The Coolidge examiner., 1935-09-06

Rivas was appointed provisional president Corral
minister OF war and walker, generallssmo OF the
army.
Then Corral tried TO douhle-crcss Walker. who
exposed the ministers plo; and had him eIecui.
cd. BY this time Walker was virtually dictator
over Nicaragua and be ruled with an iron hand
Americans and other foreigners 10 the number
OF more than LOO had Joined him. some q
them we're desperate characters who looked for.
sard TO unlimited opportunities for free living
and free looting- But they were bitterly dlsap.
pointed.
While Walker was master OF Nicaragua that
country enjoyed a peace and contentment q;
bad not known for years. But trouble was brew.
INK FOR him on the outside. The other Central
American republics Costa Rica. Honduras Salv-
ador and Guatemala. were becoming alarmed
over the prospect OF bis forming United States
of Central America as he was dreaming OF do.
lng and extending bis influence over their coun.
tries.
Great Britain was also becoming concerned
over his growing power II the United States
secured control of Nicaragua and dug Near
aguan canal. Engand's commercial supremacy
would be threatened II be extended his power
throughout Central America. Il meant a lessen
ing of EnEland's Influence there. And France
and Spain agreed with Britain that the expan,
slcn of the United States In that quarter vas
undesirable
As a matter Of fact their fears were ground.
less SO FAR as Walkers having al Official stand
Ing as an agent of American Imperialism was
concerned. For he was persona non grnta with
bis own country as much as be was with the
others William l. Marcy. secretary OF state.
looked upon him little more than a criminal
and one whose example might stimulate lllbus
tering and embroll the United States Ia endless
diiiculties with her southern neghbors. In the
South be was something OF a hero but In the
North where anti-slayery sentiment was growing.
his proslavery views were causing suspicion and
alarm But even though II Is doubtful II Walker
had any Idea OF trying TO aid the extension Of
slavery, he made the fatal mistake OF antagonIE
Ing the powerful financial interests o. the North.
uotably the group Of raen headed by old Cor
selIus Vanderbilt who had been exploiting NIcar.
aqua.
They were the owners of the Transit company
which had contract 10 dig a Nicaraguan canal
aud which was running line OF steamers from
New York to Nicaragua on the Atlantic side and
another line from that country up TO san Fran
cisco on the Paclnc side This company had
agreed TO pay Nicaragua $1,000 and 10 per cent
OF its profits each year in return for monopoly
OF the carrying trade to and from that country.
Walker. believing that the Transit company
had been cheating his adopted country started
an investigation. The result was that he de-
manded a settlement Of $4,000 which the fnan.
clers refused. Thereupon he seized the company's
property as security for the debt, revoked its
charter and granted new one to a rival com.
pany. Old Cornelius Vanderbilt was furious
He resolved 10 smash Walker
Costa Rca bad already started war against
Nicaragua and Honduras was preparing to take
up arms Both OF the hostile countries were
being supplied with arms. IL not financial sup
port, by England. II is said that the necessary
financial support was given by Vanderbilt and
his colleagues. In a preliminary skirmsh Costa
Rican force, led by the Prussan general, Won
Bulow. and made up of mercenares as well as
natives OF Costa RIca. defeated force of Near
aguans and fIbusterers. led by one Of Walkers
subordinates. and captured Rivas-
But 1t was different story when Walker rode
out from Granada in April, 1856, with 500 men,
four-fifths OF them Americans TO give battle to
the army Of 1890 Costa Ricans Although he
was driven from the battlefield he inflicted such
heavy losses on the enemy that they were glad
to withdraw.
mixed army OF Leonese and Hondurans next
menaced him from the north but by quick work
he repulsed 1t. then turned his attention to in
ternal affairs. He became a candidate for the
presidency Of Nicaragua and In July, 1856 won
the election with the largest vote ever cast for