Omaha daily bee., 1896-02-26
ANOTHER WAR IN NICARAGUA.
Religious Qunrrcls Lead to II Central
American Revolution.


Copyrighted 1896 by the Associated Press)
MANAGUA, Nicaragua, Feb. 25-(via Gal
veston.)-The flag of rebellion has once more
been raised in Nicaragua and reports re-
ceived here from the north this morning
show that the whole district north of Lake
Managua, including the departments of the
west and the north, are in open rebellion
against President Zelaya Martial law has
been proclaimed and the impressng Of men
into the army is being pushed rapidly. The
president ia supported by wing of the lib
eral party and 1000 men are already under
arms This town, the capital, is being
actively made ready for defense, as the in
surgents whose headquarters are at Leon
the old capital of Nicaragua and the center
OF the old Roman Catholic population as OPP
posed to the Catholics CT mose modern views,
are expected to make an attack upon this
city. A strong detachment of the Leonists
has already left that town and 1t is believed
that Managua will be attacked tomorrow or
the next day.
The conservative party in this city met
this morning and resolved to give moral sup
port to President Zelaya, and also determined
to send ex-President Cardenas and General
Alvigil to Granada, near Lake Nicaragua, to
inform their partisans there of their determi-
nation to support the president.
The insurgents are supported by a portion
Of the political party in power, but up to the
present what is known as the opposition
party proper has not Joined the rebels
The antagonistic feelings of the people of
Leon and it's vicinity and those of Managua
date from away back and are founded upon
old jealousies having religion as their basis
and more modern ideas, on the other hand. as
their excuse.
Unhappily for President Zelaya, a large
consignment of modern arms and artillery,
purchased in Germany. which arrived here
shortly after the occupation of Corinto by the
British, and which at one timc. it was feared
would fall into the hands OF the British ad-
miral, have, owing to political intrlgues
found their way to Leon and are now to be
used against the president and lhis supporters
The excuse for sending the arms to Leon
was that certain party here was in favor
cf dictatorship being declared and that,
therefore, it was advisable that the modern
arms and ammunition shtnld be stored at
Leon, where, it was asserted, there was less
likelihood of demonstration for or against
the government. The Leonists were power
full enough to have their way in the matter,
and it would seem from present indications
that this was only part of the plot TO over
thyow President Zelaya.
The United States minister, Mr. Lewis
Baker, has cabled to Washington, requesting
that the United States gunboat Alert, which
Is understood to be near this coast be dis
property of the United States citizens
President Zelaya has a number of troops
forty miles west of this city, but he is with
out information as to the exact dongs of the
revoutionists. The forces of the conserva-
tive party have all rallied to the support of
the president during the present crisis
The sum and substance of the demands
of the Lecnists Is a complete revision of the
constitution, giving further and more popular
representation and that the constitution In
the future should contain provisions making
it impossible for dictatorship to be de-
clared.