The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1895-03-16
BRITAIN AND NICARAGUA.

The Spokane Daily Times very clearl,
presents the inpor alce OF the control O
the Nicaragu canal by the United State
in the following editorial comment:
The United states government shoulC
not temporize in the matter of the con
struction or ownership OF the Nicaragu.
canal. Its construction is of more i'm
rortance TO this government than to any
other on earth, because it touches more
interests vital to our growth and pros
perity. The Nicarauguan government
Is friendly to ours and anxious that the
canal should be constructed under Amer
lcin Influence, by American engineers
and American labor, il not With Ameri-
can money.
"I.stterIy spirit OF indifference and
apathy seems to have come over our
government and many OF our people
seem to be losing sight OF the Importance
OF this waterway. 1t is not too much to
say this has been brought about by Brit
ish influence. England seeks to control
this great artery of the worlds com
merce. Americans in Nicaragua have
often written CT the Willy intrigues and
designs OF that power in the isthmus
country and recent writer states tha'
it is becoming evident TO onlookers that
Great Britain is endeavorns to throw
a strong protectorate over all OF the Cen
trail American states and make them
actual dependencies OF her majesty's
government.
England has long held to the idea that
the earth belongs to those who will take
it, and, as this is portion that seems to
be out in the cold, with no strong hand
to guide it to the protection of suitable
cover, she will annex it to the domin-
ions on which tho sun never sets. Con
fronied only with the enervating foreign
policy OF Secretary Gresham, it would
probably be ali easy matter for her to
convince Uncle sam that it would be
ir.aeh OF international etiquette for him
to interpose an objection to her designs.
ALREADY the British government has
planted colony on the Bay of Hondu-
ras on the northeast coast OF Central
America, and have dominion over an
ARIA Ct 1880 square miles, with a pop
ula:ion of $1,000. This province is
known as British Honduras or Balize
from the principal town and principal !
river. The British settlement al Baliz- !
dates back one hundred years. Their /
first occupancy was for the purpose o:
trading and TO procure the native pro
d acts OF the country. which consis
largely OF mahogany, sugar, coffee, cot |
ton. India rubber and dye stuff,. In
lsb2, while we were engaged in the war
ot the rebellion, Balize came to be e.n-
orally recognized as British province
with the name OF British Honduras
since which time il has had British
governor and magistrates. From the
rity OF Balize, the British have extended
their trade all over Central America and
II they can succeed in getting control Of
the whole country it will he rich de
penden"e Of the crown.
'No doubt Central America needs the
ifiuence oil some enlightened civilized
power, to enable her to prevent the fire.
l1ent revolutions and counter reyolu.
lions which has 50 frequently distracted
people. the country is rich in gold,
silver and other metals, coal, ulphur,
alabaster and other minerals.
but these could not be developed on &C.
cunt Of the inability OF the government
10 protect individual rights. But if any
nation must lend helping hand to this
country let it be the United States of
and its inter-oceanic canal
should be constructed by this govern
nent and he under the control Of no
,ther."