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TEXAS STATE LIBRARY
and the lal~<'S through which it pas~es belong to her, is a pretention, which cannot, and will not be tolerated for a moment hy any commercial nation on the earth: and any attempt on the part of Kicaragua, at a practieal ai"sertion of this right, could not fail to be reganled as a dec- laration of hostility against the ciYilized world. Let ~icaragua ponder these things, and she will readily comprehernl the social obligations which Civilization imposes, and the clanger of disregarding them. - It is no answer to all this to say that it is American dictation - that it is the law of robbers - the threat .of an enemy. - No, Sir -- the doctrines which I here lay down are clearly defined and fully sustained by one of the highest authorities on such subjects - Vattel - and I regret that I have no copy at hand of that celebrated author's work to refer to. I write without books; and alone upon the authority of common sense and common justice. - But You say - An enemy! - When, Sir, have the United States been the enemy of Nicaragua? Was it when they interposed their shield for her protection against the Filibusters? If Nicaragua is de- termined never to acknowledge, or to reciprocate the generous senti- ments of my government towards her, the fault is Kicaraguas alone; and all the responsibilities must be hers which may grow out of such un- accountable perversity. - A threat! No sir, I have no authority to threaten or command. Neither is my government responsible for ought that I have said, or yet may say; - for I am speaking in my individual capacity alone - and only in the language of sincerity and truth - not as a plenipotentiary .to this Country; but as its friend - not as an instructed Diplomatist; but as a candid advocate of the best interests of Nicaragua, and a general lover of human progress and human happiness. - Allow me then to say without offense, that it ·is not the Americans who are decreeing those mighty changes, so de- sired by other nations and yet so dreaded by this, which I doubt not will sooner or later take place in this country. That all Central Amer- ica is, indeed, destined to unclergoe [sic] a mighty revolution in man- ners, habits, modes of thinking and governing, must be obvious to every reflecJing mind. But it is not the United ~,tates that have so ordered it. lt is the work of God, and not of man. It is His will and wis- ,clom which are now giving direction to the current of events. He is .the great arbitrer of fate and disposer of nations; - and one of His ;immutible laws, is eternal progression - onward, and onward in end- ]ess improvement; and the people who shall array themselves against this Divine mandate and attempt to arrest the tide of moral, mental and physical advancement, must necessarily perish, as all nations have .perished when they have reared themselves against the supremacy of .Providence. - • Man was not made to abide eternally in indolence :and ignorance. This is not his natural condition. God has imposed upon him two all-important and imperative duties. The one is to till .the soil; and the other is to impro,·e and exalt his own nature;- and it is precisely upon the fulfilment of these imperious obligations, that his political, so<:ial and personal rights depend.- This broad and beautiful earth was giwn to the human race to be cultivated and im- .proved by them for their O\nl good, and the glory of Him who gave it;
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