The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-21
? Islr NIcAnAGuA NExT.

The revolution in Nicaragua offers an
excellent opportunity for the further e'S-
pansion OF this country, and in a direc-
ciai to American interests than the an
nexation of the Hawaiian and the Phil
ippine Islands. Assuming that the mis-
sion of this country is to take up the
white mans burden, wherever there is an
opportunity for doing So Nicaragua is
far better field for that kind Of work than
any other country on the face Of the
earth. For one thing it is about the worst
governed land that is known, and, sec
ondly, because the United States have
large commercial interests there. to say
nothing of the necessity for the right~of-
way for the projected interoceanic canal
1t is a republic In name only. The gov
erning class consists of few reckless
military leaders and the coffee planters.
The masses are practically slaves who,
under the law, must work for their cred
itors. The masses are always in debt
1t seems impossible for them to get out
of it, ANY revolt against the law max
ing slaves virtually of the laboring class
is promptly put down by the government.
A half century ago Gen. William Walk
er, with a few hundred Americans, con-
quered the country and gave it a stable
and welcome government for two years
or more. The "blue-eyed man of destiny
was in too great haste, however, to make
crooked things straight He~aroused the
enmity of the military politicians, and In
the revolution which ensued he was cap
tured by his enemies, and, in the Spanish
American fashion, was shot to death.
In the revolution now going on Gen.
Reyes. who leads the rebels, has enlisted
under his banner a lot of rough-hghting
Americans, and it seems that with a little
aid he will be abe to win the fight. 1t
does not appear who is at the bottom of
this revolutionary movement. 1t is with
in the possibilities that 1t Is promoted by
American influences. If that is the case
the people of the United States will not
be at all displeased, because %there are
more weghty reasons for taking posses
sion of Nicaragua than there are for an
nexing any of the territory which has
lately passed to American control as a
result of the war with Spain. The Mica
raguans are the victims OF a worse gov
eminent and are more previously op-
pressed than were the Cubans, Porto Ric-
ans or the Fiiipinos under the rule of
Spain. Sooner or later Nicaragua must
pass to the control of a power that can
give her a liberal and stable government.
Those of her people who have large inter-
ests at stake will refuse 90 have those in
terests continually jeopardzed by few
political guerrillas and bandits. There is
no better time than the present to settle
the future of Nicaragua, and the settle
ment of it in a way that would con-
tribute to the Interests of the United States
would not require half so much explaining
to make it look right as 1t has required in
the case of some of the possessions which
we have acquired from Spain.
One war vessel on the Gulf and another
on the Pacific to back up a small army
would settle the question. 1t is just pos
sible that Gen. Reyes little rebellion will
turn out to be the beginning of another
annexation scheme. one having more
friends than the one for the annexation
of Hawaii had.