The Calumet news., 1909-12-03
At top ZeIaya's home, at bottom
Jose Santos Zelaya, ruler of Nicaragua.

Managua. Dec. 3.-Here in the very
heart of Mohammed's paradise, in the
land Of eternal sunshine and roses
despot Jose Santos Zelaya ruler OF
Nicaragua. Is striking new terror TO
the hearts Of his people. destroying
their homes, raiding their sanetums'
and shedding the blood OF the brave
Indians and Crooles who have revolt
ed. Before his reported flight your
correspondent was blessed with the
opportunity of studying Zelaya, the
man.
Unlike Diaz, of Mexico, Barrios or
Guatemala, Castro of Venezuela ana
other rulers Of the turbulent southern
Kingdoms and republics, Zelaya be-
gan his career as the son of a planter.
He was not a soldier, not a political
trickster and not despotic. His youth
was spent in riding over the great
plantation of his father and in drink
ing at a perpetual fountain of educa-
ton. He. gathered about him num-
ber of reckless young men of his age
and began To dissipate the fortune his
father was bestowing on him annu-
ally. lie had all the tastes of the full
blooded Spaniard and delighted in
rambling to the window of his ladies
fair and twanging the light guitar un-
til they tossed him the coveted roses.
lie finally tired of the life of ease and
contentment and new ambition began
to glow i'm his eyes. 1t was this am
btion that brought on the bloody
scenes of the past few weeks and
robbed him of happiness and his ia
ther's great estate.
Nicaragua at this time was a happy
nation. although ruled with firm
hand by President Charmora, who re-
tanned his hold ON the state since the
defeat OF the American filibuster Walk
err, who with So fellow conspirators
h"d fought his way to the presidency.
Zelaya became anarchistic. At the
clubs and in the homes he had been
talking about the country being behind
the times and advocated n revolution.
He grew bolder and bolder in his dec
laratiOns, making n number of fiery
public speeches denouncing the gov
ernment. AS a result Zelaya was exil-
ed and he sought protection in Guate-
mala with President Barrios. Under
the excellent tutelage of this despot
Of Latin America. zelaya received the
training which made it possible for
him to win his battles and become
president Enisting i'm the army of
n b., 70 ctu moth
DDS of the "old man." He watched
the workings of a perfect military or
'tanization which had crushed revolu-
tions and restored lasting peace. His
next step was TO organize a band of
insurgents i'm his own country and he
fought his way to the presidency carly
in the 90's. His methods since becom-
ing chief executive are typical of Cen
tral America.
Zelaya. the man, is a man Of mas
terful will who brooks no opposition.
He first tries to crowd every man out
of his path and. failing in this. death
is the penalty for the weaker. He
holds out aims to his subjects with
one hand and wields the sword with
the other.
Zelaya's great weakness is his
present struggle is the character of
the men who make up his army.
They are not warlil>e. they are not
courageous and they are not inspired |
by any great patriotic motive. Tho |
Indian and creole warrior prefers TO
live i'm peace instead of being exposed
to fever and the bullets of the FROM
tier. His soldiers have been picked
mp at random. either captured or in
duced 10 enter the ranks, and then
given to understand they must obey
the orders of their superiors. During
the days Of peace the soldiers were set (
to work stringing telegraph wires all
over Nicaragua. setting out coffee
and laborlng on public inn
As soon as the recent
revolution broke out. these men were
brought in from the fields and the !