Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1895-05-10
BISMARCK WEEKLY TRIBUNE: FRIDAY MAY 10, 1895

as a foreign garrison in control of the
town. The Nicaraguan troops marched
out when the British forces landed.
The administration of the customs pass
ed into foreign hands. N%icaraguan con
troll of the main port Of the republic has
been temporarily suspended. The
country has been invaded because the
government has refused to pay an indem-
nifty levied arbitrarily to Great Britain.
Nicaragua has virtually been "held up
in highway fashion because she has in
sisted upon having foreign claims
against her treasury settled by legiti-
mate methods Of arbitration.
There have been unpatriotic censors
of American diplomatic methods who
have strenuously objected to the active
use made of the navy during recent
years. They have been Mortified by the
preparations for coercing Chilli after the
Valparaiso outrage to the Baltimore's
men, by the landing of marines at Hon
olulu and by the concentration of a
strong naval squadron in Rio de Janeiro.
What would these quernlous critics have
said if the United States government
had assessed a bill of damages against a
foreign state, demanded payment at
sight and sent a fleet to the chief port to
enforce collection by seizure of the GUS
toms raun,,,ocp TNho1, Mould ~,ol,,li,
have characterized the performance as
essentially plratical, and have con-
demned the outrage as a crime against
civilization, England has no right in
law or in morals to occupy foreign ter
ritory, to exercise sovereignty and to
seize revenues in payment of al indem-
nifty levied ex-parte on the 'stand. and
deliver principle. Because England
does this thing, and President Cleveland
tolerates and sanctions it, these cavilllng
censors may be reconciled to it temper
arily as n of the necessary details of
imperial policy; but what a rub. dub of
abuse there would be if the American
navy we're employed in that way!
If it be the opinion of the state depart
ment that the Monroe doctrine has no
bearing upon debts and claims, such as
the forced levy made by England upon
Nicaragua, and that squadrons can be
sent out at any time with full power to
land marines and to take charge of the
custom houses, there will be an immense
deal Of naval activity in southern waters
in the neal future.
If there be an imbecile diplomacy in
Washington this outrage at Corinto will
pass without observation and without re-
monstrance. If there be sense
and courageous action, Great Britain will
be Immediately warned that she has VIC
lated 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 to submit it's claims
against Nicaragua to arbitration, and the
wanton invasion of Corinto by the blue
jackets from the fleet, are crimes against
civilization. A.great government, which
demands of a weak nation a large in.
demnity for grievances that it refuses to
settle by arbitration, is acting the part
of a bully and a brigand. That is what
England is doing, and apparently with
the consent of the state department. The
British foreign office ought to be imme-
diately called to account for treaty.
breaking. The Cleveland administra-
ton has an opportunity for diplomacy
of real force. Let us move promptly for
the abrogation of the Clayton ulwer
convention on the lines of the famous
Blaine and Frelinghuysen dispatches,
and it may regain the respect of Ameri-
cans. If it does anything else, it will
make'a serious blunder; and as the old
whist-players' maxim runs: "The cards
never forgive"