The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-26
THE BRITISH AND NICARAGUA

The vigorous and prompt action taken
BY the British Government to exact dam
ages from the people Of Nicaragua for in
Jury done to British subjects residing
there, is not in itself to be condemned. 1t
Is only by such swift action that civilized
nations can make their force felt in Iawless
lands and protect the property Of law
abiding industrious men from plumber and
destruction at every outbreak Of insurrec-
ton and war. There is therefore nothing
in the act itself for Us to condemn. On
the contrary, there is much in it for US to
approve and TO initiate in cases where
American citizens are deprived of their
property and denied redress in countries
where, under fair treaties, our people have
a right to 60.
The affair assumes a different aspect,
however, when considered not in itself
alone, but in its relation to the Monroe
doctrine and to the proposed construc-
ton of the Nicaragua canal. The
American people have learned to give a
very broad construction to the Monroe
doctrine and are ready to apply it to every
form OF controversy that arises between
any country on this continent and a
European power. That the doctrine has
never been recognized in international law,
nor received any formal diplomatic sane
ton. does not materially affect its real
validity, for it has come to occupy great
place in the National aspirations of the
people of the United States, and this fact
is in itself sufficient to give the doctrine
importance in politics and diplomacy toe
great To be overlooked and too pressing to
be eyaded.
Not less important to the issue than the
Monroe doctrine is the proposed constrnc-
ton of the Nicaragua canal That also has
become a great aspiration of the American
people, and one that is of more than senti-
mental interest to them. 1t is essential to
the development OF American commerce
that the canal should be constructed, and
equally essential to the security of that
commerce that the canal when constructed
should be under American control. We
have therefore two reasons for watching
the proceedings of the British in Nicaragua
from the standpoint of opposition. Those
proceedings are distinctly adverse to ouI
interests, and while we may concede the
right of Great Britain to demand redress fol
the wrong done to her citizens, we cannot
favor any action on her part that show:
an intention to lord it too far on American
soil.
1t is not altogether unfortunate that the
interests of the United States are intrusted
at this critical period to two such blum.
derers as Cleveland and Gresham. A
blunder sometimes teaches wisdom more
effectually than reason itself, and the mis-
takes and imbecilities of the present adj.
ministration may be needed to crystalline
public opinion in favor of more vigorou:
American policy when the next one come:
in. There can be no doubt that Cleve
lands attempt at tariff reform has made
the people of the United States practically
unanimous for protection. and it is quite
probable that his weak and meaningless:
foreign policy may be teaching the people
an equally good lesson concerning our re
| lations to Central America and the part We
must perform in directing its development