New-York tribune., 1909-12-17
ZELAYA RESIGNS;
PEOPLE REJOICE
TO PREYENT 4UERI-
GIN INTERYENTION.
1bdication ReceiJed 5cith En-
thusiasm and RevOit Spreads
to- Palace,

Managua. Nicaragua. Dec. f6.-Jose
Santos Zelaya has resigned from the
Presidency of Nicaragua He placed his
resignation in the hands of Congress
this morning Apparently there was no
other course for him TO take The people
were at last aroused. The guns Of the
revOlutiOnists threatened the existence
of his government. The warships OF
the United States lay in Nicarasuan
ports
Managua has been seethinE for days
The spirit OF revolt has spread even 10
the gates of the palace. Zelaya sur
rounded himself with an armed guard.
Unchecked. the pOpulace have marched
through the streets. crying for the end
Of the old. proclaimins the new regime
Who will take up the reins no one
knows or cares. IL 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 demanded IT,
Dr. Jose Madriz. judge of the Central
American Court of Justice at CartagO.
who has been close TO ZeIaya and is now
his choice for President. is on his way
here. He will arrive on Saturday.
Madriz has his following. strong and in
fiuential, even among the revolutiOnists.
but General Estrada. under whose COM
mand the great body of fighting insur-
gents now face VasQueZ's troops at
Rama. will have none of him. Estrada
word will bear weight in the choice OF a
President
Zelaya has known. too. that Madrlz -
not aceeptabIe To the United states. and
he has sought to learn who would De
looked upon with favor by that govern
ment as his successor. but the American
government. so far as can be learned mas
named no man. and the choice probably
will lie with those who have gained the
upper hand.
ZEL.AYA'S MESSAGE
ACCOMMODATING his resignation. Zelaya
sent the following message to Congress-
The painful circumstances in which
the country is plunged call for acts or
abneqation and patriotism on the part OF
aood eitizens, who are the witnesses OF
the oppression Of the republic by the
heavy hand of fate.
The country is staggering under
shameless revolution, which threatens
the nations sovereignty, and foreign
nation unjustIy intervenes IN our affairs.
publicly providing the rebels with arms.
which has resulted only in their being
defeated everywhere through the heroisn
of our troops.
To avoid further bIoodshed, and FOR tho
reason that the reVoIutionists have de-
elared that they would put down their
arms VIXEN J surrender the executive
power, . hereby place in the hands of the
National Assembly the abandonment of
the remainder of my term of Office, which
is to be filled by a substitute Of their
choosing, with the hope that this will
result in good to Nicaragua, the re-estab-
Iishnent of peace, and particularly tho
suspension of the hostility of the United
States, to which ! do not wish TO give a
pretext for Intervention.
A commission of five deputies was ap-
pointed 20 draft a bill looking 10 the
acceptance of Zelayas resignation, which
is now considered a mere fOrmahty.
CITIZENS CHEER DOWNFALL.
News of the Presidents action spread
throughout the city. and soon great
crowds moved through the streets. shout
ing for the United states. Estrada and
the revolution
Held in control for years by the strong
hand OF ZeIaya. the people have been
quick 10 break through restraint when il
was certain that the dictator could not
breast the tide that has been rising
around him
During the latter days Zelaya has
resorted To all the known tricks and con-
trivances 70 hold the people of Manasua
with him Reports OF government vic
tory at Rama had been freely circulated
and rumOrs that massacre OF revOlu-
tiOnists had occurred were allowed 10
spread unchallenged and undenied. IL
finally became known that these were
without shred of truth and they acted
like a boomerang
First one Deputy and then another took
I'd the denunciatiOn of Zelaya in the
chamber. and later in the public places
and soon throughout the city demonstra-
tiOns were held in which open revolt was
voiced. Last night. however. "a prO-Ze-
lava demonstration marked the session
OF Congress. but this had no effect out
side the walls OF the House.
The rising was more marked to-day
than ever. and the President decided dis
cretion To be the better part OF valOr and
withdrew from office.
nEETII fTN DT II fSED