Arizona republican., 1904-01-26

the fulsome language so dear. to Span ish- American. The generals illustrious patriotism and magnifcient heroism, he declared, had saved the republic.
 The general silenced him by a wave of the hand, drew revolver and rap ped on the table sharply with the butr
 The faces of the cabinet officers turned pale: dead silence reigned in the room.
 The revolution is dead," announced the general after playing silently with
 his frightened audience for a full min ute as a cat plays with a mouse. Long live the revolution! I am now the rev. olution. Do you think I won the rev olution for you? No senors. My army holds the town and country. My sol diers are devoted to me. It is useless for you to protest or resist.
 To-day you must all leave the city under escort for the coast, and you will depart for the United States~or Europe by the first steamer. If you refuse you will be shot"
 They left. There was something in the generals glance which stopped even protest, much less resistance. Two or three of the cabinet officers volun- teered to serve under the new presi- dent. but he curtly refused their offer. '1 have my own men, he said. If you would desert your present leader you would desert me-
 Thus it was that General Jose Santos Zelaya, the reigning president of Nica- ragua, came into power. He has been the Caesar of his country for five or six years.
 No sooner was Zelaya firmly seated in power than he began to sigh for fresh conquests. He induced the neigh Csal- vador to join Nicaragua in a federation under the title of "The United States of Central America" Nicaragua, of course, being the predominating part ner. The federation was agreed to by a treaty signed at Managua on August 27 189S But it soon became evident that Zelaya intended to be president of the new republic and rule it autocratic ally, as he ruled his own country Three months proved the futility of the l1scheme, and on November 30 the fed eration was dissolved, Honduras and Salvador resuming their sovereignty as independent republics.
 Ever since then Zelaya's ambition has been to weld into one federation the five republics of Central America- Nicaragua, Honduras, Salvador. Costa Rica and Guatemala-and to make l himself the ruler of that federation. This ambition of his has led to several petty wars and revolutions and set the whole Central America by the ears. Nearly every month some of the re- publics are threatening to fight others, | occasionally alone. but more frequently lin alliance Sometimes it is Nicara qua against Honduras, sometimes Nicaragua and Hoduras against Guate- ,,oaIo ana dor and aOaip all inc four against Costa Rica. There is per petual chopping and changing of allies but there IS never absolute peace. News was brought to Zelaya by his spies in the summer in 1899 that rev. olution was being organized, in which several of the officers of his army were | involved. They were to meet at the house of one of the conspirators that evening to arrange the final details Jf the uprising.
 ! While they were eagerly discussing the best way to seize the president, the door opened and in walked the presi- dent himself.
 ! Good evening gentlemen" he said pleasantly. .'I heard you had party here this evening and I thought would look in and share the fun. Quite distinguished gathering of my of ficers! You all seem to be serious Dis | cussing military matters I suppose?" And so he went on chatting affabiy for half an hour or more, alone in the room of his bitter enemies. They were racked with fear and suspense Did he know? Most of them suspected that he did and wondered whether it would not be better to end the business by putting bullet into him. Yet he seem ! ed so thoroughly at ease, so absolutely unconscious of any plot, that they hesi- tated.
 Presently he pourded out some wine and lifted his glass. "I will give you toast gentlemen he said. Here's long life to the president of Nicaragua and confusion to all traitors!"
 As he spoke he threw the glass against the window where it smashed into pieces with a loud crash. Instant | ly the door opened and thirty or forty soldiers who had been waiting outside for the signal rushed in. All the plot tere were e arrested but the president dealt leniently with them- Some were imprisoned and others were deported from the country
 This fondness for playing upon the fears of men is one of the marked traits of Zelayas character. When he is in want of funds to supperss a rev. | olution he asses the rich men of Mana- | qua, and calls upon them tosmake loans for the good of the commonwealth.
 A wealthy merchant receives an in- ! vitation to dine with the president. Of course he dare not refuse. Zelaya treats him with great courtesy, gives him an excellent dinner and congratu- lates him warmly upon the success of his business enterprises.
 Unfortunately business is very bad, Your Excellency," protests the mer- chant "The disturbed state of the country is ruinious to commerce. l am running at loss and eating up my capital"
 You do injustice to your business talents, my dear friend" replies Zelaya. T am given to understand that last lfnonth your turnover was so many thousands of dollars which would give you a profit of so much" naming the exact figures.
 The merchant is obliged to acknow-