The record-union., 1895-04-27
THE NICARAGUAN DIFFICULTY

THE NICARAGUAN DIFFICULTY,
There is an apparent disposition on the
part of many citizens to desire con-
tlict with England on account Of the Mic
araguan incident. There is no cause for
war with Great Britain on that account.
We are not so badly spelling for fight
that we can afford to even entertain such
an idea.
The case is very simple. England
claims damages in the sum of $3.50
against Nicaragua for the expulsion of
Consular Agent Hatch from Bluefelds
during the late Mosquito reservation diff
ficulty. Nicaragua objected to England
fixing the sum arbitrarily and suggested
instead a commission of arbitration to
assess any damages, provided it was
found that Nicaragua had so offended as
to be responsible, which. by the way, she
denies. England refused to submit to
arbitration and issued her ultimatum de-
manding payment on or before the 26th
inst. Nicaragua replied that the ultima
tum was unsatisfactory" and England
responded by sending ships of war to
Corinto to seize the Custom-house and
collect import duties until the sum of the
claim is satisfied.
ThereupOn Nicaragua appealed to the
United States to interfere, and large num-
bers of our people. under misapprehen-
sion OF the true application of the Mon
roe doctrine, demand that we shall in
terfere and prevent England from pro-
ceeding to carry out her threat. Even
these citizens admit that our reason for
interference would be, not to the fact of
the laying of the claim, but to the method
adopted for its collection. And therein
lies their error.
Yesterday the RECoRD-UNIoN gave the
Monroe doctrine in full, as enunciated by
President Monroe, and said that it had
| never been acknowledged by legislative
action by Congress, and that the doctrine
has been one known only in diplomatic
| correspondence. While this is true, it is
no less doctrine that has grown into a
policy and has been accepted by the peo-
pie as right Now what is the essence of
that doctrine? Not that foreign powers
shall not proceed to collect just claims
from Pan-American States, nor to so act
as will protect the interests of their SUBJ
jects and citizens in American States,
precisely as we do and should do and have
done for ours. But it gpes to this extent,
that never, as the result Of such action by
a European State, shall such power affect
conquest of an American State or prevent
the people thereof from establishing and
maintaining any form of government
they see fit; nor shall such action ever
result in the establishment by any
! European power Of its system upon an
American continent. In other words, no
European power shall gain any territory
/ in either continent of the Americas or
there set up its system without our con-
sent.
Now, in the enforcement of her claim
against Nicaragua, England disavows any
intention of acquiring territory or of ef-
fecting any conquest or setting up any
English system in Central America. AS
we have exercised the right that England
now claims, in the Paraguayan case; as we
will likely do so very soon in our friction
with Central American State; as in 1860
and again in 1866 we distinctly refused to
interfere where European powers were
enforcing claims against Mexico and
Chile, and employing force, how can we
now interfere in the case of Nicaragua
Should we do as some of our hot
headed people wish, and prevent England
from asserting and maintaining her right
to compel Nicaragua to respect British
rights, and the persons and property of