New-York tribune., 1909-10-29
ESTRADA PLATFORM
ATTACK ON GRAFT.
Proclamation by Nicaraguan
Military Leader.

DR.. Salvador Castrillo, representative in
this country OF the Nioaraguan insurree-
ton led by General Juan J. Estrada, re-
ceived yesterday from the front the first
copy that has reached this country of the
proclamation of General Estrada setting
forth the reasons for the uprising and the
promises of the leader.
The proclamation is of peculiarly timely
interest here because it shows that Mica
ragua has absorbed in it's political strife
the use of a term widely applied to Tam
many, General Estrada saying in the doeu-
mept, which Is printed in English:
Fraud and graft have been elevated by
Zelaya to the standard of a governmental
principle and have been vigorously adhered
to as the principal plank IN the admins
trative platform.
Here is a suggestion, however, by Cen
eral Estrada that does not creep into the
American body polite:
Fellow citizens, there are solemn mo;
ments in the lives OF nations which sound
as the highest key OF disgrace and which
announce their tremendous awakening.
One Of such moments is revolution, the in-
carnation of progress and liberty, by
whose powerful breath history is made;
revolution, which is the armed protest
against official fraud.
This historic movement, fellow citizens.
has presented itself again before you TO
NlRdtcate the dignity OF our country, which
to-day is torn in tatters and laden with
chains with the speechlessness that re-
veals In its aspect a whole eternity of in
somnolency, misery and torture.
Speaking OF some OF the faults of Presi-
dent Zelaya, his political opponent says:
ZeIaya, fellow citizens. submitting every
thing to the caprices of his own will and
breaking the constitution and the law with
an ease and a calmness which horrify. and
by means Of monopolies and concessions
peFpetrated with admirable sangrroid,
has violated the constitutional and COM
mon rights of the citizens to the extent OF
impeding their personal freedom.
He adds that Zelaya has established
monOpolies in tobacco liquor and exuo-
siyes. The progress of the insuFreetion,
however, Indicates that his corner on the
last named commodity has been broken.
President Zelaya has also. according to
General Estrada, weakened the resources
Of Nicaragua and paralyzed them in
manner sad to contemplate. He has
dimmed the future, progress and liberty of
the country"
General Estrada promises, among other
things, based on certain contingencies, of
course, over which only the nine gods of
war have power:
My first acts, obeying the will of the
--@NN~-'NNf
one schemes through which this country
is being robbed; to obstruct the channels
through which the labors of the whole ma
tion go finally to the Golfers Of a few
known people; TO create at the same time
facilities which will make Niearaguan
energy and effort productive for the gen
eral betteFment of the nation; to return 10
the disregarded principles of the revolu-
tion of July II, 1898 and to guarantee the
performance of the public rights of the ma
ton with the constitution of December TO,
and finally TO insure the. rights Of free
press so that public opinion, amply mani
tested, will be the foundation upon which
shall be formed the principles of our coun-
try.
DR. Castrillo received also a copy OF the
minutes of a meeting OF the Municipal
Council of Bluehelds, at which resolutions
were adopted repudiating the administra-
ton OF President Zelaya and investing
General Estrada with the rights OF a COM
manding general. Acting on this approval
of his course General Estrada has as
sumed the powers Of President until the
people choose the government which shall
guide the destinies of the nation"