The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-12-18
ZELAYA HAS RESIGNED
TYRANICAL NICARAGUAN RULER
YIELDS TO THE INEVITABLE.

With the Whole Country Seething
With Revolution Against Him,
This Was His Only Way Out.
A dispatch from Managua says
Jose Santas Zelaya has resigned
from the Presidency of Nicaragua.
He placed his resignation in the
hands of Congress Thursday morn
ing. Apparently there was no 9th
or course for. himE to take. The
people were at last aroused. The
guns OF the revolutionists threaten
ed, the warships of the United States
were in Nicaraguan ports.
Managua has been seething for
days. The spirit of revolt has spread
even to the gates of the palace
Zelaya surrendered himself with an
armed guard. Unchecked the pop
uiace have marched through the
streets, crying for the end of the
| old, proclaiming the new regime.
Who will take up the reins no
one knows nor cares. 1t is sufficient
that Zelaya as dictator will be known
no more. There is no doubt that
Congress will act quickly on his
resignation, for the people have de-
mandel 1t.
DR.. Jose Madriz, Judge Of the
Central American Court Of Justice
at Cartago, who has been close to
!! Zelaya, and is now his choice for
president, has gone to Mana
qua. Madriz has his following,
strong and influential, even among
| the revolutionists, but Gen. Estrada,
under whose command the great
body of fighting insurgents now face
Vasquez's troops at Rama, will have
| none of him. Estrada's word Will
bear weight In the choice of Presi-
dent.
Zelaya has known, too, that
Madriz is not acceptable to the Unit
ed States, and he has sought to learn
who would be looked upon with fa-
yor by that government as his sue
| cessor.
Accompanying his resignation.
Zelaya sent the following message
to congress-:
1.-THE painful circumstances In
which the country is plunged call for
acts of abne alton ana patriotism on
| the part Of COOL, citizeEs. who are
the witnesses Of the oppression of
the Republic by the heavy hand o..
| tate. The country IS staggering un-
er a shameless revolution, which
| threatens the nations sovereignty
an a foreign nation unjustly inter-
venes in our affairs, publicly provi1-
| ing the rebels with arms, which has
only resulted in their being defeatel
everywhere through the heroism OF
our troops.
ITO avoid further bloodshed, and
for the reason that the revolution
| lists have declared that they woul
put down their arms when l sur
render the executive power, l here
by place in the hands of the national
assembly the abandonment of the
remain er of my term Of office, which
Is to be filled by substitute on their
choosing, with the hope tnat this
will result in good to Nicaragua, the
establishment of peace, and partic
ularly the suspension of the hostili-
ty of the United States to which |
% not wish to give a pretext for
Intervention.
A commission of five deputies was
appointed to draft bill looking to
the acceptance Of Zelaya's resigna-
ton, which is now consi 'ered a mere
formality. News of the president
action spread through the city, AMI
soon great crowds moved through
the streets, shouting for the United
States, Estrada and the revolution.
Held in control for years by the
strong hand of Zelaya, the people
| have been quick to break through
restraint when it was certain that
the dictator could not breast the tide
| that has been rising around him.
During the later days Zelaya has
| resorted to all the known tricks and
contrivances to hold the people of
Managua with him.
Reports Of government victory
at Rama have been freely circulat-
ed, and rumors that massacre of
revolutionists had occurred were al
F.; lowed to spread unchallenged and un-
denied. 1t finally became known
that these were without shred of
truth, and they rebounded like a
| boomerang.
First one deputy then another took
up the denunciation Of Zelaya in
the chamber and later in the public
places, AMI soon throughout the city
demonstrations were held, in which
open revolt was voiced. Wednes-
day night, however, pro. Zalaya
demonstration marked the session of
congress, but this had no effect out
siie the walls of the house. The
rising was more marked Thursday
than ever, AMI the President de-
cided discretion to be the better