The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1909-12-27
ZELAYANISM.

a.
vessel and will make his way to Europe, where
he will live in royal retirement on the millions
he has been laying by in continental banks
against that inevitable rainy day in Central
America. Thus another murderer and bucca-
neer escapes his deserts.
Secretary of State Knox declared the United
States would demand, not only amends from the
government of Nicaragua, but justice meted out
to those personally responsible for the cruel
murder of American citizens. That statement
shocked Mexico, as well as her Latin American
sisters. The shock came to those, who are in
temporary power to the south of us. They have
deposits in the same European institutions with
the same object in view, and it may be neces-
sary for them to hack the heads off few Amer
lean citizens in hewing their way to the sea-
coast. Yet, we believe the announcement of
the secretary of state may ring in their ears and
give them pause, lest the next time we might
take an active hand in the warfare and capture
them before they get away.
Zelaya represents type of adventurer, com
mon in South and Central America, yet little
understood. The statement of Secretary Knox,
Itactily declining to recognize Zelaya as the
head of a responsible government, but regard
ing him as buccaneer, comes nearest to the
true measure of the situation.
| Those men, organize mongrel horde of free
DOOlclS, udll anu opdulSil, Il Ollu-
guese or something else as good, and when the
situations is ripe swoop down on the strategic
positions and drive the government out of the
country. Then the head of the band becomes
| 'presidente and his minions hold the subor-
dinate offices. Everything in the country must
contribute. The ''presidente" becomes chief
stakeholder in the biggest concerns, and all his
concerns become monopolies. Imports and eX-
ports pay duties to him, and citizens pay tribute
to protect their lives. Most of the people are
only half civilized communication is irregular,
illiteracy the rule, and the publications con
trolled by the ''presidente'. His rule is more
absolute than that of any European monarch
or eastern potentate. But, while the people
are ignorant, indolent, careless and used to
tyranny, they are also used to revolt. Conse-
quenty, after the buccaneer in authority be
comes tiresome, another arises and heads sue
cessful revolt, while the retiring "presidente y
makes his getaway to Europe.
The question of what shall we do with our ex-
presidentes does not bother Latin America.
However, occasionally, as in the case of Zela-
va, the "presdente" violates the laws of ma
tions and murders or robs citizens of another
country. What redress is thereg Zeaya muir
dered two Americans. He has escaped. This
country demands reparation The penalty does
not fall on Zelaya or his government; but on
the men on whose side the Americans were
fighting. The fact that the new government of
Nicaragua would have to pay for the crimes,
which he had committed, would only add to the
enjoyment of Zelaya.
If this government takes a hand on the as
sumption that the heads of those governments
are Adventures, who for a brief time have
seized control of the strong boxes of the nations
political reforms may follow fast in Latin
America