The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-14
Bitter Attack Is Made Upon
Dictator Of Nicaragua In
a Telling Address
PUNISHMENT MUST Be
GIVEN The INDIVIDUAL
Rayner Declares That Indemnity VIII
Not Satisfy the United States
But That ZeIaya Must An
swer Personally.

Washington, December 1s.-spakng to
his resolution offered in the Senate last
Friday, authorizing the President Of the
United States TO take all necessary steps
to apprehend President zelaya of Mic
aragua and bring him to trial on a charge
of the murder of Groee and Cannon, the
two American citizen, recently executed
in Nicaragua, Senator Rayner of Mary
land today addressed the Senate at
length. Senator Rayner's speech. stirring
and denunciatory in tone and character
lied by dramatic fervor, was an unspar-
ing arraignment of President Zelaya.
whom he designated as one of the Grim
inals OF the age.
What l am concerned in now,' said
Senator Rayner, lis not the question of
the belligerent rights of the revolution
lists, or in case of their success their
recognition either as the de facto or the
de iure government. but in the speedy
apprehension and punishment of Zelaya
This desperate is everything that the
Secdetary of state says about him, and
a great deal more. If the country knew
what is known in official circles in ref
erence to his general depravity, 1t would
regard the secretary's communication as
exceedingly temperate. as it shows upon
Its face the restraint under which he
was laboring in dealing with such a char
acter.
Worse Than Highwaynan.
'T have watched for years the revou-
tionary history of Central America. and
am familiar with the career of a great
many of the iInposters and usurpers and
the grotesque and motley leaders that
have sprung from their chaotic institu-
tions. but zelaya is probably the most
despicable figure that has ever risen in
their midst. If he were simply a high
wayman. we might identity him. If he
was simply a tyrant who oppressed the
people for the purpose of robbDlg them,
we might particularize him; II he was
usurper who was only holding on to
power so long there was any money
In the treasury to steal. or any further
territory that he could sacf for private
plunder. we could assign Fin "a proper
place in the ranks of some of his prede-
cessors and If he was purely su assassin
who regarded murder IS a legitimate
profession through @hfch he could despoil
his victims of their possessions until the
time came for him to flee from the hands
of retributive justice, IL would he an easy
task also for anyone acquainted with the
political history of Nicaragua to classify
him.
Peerless Criminal.
''He is. however, all of these things
combined. In the school of corruption
dishonor perfidy and crime he stands
without peer and exhibits in one glow
of associated harmony the pride of ev-
cry model and the perfection of every
master. I have been informed upon the
most reliable authority that the vices of
his private life are more Infamous in
their indescribable details than the iniqui-
ties of his public career Such a pres
ture as this deserves the execration of
mankind. Now the eliminating in
fanny of his administration, trampling
upon every instinct of humanity In vio-
lation of universal law, in defiance of
these precepts of the international code
that have been recognized ever since the
night of barbarism receded before the
rays of civilization, he has put to tor
ture and then to death two American
citizens who were not guilty of trea-
son. 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 fiend, but was an
insult to the honor of this republic and
cannot remain unavenged.
No Indemnity
ut is absolutely preposterous for us
to talk about indemnity. Indemnity is
no recompense for murder. Even If we
were willing to accept such compro?
mise, there is no one to give us indemni-
ty, because the revolutionists will soon
be In power, and the comrades in arms
OF these unfortunate men should never
be assessed for compensation for their
unlawful death. 1t is said that we ought
to break Off official communication with
his accredited representatives. We have
already done that. and that amounts to
nothing, and is a matter of absolute un-
concern to him.
"Then it is said that we ought to de-
clare war against Nicaragua. 1 think
that is unnecessary, except in so far as
this resolution may be construed into
what is known in International law as a
declaration of hostility sub modo-some
OF the authorities speaking OF it as limit
ed or imperfect hostilities. 1t is a
declaration against the ruler OF Mica
ragua in person and not against the gov
ernment, which may soon be out of his
grasp
Must Be No Trifiing.
This government is a e,wardly gov
ernment if II does not make an example
of Zelaya before the eyes of the civilized
world. This case will not admit of any
trifing concessions. II two American
citzens-I care not who they We're OF.
what they were. citizens in high stand
Ing. as they have been reputed to be. or
soldiers of fortune-have been murdered
by zelaya, 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 retrihu-
ton. They have not yet fully absorbed
the significance of this deed, No mat
ter how II was DONE no trial by COURT