The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1909-12-16
MARYLAND SENATOR URGES SEN
ATE TO ACT IN NICARAGUAN
SQUABBLE.
"A MOST DESPICABLE FIGURE"
Central American President Pictured as
Cowardly Assassin of Groce
and Cannon.
DECLARATION OF WAR NOT NEEDED

WASHINGTON, u. c., Dec 10
Speaking to his resolution offered i'll the
Senate last Friday, authorizing the Pres
dent of the United States to take all
necessary steps to apprehend President
Xelaya of Nicaragua and bring HIM to
trial on a charge of the murder of Groce
and Cannon. the two American citizens,
recently executed in Nicaragua, Senator
Rayner of Maryland today addressed
the Senate at length. Senator Rayner's
speech stirring and denunciatory i'll tone
and characterized by dramatic terYor'
was an unsparing arraignment ot iresi-
dent Zelaya. whom he designated as one
of the criminals OF the age.
What | am concerned in now. SAID
Senator Rayner. us not the question OF
the bclligerent rights of the revelation
lists. or in case Of their success their
recognition either rs the de facto or the
de jure government, but III the speedy
apprehension and punishment OF AelayH.
This desperate j. everything that the
secretary of state says about him, and u
great deal more If the country knew
what is known in official circles i'll refer.
ence to his general depravity, 1t would
regard the secretary's communication as
exceedingly temperate, as II SHOWS upon
its face the restraint under which he was
laboring in dealing with such charac-
ter.
II have watched for years the revolu-
tonary history of Central America, and
am familiar with the career of great
many Of the impOstOrs and uSurperS and
the grOtesque and motley leaders that
have sprung from their chaotic institu.
tons, but Ielaya is probably the most
despicable figure that has ever risen III
their midst. If he We're simply high
wayman, we might identity him; II ne
was simply a tyrant who oppressed the
people for the purpose OF robblns them,
we might particularize him; if he was n
usurper who was only holding onto pow
err so long as there was any money III
the treasury to steal. or any further ter
ritory that he could sack for private
plumber. we could assign him Il proper
place in the ranks Of some of his pred
ecessOrs, and if he was purely an as
sassn who regarded murder As "A leSlti.
mate profession through which he could
despoi his victims of their possessions
until the time came for him to flee from
the hands of retributive justice. 1t would
be an easy task also for anyone nc,
quainted with the political history OF
Nicaragua to classify him.
He is, however, all of these things
combined In the school of corruption,
dshonor. pertidy and crime he stands
without a peer, and exhibits III one glow
of associated harmony the pride of every
model and the perfection of every
master.
He has put to torture and then to
death two American citizens who We're
not guilty of treason, who were not spies,
but whom he had captured as prisoners
of war in the army of the revolutionists.
This act was not only the act of n tend,
but was an insult to the honor of this
republic, and can not remain unayengcd.
No Indemnity Wanted
at is absolutely preposterious for Us
to talk about indemnity. Indemnity is NJ
recompemSe for murder Even if We
were willing to accept such a cOmprOm.
Use, there is no one to give MS indemnity,
because the rcvolutiouiSIs will soon be
in power, and the comrades in arms OF
these unfortunate men should never he
assessed for compensation for their un-
lawful death. 1t is said that we ought
to break off official communication with
his accredited representative. We have
already done that, and that amounts to
nothing, and is matter of absolute un-
concern to HIM.
Then it is said that we ought to de
clare war against Nicaragua. | think
that is unnecessary, except III so far rs
this resolution may be construed into
what is known in international law as a
declaration of hostility sub modo-sOm,
of the authorities speaking of 1t as limit.
ed or imperfect hoStiIitics. 1t is decla.
ration against the ruler of Nicaragua i'll
person and not against the government,
which may soon be out of his grasp
Example Is Needed.
This government is a cowardly gov.
eminent if ii does not make an example
of Xclaya before the eyes of the civilized
world This case will not admit of any
trining or concessions. If two American
citizcus-l care not who they were OF
what they were citizens in high standing
as they have been reputed to be or sol
diers of fortuue-have been murdered by
Ielaya, then he must be made to pay
the penalty of his crime. Once spread
before the American people the details
of the execution, and our people will rise
in arms and demand retrbution. They
have not yet fully absorbed the signiti.
canoe Of this deed. No matter how it
was done, no trial by court martial can
Justify it. These men were prisoners of
war, and they were not subject to trial
10y courtmartial'
A Mexican gunboat is en- route to Co.
rnto. according to an official dispatch
from Mnnagua, received by the state de.
dictate that the Mexican government is
pctvely cooperating with the United
States in an aggressive policy toward
the Zelayn faction i'll Nicaragua.
Gov. Creel of the state of Chihuahua.
who il in Washington as the personal
representative of President Diaz of Mex
leo. will have an interview with Secre-
tary Knox tomorrow at p. IN. 1t il,
assumed that the governor will then
more clearly define the attitude of the
Mexican government toward Nicaragua.
Zelaya Rules with Irons.
SAN SALVADOR. Salvador, Dec 10.
The reign of terror continues at Man.
aqua. the capital of Nicaragua. Presi.
dent Zelay0 is ruling with n hand of
iron.
Political offenders. real and suspect
ed. crowd the jails. The government ;
allowance for the food of these prisoners
is absurdly small, and as n result many
Of them are half starved. The gov.
crnment will not permit them to re.
ceivc food from their friends. The rou.
tine of prison existence is broken by
beatings which the authorities order
from time 10 time for such of the pris-
oners as have incurred the special dis.
pleasure of the ruling power
The men in chains numoer several hun.
dred.