the first
! step is of course one that appeals to
| peace sympathies. But arbitration must
| be voluntary. III a nation refuses to en-
| gage in it, that is the end of the matter.
Oakland Tribune: There has been
| some speculation as to what effect the in
vasion of Nicaragua by British force
| would have on the prospects of the Mica
ragua canal. There may be something in
| the rumor that the canal company has
offered TO advance the money to meet
the claims of indemnity. Warner Miller.
the most active promoter OF that enter
| prise. has been cOnsplcous bgure OF late
in efforts to bring about Il satisfactory
settlement of the difficulty. The Mica
ragua canal treasury has been so low of
late that much of the work at one time
in progress has been suspended. Perhaps
$75. 600 could not be more profitably ex.
| pended just now than in helping Mica
ragua out of the present dilemma. Our
own countrymen have planned that great
! ship canal and have begun the work.
Several millions have already been ex-
pended. Some friendly legislation will
yet be needed on the part of Nicaragua.
| There is a good opportunity to make
| friends in that direction. Warner Miller
is not letting the grass grow under his
feet. So far from any disaster to the
British hostility. it now looks as if it
might be turned to good account in fur
tLering the interests of the canal COM