The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-12-22
zELAYA HAS RESIGNED
TYRANICAL NICARAGUAN RULER
YIELDS TO THE INEVITABLE.
With the Whole Country Settling
With Revolution Against Him,
This Was His Only Way Out.

With Revolution Against Him.
This Was His Only Way Out.
A dispatch from Managua says
Jose Santas Zelaya has resigned
from the Presidency of Nicaragua.
He placed his resignation in the
hands of Congress Thursday morn
Ing. Apparently there was no 9TH
or course for him to take. The
people were at last aroused. The
guns Of the reVolutionists threaten
ed, the warships Of the United states
were In Nicaraguan ports.
Managua has been seething for
days. The spirit of revolt has spread
even to the gates Of the palace.
Zelaya surrendered himself with an
armed guard. Unchecked the pop
ulace have marched through the
streets, crying for the end Of the
old, prDclaiming the new regime.
Who will take up the reins no
one knows nor cares. 1t is sufficient
that Zelaya as dictator will be known
no more. There Is no doubt that
Congress will act quickly on his
resignation, for the people have de-
manded 1t.
DR.. Jose Madriz. Judge Of the
Central American Court Of Justice
at Carriage, who has been close to
Zelaya, and ia now his choice for
a president, has gone to Mana
qua. Madriz has his following,
strong and influential. even among
the revolutionists, but Gen. Estrada,
under whose command the great
body Of fighting insurgents now face
Vasquez's troops at Rama, will have
none Of him. Estrada's word will
bear weight in the choice OF a Presi-
dent.
Zelaya has known. too, that
Madriz IL not acceptable to the Unit
ed States, and he has sought to learn
who would be looked upon with IA
vor by that government as his sue
cessor.
Accompanying his resignation,
Zelaya sent the following message
to congress:
"The painful circumstances In
which the country is plunged call for
acts of abnegation and patriotism on
the part of good citizens, who are
the witnesses Of the oppression OF
the Republic by the heavy hand OF
fate. The country Is staggering un-
der ! shameless revolution. which
threatens the nations sovereignty
and q foreign nation unjustly inter-
venes in our affairs. publicly provid-
ing the rebels with arms, which has
only resulted in their being defeated
everywhere through the heroism of
U troops.
ITO avoid further bloodshed, and
for the reason that the revolution
lists have declared that they would
put down their arms when l sur
render the executive power, / here
by place In the hands Of the national
assembly the abandonment OF the
remainder Of my term of Office, which
Is to be filled by a substitute on their
choosing, with the hope that this
will result in good to Nicaragua. the
reestab!ishment Of peace. and partic-
ularly the suspension Of the hostili-
ty of the United States to which
do not wish to give a pretext for
Intervention"
A commission Of Ave deputies was
appointed to draft a bill looking to
the acceptance of Zelaya's resigna-
ton, which Is now considered a mere
formality. News Of the presidents
action spread through the city, and
soon great crowds moved through
the streets, shouting for the United
States, Estrada and the revolution.
Held In control for years by the
strong hand Of Zelaya. the people
have been quick to break through
restraint when 1t was certain that
the dictator could not breast the tide
that has been rising around him.
During the later days Zelaya has
resorted to all the known tricks and
contrivances to hold the people of
Managua with him.
Reports Of a government victory
at Rama have been freely circulat-
ed, and rumors that a massacre OF
revolutionists had occurred were al
lowed to spread unchallenged and un-
denied. 1t finally became known
that these we're without a shred OF
truth, and they rebounded like 9
boomerang.
First one deputy then another took
I'D the denunciation Of Zelaya In
the chamber and later in the public
places, and soon throughout the city
demonstrations were held. in which
open revolt was voiced. Wednes'
day night, however, a pro-Zalaya
demonstration marked the session OF
congress, but this had no effect out
side the walls Of the house. The
rising was more marked Thursday
than ever, and the President de-
cided discretion to be the better
part OF valor and withdrew from
Office.