Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1895-05-03
Nicaragua Can Get No Aid From
the United States.
PRESIDENTS FOR OUR ACTION
The Unfortunate Republic Obliged TO
Decide Upon Its Course Of
Action Today.

States in her controversy with Great
Britain to prevent the seizure OF CORN
to vanished this evening. DR.. Guzman,
the Nicaraguan minister. who has been
waiting with intense anxiety to see
Secretary Gresham was finally success
full 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 minutes GuZman emerged looking
very much depressed. He refused to
say word as to what had taken place,
but it can be stated that the secretary
gave him to understand very clearly
that the United States would not inter-
fere in the case as it stands. So there
are now three courses open to Nicara-
qua, namely: TO pay the indemnity, to
permit the occupation of Corinto, or to
fight, and the next IL hours must find
the choice declared, for the British
troops are to land at daybreak tomor-
row at Corinto.
The position taken by the president
on this matter is that the dispute is one
entirely between Great Britain and Nj
caragua, in which the United States has
no cause to interfere unless there should
be committed acts injurious to Ameri-
can interests in Nicaragua. or there
should be shown a disposition by Great
Britain to acquire Ncaraguan terri
tory. On each of these points favora-
bic assurance has been had from Great
Britain. and it is said that all that can
be now done is to watch the course of
events.
This decision was not hastily reached,
for the entire subject of our rela tons to
the countries of Central and South
America was considered and discussed
carefully by the president with his con-
stitutional advisors, and there has been
made a close scrutiny of precedents that
might suffice for our guidance.
THREE PRECEDENTS.
These have been found in at least
three cases. The first was fully set out
in the message of President Buchanan
to congress in 1859 in that portion relat-
Ing to Paraguay For several years
preceding this message the United
States had great difficulty in maintain
ing friendly relations with Paraguay.
the latter country being then under the
dictatorship of DR., Lopez, who was car
of the world from his country by the
most drastic measures. He had, as
President Buchanan stated, upon the
most frivolous, and insulting pretexts,
refused to ratify the treaty of friendship
and commerce concluded with Para
quay. had seized and appropriated the
property of American citizens residing
in the country in violent and Grbi-
trary manner and finally the Paraguay
ans had fired upon the United States
steamer Water Witch in 1856 and killed
the helmsman, while the vessel was
making peaceful survey of the Parana
river to determine its fitness for steam
navigation. The honor, as we'll as the
interests of the United States. demand
ed satisfaction, and the president, being
clothed by congress with necessary pow
er, sent naval expedition up the Par
ana river to the capital of Paraguay.
compelled ample apologies from the
president, the payment of an indemnity
of $4,000 to the family of the man who
was killed, and finally secured the rati-
fication 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 princi-
pie of right TO demand an indemnity for
the abuse of United States officers, and
therefore we could not consistently de-
ny the same right to Great Britain
THE SECOND CASE
The second case which was relied up
on as a precedent grew out of difficult
ties encountered by Spain, France and
Great Britain in their relations with
Mexico in 1860. These nations asserted
hot hod ala l.
trary and vexatious conduct of Mexico
under the necessity of eXacting from
| the authorities of that country a more
| effective~protection for the persons and
properties of other states as we'll as the
execution of obligations contracted with
them by Mexico. and therefore they had
! combined to effect their ends by force,
| IL need be. The United States, which
had similar grievances against Mexico
was invited to join these European ma
| tions in enforcing their demands. This
| invitation was declined by the United
! States, which was then in the throes of
civil war, but the significant point In
the case is found in the declaration by
Secretary Stewart, as follows:
LAS the undersigned has heretofore
had the honor to inform each of the
| plenipotentiaries now addressed, the
president does not feel himself at liber-
ty to question, and he does not ques-
| ton, that the sovereigns represented
have undoubted right to decide 70,
| themselves the fact that they have sus
tanned grievances and resort to wal
against Mexico for the redress thereof
and have also a right to levy the wal
severally or Jointly. The United State.
has a deep interest which, however
they are happy to believe is an interes
held by them in common with the high
contracting powers and with all othe
civilized states, that neither of the SOW
ereigns by whom the convention ha
been concluded shall seek or obtain an,
acquisition of territory. or any advan
tage peculiar to itself and not equal,
left open to the United States and ever,
other civilized state. within the terrific
ries of Mexico, especially that neithe
one or all of the contracting parties
shall, as a result of hostilities to be in
augurated under the convention, exer
else in the subsequent affairs of Mexic,
influence calculated to impair the RICH
of the Mexican people to choose an,
freely to institute the form OF its owl
government"
1t appears that those stipulation
were acknowledged by the contracting
parties to the satisfaction of Presiden
Lincoln, although ii was found neces
sary. after the close of our own war
to take steps to expel Maximillian from