The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-05-24
A NEGLECTED. REVOLUTION.

AS the roar +of the artlllery OF the
Ottoman. reverberating among the
Othrys mountains In classic Thessaly.
and the clatter and rush and cries Of
the retreating Greeks die into silence
before the growl of the Russian bear,
we rise to protest against Nor
gan and Mason diverting pub
lie attention again to bleeding.
starving. struggling Cuba to the fur
ther ignoring Af 4one Of the most re-
markable revolutions recorded any
where in history that has been going
noted. We refer to the revolution in
Honduras that burst into bloom with
the other flowers Of May. 1t should ap-
peal to us and our sympathies more
strongly than does the revolt in Cuba,
where members Of an alien race con-
test, for there Americans lead the
struggle, furnish the genius and dis
play the audacity of their race mixed
with its imprisoned love of liberty
and detestation of the oppressor.
1 Unfortunately no cable connects us
with Honduras. no captain general
there operates typewriter and no
junta here supplies the press with their
well-cooked narratives Of events In the
camp of the revolutionists. Meager are
the accounts that have come by the
slow-going mails. but scant as they are.
they tell Of American dash, bravery,
and, so far, success that sets the nerves
of every loyal, patriotic son. Of Amer
lea tingling with thrills Of pride and
joy. Polycarpo Bonilla. the president
Of the country that comp1acently calls
itself a republic, but whose govern
ment Is, to paraphrase Count Muen-
ster's epigramatic description of Rus
STA, "absolutism tempered by revolu-
tion," had ruled as Spanish governors
are habituated to govern during their
brief terms, despoiling his subjects to
provide a competence on which he
might retire to Paris and spend his re-
naming days in opulent comfort. I'm
fortunately for him his heavy hand fell
on several natives Of the United States
temporarily sojourning there and en-
gagged in developing the resources Of
the country with an incidental profit
to themselves.
They decided that they would not
stand Bonilla's fooling any longer.
When people in those republics get
tired Of one rulers ruling it Is the
changeless fashion TO get up a revolt
and drive him out Our boys adapted
themselves to the fashion, doing among
Dagos as Dagos do So they went home
for rifles and cartridges and Gatlings,
and. we assume, for machetes for their
native recruits, and, when all was in
readiness, marshaled their army and
began the assault. There was one gen.
eral, thirteen colonels. and, at first, no
privates nor non-coms. Undeterred by
the lack Of men in the ranks, the gem
eral and his colonies armed themselves
to the teeth, probably to the ears also.
impressed mules to draw the ..atlings,
and sailed forth, surprising the indc-
lent. somnorent and unsuspecting gar
rison Of one Of Bonilla's fortified towns
with a fusilade from rifles and Cat
lings and drove them pell nell to the
forests. Then gathering few natives
who wanted to keep In the fashion Of
their country, they pushed on. with
that relentless evigor that characters
ed Grants campaigns, capturing town
after town. aappropriat.ng 13onillas
stores of arms ammunition and COM
missariat, and scattering his democrat
lied army before them. Taking sea-
port, Puerto Cortez,l they Immediately
cut down all customs duties. thus Sc
curing the support of the merchants.
it is said, and proving that they are all
good Democrats. Bonilla Is reported
sending pathetic appeals to Gen. Jose
Maria Reina Barrios, temporarily pres
ident Of Guatebnalas for help. but Bar
rios has a little difficulty with some
domestic revolutionists on his own
hands and cannot help his struggling
brother. Meanwhile, Gen. Drummond
and Coils. Richardson, Wilt. Roman.
Christman and the rest, several Of
whom are New Orleans boys, taking
hand in the revolution just for the
fun of 1t, have filed their regimental
ranks and are making it very lively for
Polycarpo Bonilla. Here's to Gen.
Drummond and his colonies. to their