New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-28
OCCUPATION OF CORINTO.

Tho British occupation of Corinto differs from
tho ordinary employment Of marines from a ship
Of war. The soldiers are not on shore for the
nrotection Of the consulate, nor for the defence
If English subjects They are in the custom
house and central barracks as a foreign garrison
in control of the town. The Nicaraguan troops
marched out when the British forces landed. The
nd ADMINISTRATION Of the customs passed into for
eign hands. Nicaraguan control OF the man port
Of the republic has been temporarily suspended
The country has been invaded because the EoV-
eminent has refused to pay an indemnity levied
arbitrarily by Great Britain. Nicaragua mas
virtually been held up" in highway fashion be-
cause she has insisted upon having foreign claims
against her treasury settled by legitimate meth
DDS of arbitration.
There have been unpatriotic censOrS Oh Amerl-
can diplomatic methods who have strenuously
objected TO the active use made Of the Navy dur
ING recent years. They have been horrlned by
the preparations for cOercing Chill AFTER the
Valparaiso outrage TO the Baltimores men, by
the landing of marines AT Honolulu ana 10y me
concentration of 4 strong naval squadron IN
Rio de Janpiro What would these querulous
critics have said if the United States Government
had assessed bill OF damages against foreign
State demanded payment AT sight ana sent
fleet to the chief port 10 enforce collection 10y
se,zure az the customs revenues? They would
nrohobly have characterized the performance as
essentially piratical, and have condemned the
ontraqe as crime against civilization. England
mas no right in law or in morals 10 occupy lot
eign territory. to exercise sovereignty ana 10
seize revenues in payment OF an indemnity ieVi'u
ex parte on the "stand-and-dclver principe
because England does this thing and President
Cleveland tolerates and sanctions it, these cavli
ling censors may be reconcled TO 1t temporarily
as one OF The necessary details Of imperial pol
lev; but what a rIb-a-dub Of abuse there would
be If the American Navy were employed In that
way,
Something has been said about preccdents.
The President is credited with expressing the
opinion that il would be- dangerous thing II IN"
principle were recognized that any feeble state
on the American Continent was entitled 10 Inc
support of the United States Government Whoh
ever II resisted payment IL just debt or repdra-
ton for n grievance Well. it will also be most
unfortunate if through the inactiOn ana indiiI"r
ence Of that Government the precedent he eStalr
lished that Europeans can collect iher SCUM
American debts by naval demonstrations. span
,sh America has borrowed many hundreds OF
millions in Europe. Many Of the States have
defauted in their interest or principal; ana imam
cial claims aud indcmnities are constantly arts
ing II il be the opinion Of the State Depart
mcnt that the Monroe Doctrine has no bearing
unon debts and clqms Of that character, and that
souadrons can be sent out at any time with full
mower TO land marines and to take charge ~ the
custom houses there will be an immense deal Of
naval activity in Southern waters In the near
future
II there be imbecile diplomacy in Washington
this outrage at Corinto will pass without obscrva
ton and without rcmOnsrance. II there be
common sense and courageous action, Great Brit
ain will be Immediately warned that she has
violated her treaty engagements with the United
States and that Congress will be called upon TO
abrogate the Clayton Bulwer Convention. The
refusal Of the British Foreign Office 10 submit
its claims against Nicaragua to arbitration, and
the wantOn invasion Of COrnto by the bluejack-
cts from the fleet, are crimes against civiliza-
ton. great Government which demands OF
a weak nation large indemnity for grievances
that It refuses 10 settle by arbitration is acting
| the part of a bully and brigand. That is what
| England Is doing, and apparently with the con-
| sent Of the State Department The British For
eign Office ought to be Immediately called TO ac-
count for treaty breaking The Cleveland Ad-
mnstration has an opportunity for diplomacy
Of real force Let it move promptly for the abro-
CATION Of the Clay ton-Bulwcr Convention on the
| lines Of the famous Blaine and Frcllnghuysen
| dispatches, and it may regain the respect OF
| Americans. If 1t does anything else, it will make
n serious bunder; and as the old whist-players'
maxim runs: The cards never forgive"