No. 304.
Mr. Riotte to Mr.
Fish
No. 83.]
United States Legation, Leon,
July
3, 1871. (Received July 31.)
Sir: I have the honor of submitting to you inclosed
copies of two notes exchanged between the Nicaraguan government and myself
upon certain orders issued by President Quadra to the military governor of
[Page 679]
this city, to join in the
celebration of the 4th July. I was the more agreeably surprised by the
presidents attention, as I had left him but the day previous without the
least intimation on his part upon the subject, and as I could not help
contrasting his frank and cordial course with the ungracious and sullen one
of his predecessor on the same occasion last year.
During my recent stay at Managua, the friendly relations between Mr. Quadra
and myself, so happily inaugurated at the time of his taking possession of
the presidential chair, as reported to you in my dispatch No. 71, of March 8
last, and which, since then, had been cultivated by a frequent exchange of
private letters upon topics of vital importance to the republic, matured
into a genuine friendship, so that I cheerfully complied with his request,
after finishing the business that called me there, to remain a day longer,
and to give him my views on several highly interesting measures and bills
the administration is preparing.
* * * * * * *
I found during my recent intercourse with President Quadra, to my great
satisfaction, that the characterization I ventured of him prior is perfectly
correct, except, perhaps, that he is possessed of a higher degree of “pluck”
and of more liberal and enlarged ideas than I gave him credit for then. As
the measure of his administration he seems to consider the securing of the
interoceanic canal across the republic, and by American enterprise. Being
the only true republican I have as yet been able to unearth in this
“republic,” he is a sincere and enlightened admirer and friend of our
country—wide awake as to the future of the North American continent down to
the Isthmus of Panama, and therefore, from the very best reasons, anxious
that the canal, upon which he looks as the sole panacea for all the evils of
his country, should be carried out and held by the people of the United
States.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
[Translation.]
His excellency the President has yesterday, through the proper minister,
dispatched his orders to the military governor of that department that
the ensuing 4th of July, the anniversary of the Independence of the
United States of North America, be celebrated with all possible
demonstrations of the enthusiasm where with the government and people of
Nicaragua look upon that happy event.
His excellency, moreover, trusting that your excellency will condescend
to accept the sincere though feeble demonstration of the esteem and high
consideration he entertains for your excellency, has ordered me to
inform your excellency of those orders by communicating to you a
certified copy thereof, which I have the honor to inclose.
[Translation.]
This day I am telling the military governor of Leon this: The ensuing 4th
of July is the anniversary of the Independence of the United States of
North America; of that glorious event which forms an epoch in the
history of the onward march of democracy on the road of both social and
political improvements, and which, as its peculiar consequence, effected
the emancipation of the Spanish-American republics on this continent.
Thus, Nicaragua, one of them, ought not to remain indifferent at such
welcome memento, and ought, on her part, join in solemnizing that august
incident. These considerations, together with the ties now binding the
government of the country with that of the model republic, prompted his
excellency the President to direct that in your city, the residence of
the very worthy minister plenipotentiary of that republic, on said
anniversary shall be celebrated bysaluting the North American flag, at
the time of its raising over the house of said minister, with a triple
salute; by hoisting that of
[Page 680]
Nicaragua to full mast in the principal quarters; and that you,
accompanied by the military body, pay a visit to the honorable
representative of the United States of North America; all that, to
demonstrate the esteem, consideration, and respect wherewith the nation
honors the great people which, on the soil of the New World, planted
popular and representative political institutions.
I tell you this, by supreme order, for your intelligence and
observance.
[Inclosure 2.]
United States Legation in
Nicaragua, Leon,
June 30, 1871.
Hon. Don Francisco Ballad ares, &c.,
&c.
I have been honored with the receipt of the very gracious note of the
28th instant with inclosure, informing me of the orders issued by
his excellency the President of the republic, to the military
governor of this department, to participate in the ensuing
celebration of the anniversary of the glorious national birthday of
the great American commonwealth. I beg to assure you, Mr. Minister,
and through your friendly mediation his excellency the distinguished
chief magistrate of the republic, that I shall most cordially accept
those spontaneous demonstrations of good will and sympathy for my
country by the government and authorities of this our sister nation,
and, so more so, as I am firmly persuaded that they are imbued with
a spirit of genuine and unreserved sincerity. I shall be most happy
to inform my Government of the sympathetic acts of yours, and of the
elevated and truly American ideas expressed by it on this occasion,
equally honorable to the giver and to the recipient.
I don’t know whether it is proper, in connection with so grand a
subject, to speak of me personally, yet, since his excellency the
President, and you, Mr. Minister, have so kindly mentioned me in a
manner more flattering than deserved, it may not appear presumptuous
in me if I beg you to accept for yourself, and also to convey to his
excellency, the expression of my sincere gratitude.
I have the honor, &c., &c.,
