The herald., 1898-07-13
PINNED UP 10 STARvf
POLITICAL PRIsoNE1s KusT
BUY THEIR OWN FOOD
A Condition Of Affairs That n eeds the
Strong Hand Of . Humane Gov
ernment-Saidt to Be Peace

MANAGUA, Nicaragua, June 1.-THE
government of Nicaragua released on June
18th all except three Of the several hundred
natives Of wealth and influence who had
been confined for many months as political
prisoners in the penitentiary and other pris-
ons, on suspicion Of not favoring the acts
of the present rulers Of Nicaragua. Each
one was brought under guard before the
inquisitor, government tribunal, and pre-
scented with written obligation, In sub
stance hereafter not to oppose In any man.
ner the present government OF Nicaragua.
and binding themselves to pay severe fines.
loss Of property and penal servitude II they
were found to utter anything adverse to
the administration. All save three signed
the obligation and were released. The three
who refused to sign were remanded to the
penitentiary. There they are expected to
supply themselves with food, medicine and
clothing, as the government does not feed
or give medical attention or clothing 10
prisoners, at least not to political prisoners.
President Zelaya will soon remove the
one cent per pound export duty on the lower
grade imperfect grains OF cofee that are
separated, by hand from the matured cof-
fee OF excellent quality grown in Nicaragua.
The delegates who have been appointed
by the governments Of Salvador, Honduras
and Nicaragua 10 meet at Managua to form
a more perfect union between the states
than the Greater Republic OF Central Amer
lea, are expected to have an exciting time
in the convention and to adjourn without
agreeing to- a. constitution, or formulating
one that will be accepted by the Congress
Of each state. The opposition is strong
against permitting any one man or tribune
to control the arms and ammunition accu-
mulated by the three governments inter-
ested 1t is also evident that Salvador Is
opposed to permitting President Zelaya Of
Nicaragua to become one OF the heads Of
the proposed organization, fearing that'he
might become too autocratic. And Salvador
is now willing to bind herself to assist MIC
aragua in the latter's serious controversy
with Costa Rica, as Salvador favors Costa
Rica. II the constitutional convention fails
to agree, the result will be the breaking up
Of the Greater Republic of Central America.
The financial situation in Nicaragua is
bad. No gold and only little silver Is In
circulation. The paper money issued by
the government is almost the only medium
of exchange, and is rated at 315 per 100 gold
or sight exchange on New York by the Bank
Of Nicaragua. while the bank quotes gold
at premium Of 1853 per cent on silver or
on the banks paper issue.
The Spaniards In Central America trans
NIT for publication in the Central American
newspapers information of alleged num-
erous victories won by Spanish over United
States warships, many defeats Of attempts
by the United States to land soldiers In
Cuba etc and thew fete and hurrah and
console themselves over the made-up tele-
grams. Nearly all Of the older male ma
tives Of Nicaragua are IN deep sympathy
with Spain, while the younger are mostly
in favor of the United States. All Euro
peans, except the better class Of English
men and Scotchmen are in sympathy with
Spain. The Germans are especially op-
posed to the Americans.