Mexico weekly ledger., 1903-08-06
THEY ARE GREAT BUFFERS.
Central Americans Are Not Sensible
10 Amy Argument But
Force.

"The key to the situation is this"
said a veteran shipper, discussing the
crisis in affairs at Bluefelds: "A Cen
trail American invariably takes it for
granted you are blufiing. That's why it
is so easy to skin them alive at poker.
When a native official says one thing,
he always means another, and, there
fore, when he wants to tell the truth he
is obliged TO tell Il lie. The thing sounds
paradoxical, but it's u cold fact. Ethics
are iopss -turyy down there, and the
only way an American can arrive at
the native point Of view is by standing
on his head. Now, Torres, for instance,
has supposed ala along that our govern
ment was joking, and If the Detroit was
to pitch a shell into his custom house
he would be greatly ~astonished on two
counts. First. that the cruiser really
had any ammunition, and. second, that
il meant business. This was illustrated
in 1894. when the Nicaraguans arrested
an E%nglishman for fun and put him in
Jail. His home government promptly
demanded an indemnity Of $4,000, and
the Nicaraguaus nearly died laughing.
How droll are these Britishers,' they
exclaimed. and went off again into fits.
In a few days n warship appeared at
Corinto and the captain sent word that
he would give the officials IL hours to
fork over the cash. Again there were
roars of merrimcnt. 1t was regarded as
a solemn, pouderous AnglO-saxon jest.
When ten hours elapsed the captain
rent word once more, suggesting that
non-combatants hunt cover, and with
that he cleared the ship for action.
The officials were thunderstruck. Why
didn't you tell us you meant it?' they
demanded. Il did said the captain.
But, ah. senior they protested, you
should have added that you meant that
you meant it. and also that you intended
TO carry out your inteEtions.' The up
shot OF it was that they hustled like
blazes and paid the money. Since then
they have never molested an English
mar.
They do all their fighting on bluff"
continued the veteran, "and find it
cheaper than gunpowder and Just as
effective. Take the last revolution. for
example. Reyes small army, mostly
Americans, was marching up from Grey
town. They could have annihilated the
few ragamufin soldiers under Zelaya's
general, and the latter knew 1t. What
did he do? Why, he simply put up a
bluff. Il have 500 men behind that hill,'
he said through n messenger, and also
a quantity of artillery. l am about to
Stay you. but If you Surrender quietly
/ will refrain Being unused to such
tactics the Americans surrendered.
The way Reyes lost his gunboat was
also exceedingly amusing. lie sent II
out TO eat up a small tin-clad which had
been loaned TO Zeiaya. The tin-clad
came along, picked up the guuboat and
sauntered Off with il. and that ended the
war. The incident reminds me of the
old story Of the starving mechanic, who
in desperation resolved TO turn high
wayman. Securing a section of lead
pipe. he hid in a doorway. and when a
strapping big fellow happened TO corse
along he hit him q terrific blow on the
back of his bull neck. The lead pipe
wrapped around the big mans throat
like a scarf. and he walked off with it
whistliug Annie Laurie There goes
my last chance said the honest me
chanic. That was the way with Reyes.
To return TO the Blucfields affair. all
that Is necessary for US 10 do is TO con-
vince Gen. Torres and his friends hat
we mean business. Tothat end threats,
messages. correspondence and diplom-
aey are perfectly useless. II is abso-
lutely essential TO use n club. but one
light swipe will be sufficient. Trouble
vii! then Instantly end. and all there
after viii be peace, harmony and BROTH
erly love."-N. o. Tincs-Democrat.