The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-03-12

did not care further to offend us re-
garding the Sic irisIa coast country.
Prince Clarence appealed to the foreign
residents of Bluefields, mainly Ameri-
cans, who were disposed a first to help
him, as his government was an easy
going one levying no taxes and .nts.r-
fering with no one so long as the prince
received his salary; but Zelaya's mcse-
ment was too sudden for them, and be-
sides they concluded that they could do
as well under Nicaraguan as under
Mosquito government. CLARENCE then
appealed to his own people. the Mosque
tos, to rally to the support OF their
prince and defend their rights and priv
ileges; but ii soon became evident that
Zelaya was right. There were no Mos
qutos to rise. Clarence and his cabi-
net of Jamaicans fled to Kingston, ia
maica, where he has since lived as a
pensioner of the British government, to
be used If the occasion should ever
arise, and Reyes and his Nicaraguans
occupied Bluefields with the loss OF only
one man.
For four years Nicaragua has ruled
the Mosquito coast, now the province cf
Zelaya and the Americans have found
its rule very different from the good
days of old. They have indeed changed
King Log for King Stork. There is 10
question that Zelaya is tyrant of The
worst Central American brand one of
the class in haste to get rich and to
squeeze as much out of the country as
he can so as to provide for a luxurious
existence in Paris when Inevitable rev.
olution drives him to Europe. Blue
fields which had previously been free
port suddenly found itself subject 20
the tariff of Nicaragua a tariff on eX-
ports as well as imports, subject to sud
oh,
the president needs money. The for
eigners were ground down and robbed.
The last straw came the other day
when on the pretense that war with
Costa Rica-a war in which there was
no fghtfng-had put him to consdera-
Bile expense. Zelaya clapped on a 100
per cent extra duty on all goods with
out giving an hours notice.
There has been disaffecton ever since
the Nicaraguans have been in Blue
fields. The new tariff was more than
the merchants and business men of the
country We're prepared to stand and
they became convinced that they must
strike now or submit to further eXac-
lions from Zelaya. The movement was
we'll planned, but the rising came pre-
maturely. The government of the coast
country had remained in the hands of
General Reyes. The Americans and the
foreign element generally found him
only too willing to lead movement
against Zeaya if they would promise
him their support. He suspended the
new tariff. Zelaya sent an officer to re-
lieve him of the governOrship of the
province, a resolution was at once de-
clared and the entire coast country
save GreytoWn was occupied without
difficulty by the Reyes forces.
All the people on the coast welcomed
the new government as a release from
the tyranny and war taxes of Nicara-
qua. The Americans We're naturally the
most enthusiastic: indeed. the move
ment was practically theirs. for Reyes
would never have defied XPlaya had he
not received a promise of their assist
ance. The natives were equally pleased,
as the new government meant exemp-
ton from forced military duty and bet
ter wages for them. Several companies
of Americans were organized at Blue
fields, composed mainly of men muster
ed out of the volunteer service and in
search of adventure and fighting. One
of these, the Rama BOOSTERS Drama is
the second town in size in this coun
tryp, was commanded by one of Roose
rplt's rough riders and another by an
eXLouisiana volunteer, Kennedy by
name. Most of the men under him We're
from New Orleans. The revolutionists
expected considerable support from the
old conservative or Catholic party on
the Pacific slope, formerly very strong
at Leon Granada and Managua. This
expectation was disappointed. for it
seems that Zelaya has been so active in
shooting and banishing the conserVa-
tive leaders that there was none left to
start an instruction. He had nothing
to keep his army on the Pacific and
could use it against Reyes at once.
The principal dependence of the rev
olutionsts was upon the Americans. OF
the four men of war ordered to Blue
fields to protect foreign interests, two,
the Marietta and the Detroit We're
American Ii was thought that their
presence would have much the same eff
feet as at HaWaii-overawe the natives
and encourage the Americans. 1t seem
ed probable, too that the action of Ze-
laya in stopping dispatches to the
American consul would bring about
more or less strained conditions be-
tween the two republics, which would
help the revolution. AS for General
Reyes, he was outspoken in favor of
the United States. and let it be fully
understood thai if through this assist
ance he became president of the repub-
lie, this country could get anything it
wanted in regard to the Nicaragua ca
nal, The canal issue was then forced
into the revolution. Those who favored
American ownership We're friendly to
Reyes, while those who expect to
squeeze a great deal Of money out Of
this country before granting any canal
privileges sided with Ielaya.
The news Of the failure of the revo-
luton came suddenly and unexpected
ly. 1t was known that it was prema-
ture: that Reyes had neither the men
nor the arms and ammunition ne need
ed, whereas. on the other hand, Zelaya
has kept largo and apparently we'll
organized army in the field on the plea
of war with Costa Rica, but probably
in anticipation of an uprising some
where. 1t is probable that Reyes. find
ing that his forces were not sufficie t
for success, deemed discretion the bet
ter part of vaIor, and that the Amer-
cans behind him thought it wiser to
postpone the revolution to a more OPP
perfume time. But no one who has been
at BluefieldGs believes for moment tina
the affair is ended and that the Ameri-
cans there will submit to Nicara guam
control. misgOvernment and spoliation.
The trouble is likely to break out very