The record-union., 1896-03-23
More Serious Than the Dispatches From
That Country Would Indicate.
No News Given Out Except Favorable
to the Government.
Honduran Troops Sent to Nicaragua to
Assist In Suppressing the Rebellion
Likely to Join the Rebels-Insur-
gent Forces the Aggressors TN All
the Engagements Which Have So
Far Taken Place.

luton in Nicaragua, according to intel
ligence received through private chan
nelS to-day, is more serious than the
dispatches from that country would
indicate. The strict press censorship
established by President Zelaya rem
ders it impossible for news of any char
acter except what is favorable to the
Government from being made public.
Two facts, however, in the opinion of
those thoroughly familiar with exist
ing conditions, seem to be well eStab-
lished: First, that Zelaya is not sup
pressing the rebellion, and, second, that
the Honduran troops which arrived in
Nicaragua on Friday last as the sup
posed allies of zelaya are quite as likely
to aid the rebels as to act in concert
with the Government troops.
The first news of these facts Is based
upon the almost certain knowledge that
the revolutionists have not lost ground !;
that they are confident of success since
in every engagement they have been the
aggressors; that they have the moral
and material support of the great ma
jcrity of the Liberal party, which placed
Zelaya in power, and that the Govern
ment forces have maintained from the
DSSl d. purely Q6le1lSlNe dllltQQG
The Honduran troops are now in Mic
aragua at a point midway between
Leon and Corinto, in the territory occu-
pied by the rebels. Their present at
titude is one of strict neutrality, but it
is regarded as not impossible that aid
may in the end be given to Baca, the
provisional President of the insurgent
Government. Color is given to this be-
lief by the intimate relations that have
long existed between General Ortiz, the
commander of the insurgents, and Pres
ident Bonilla of Honduras, who, in point
of fact, owes his present elevation to
the services rendered in his behalf sew
eral years ago by Ortiz.
If Honduras espouses Baca's cause,
the latter, it is believed, will become vic
torious, since his troops are armed with
modern guns and animated by sentf-
ments of the loftiest patriotism, iras-
much as they are fighting FOR legisla-
ticnal liberty and to prevent the al
legged dictatorship of Zelaya. Without
Honduras aid, the result is likely to be
in doubt for several months at least.
Another element of uncertainty is the
influence which the Salvadorian Peace
Commission may exert upon the con-
tending factions. That their efforts
will result in failure is believed to be
probable Baca and those associated
with him are determined upon the over
throw of Zelaya, while Zelaya, on the
other hand, is equally determined upon
the suppression of the rebellion, neither
side being willing to concede any ad-
vantage to the other.
In these circumstances a review of
the events which led UP to the present
situation are of interest. Several years
ago Zelaya headed a movement which
had for it's purpose the overthrow of
President Zavala, who was elected
through conservative influence. The
movement succeeded, and Zelaya served
as Provisional President until new
Constitution had been formed, making
the President ineligible to reelection,
when he was formally elected Chief
Magistrate for the ensuing four years.
In January last it became evident that
Zelaya proposed setting himself up as
dictator.
During the latter part of February
the Vice- President of the Republic,
Baca who was also Minister of FL
nance, resigned his office, and crossing
the lake to Leon erected the standard
of revolt against Zelaya. His example
was followed a few days later by Mad
riz, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and
General Alonzo, the Minister of War.
A large number of the members of the
Assembly who were liberal in politics
also identified themselves with the new
movement, and have established a Gov
ernment at Leon which it is claimed is
the only legal Government now in force
in the Republic. The military head of
the revolution is General Ortiz, who
was prominently identified with the
overthrow of Zavala in 1892, which re-
suited in Zelayas succession.
Zavala, who is still conspicuous as
one of the conservative leaders, has
now Joined forces with his former
enemy, Zelaya, in the latter's endeavor
to quell the rebellion, and their associa-
ton, therefore, furnishes fresh proof of
the truism that politics make strange
bedfellows."
The rebels, as previously stated have
been defeated in several engagements,
but this, it is asserted, is because of
their rash attempts to capture strongly
fortified towns. That they have done
this is regarded as an indication of
their confidence in themselves, while
follow up their advantage is considered
proof of their inability to act other
than on the defensive
Shrewd observers of political events
in Central America believe that before
the trouble ends all five Republics may
be concerned