Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-23

republics He has not one single re-
deeming trait. His country has made
no progress during his administra ton.
| but has gone steadily backward and the
people are becoming more and more inn
poverished. The financial condition Is
deplorable. The national currency is
worth 10 cents to the dollar The state
debt has been largely increased and
there is nothing to show for ii.
Zelayas bank account in Paris is said
to amount to several million dollars. all
! of which has been wrung from the peo-
pie by taxation. by blackInail and by
| is the habit of g.atin-American despots
| to deposit their gains in Paris banks
and invest their money in European Sc
curities. GuZman BlahcO of Venezuela.
de Soto of Honduras, Zaldiver of Saliva
dor, Barrios of Guatemala and others
took the precaution to provide for pos
sibe exile and for the future Of their
families by sending large sums to the
Paris bank. and Zelaya has initiated
their example.
Anxiety Regarding Railway Loan.
He lately secured a loan of $1,000, 900
for the construction of railway across
Nicaragua between the two oceans, and
surveyors have been in the field for
some time but the work of construction
has not yet commenced, and there is
danger that the money may go the same
way that the proceeds of a similar loan
went in 1886. without the country de-
irving any benefit. There are only about
100 miles of railway in the country,
which belong to the government, but
were leased to a private syndicate in
1905 for term of fifteen years.
There is good crop of coffee this year
and the people ought to be prosperous.
But this revolution. whichever way 1t re-
suits will cause a heavy financial loss,
both to the government and to private in
dividuals-the few who have anything
ahead The business community and the
financial sacrifice for the overthrow of
Zelaya, who makes their burdens heavier
every year.
Zelaya is familiarly known as the
panther and his adherents, who are
nominalIy the liberal party, are called
'pantheristas" The Latin-Americans are
fond of nicknames, which usually epito-
mize the public estimation of those to
whom they are applied. That given to
Zelaya is very appropriate.
Zelaya's Personal Record.
Zelaya was born in the city of Leon:
his father was ranchman OF consider
able wealth and belonged to prominent
family, although he never distinguished
himself in any way. His fathers brother.
Jose Maria Zelaya. was for many years a
leader of the conservative party, highly
respected ana lnnuentlal. RE is SalO u
have been one of the finest characters or
MS time but he had no confidence in his
nephew and up to the time of his death,
about ten years ago, always spoke of him
with the utmost contempt.
President Zelaya joined the liberal party
in opposition to his uncle. when nc was 4
very young man, and became an active
politician. He served for a time in the
armv but lost his commission when he
forfeited the confidence of the govern
ti,a cor ,od h,,ci
ness being continuously involved in con-
spira cies to overthrow the conservative
administration. He was. notorious for his
reckless daring, and single adventure,
in which he captured the polls and the
ballot boxes at a certain election. brought
him into national prominence and made
him a recognized leader of the liberal
party.
In 1898 he took a prominent part in a
successful revolution against President
Roberto Sacasa. a conservative. who was
wise lust honest and progressive, but
| leniene to an extreme and thus lost the
confidence and could not command the
supro rt of the public. Zelaya. having
command of a body of troops subordinate
to the leaders of the revolution, found
himself in strategic situation at La Zu-
esta between Managua and Leon. the
two principal cities. seized the opportuni-
tured the capital.
Within a few months after his coup
detat he. strengthened himself beyond
overthrow, after the fashion of oriental
princes in the middle ages. by shooting
and, banishing from the country all of
the influential people who were opposed
to him or whom he suspected Of disloyal-
ty. He confiscated their property and
sold 1t for the benefit of the state-which
was himself
Keeps the Prisons Filled.
| Since then he has followed the same
policy and the most horrible stories
are told about his treatment OF political