The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1909-12-21
NOT OUT OF THE WOODS.

Even if Zelaya is willing TO vacate
the presidential chair in Nicaragua,
and put a man Of his own choice in
power, he is by no means out Of the
woods. That speech Of Senator Rayner
on December thirteen expresses the
sentiment of the United States. There
is ground-in justice and in the Gus
tom Of nations-to arrest Zelaya and
hold him for trial for the murder of
Groce ana Cannon, the two Americans
who were shot to death by his orders
after their arrest IN the insurgent
army.
At every port United States ships
are watching the exits from Nicaragua
It is believed a part of the duties Of
the navy there is TO apprehend the re,
firing dictator, and hold him subject
to such facing Of charges as an out
ragged nation will present.
These American citizens were first
tortured and then killed on the pre-
tense that they were spies. But the
evidence in the case shows that they
were not spies at all They were vol
unteers IN the insurgent army-an
army that represented more than half
the people Of the little republic. These
American citizens were forced to take
their place against the dictator because
under his rule there was no safety ano
no justice in the land. But they made
their fight IN the open, betrayed no
secrets secured under deception, CPT-
ried no information from the Zelsya
forces to the leaders Of the insuTrec-
ton.
Senator Rayner dismisses the subject
OF indemnity. and demands that the
United States shall make the murder
OF American citizens-anywhere on the
face Of the earth-a very dangerous
thing; a thing to be followed by swift
and adequate retribution. Read this
extract from his speech before the
senate:
If he had the right to sentence these
men to death ana execute them in cold
blood, then we must acknowledge that
right and recognize it before the
nations Of the world. If he did not
have that right, no matter how petty
eyes Of diplomacy or upon the sphere
of the worlds action, no matter how
trivial and unimpOrtant q station his
government may occupy, this govern
ment is his aCCuser, and If he is guilty
he must be awarded the doom and fate
that he deserves, so that every tyTant
on this earth in every nationality under
the sun, and in every government
large or small, and especially these
fr4a IN Of rrrsaI
American states who have received
every favor and consideration at the
hands Of the United States and to
whom has been extended the official
hospitality of our land, and who in
return therefor have exhibited to US
at times the bitterest hatred and visited
upon cur citizens the most cruel in
dignities and outrages, shall be told
once and forever that our flag follows
our citizens wherever they go, and that
when an assassination like this occurs
the malefactor must take his place like
any other culprit at the bar of Grim
inal justice. and must answer for the
deed with his liberty or his life.
The republic can not lightly pass so
grave an incident. For the security of
tho lives Of our fellow countrymen
when they 60 abroad it must be made
clear that they can not be butchered
at the within of any potentate, no mat
ter how little or how big.
There is an end Of the Zelaya gov
eminent in Nicaragua. Now let there
be an end Of Zelaya. And much will
be done for American citizenship, ano
much for the stability Of government
in Central America