What excuse for this is now given by his descendants in
the Salmon family I do not know.
Probably it is a subject they avoid, and, in history, Salmon's
version has never been given, which for him, perhaps, is an
injustice. But the fact remains that he turned over his white
brothers to the mercies of half-Indian, half-negro, savages, who
were not allies of Great Britain, and in whose quarrels she had no
interest. And Salmon did this, knowing there could be but one end.
If he did not know it, his stupidity equalled what now appears to
be heartless indifference. So far as to secure pardon for all except
the leader and one faithful follower, Colonel Rudler of the famous
Phalanx, Salmon did use his authority, and he offered, if Walker
would ask as an American citizen, to intercede for him. But
Walker, with a distinct sense of loyalty to the country he had
conquered, and whose people had honored him with their votes,
refused to accept life from the country of his birth, the country that
had injured and repudiated him.
Even in his extremity, abandoned and alone on a strip of glaring
coral and noisome swamp land, surrounded only by his enemies,
he remained true to his ideal.
At thirty-seven life is very sweet, many things still seem possible,
and before him, could his life be spared, Walker beheld greater
conquests, more power, a new South controlling a Nicaragua
canal, a network of busy railroads, great squadrons of merchant
vessels, himself emperor of Central America.
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