Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-14
MARYLAND SENATOR SCORES
NICARAGUAN PRESIDENT
ADVOCATES ARREST OF GEN.
TRIAL AMERICAN
Declares Ample Authority Exists in
international Law to Bring
Man Who Killed Cannon
and Groce to Trial
Associated Press1

sage of his resolution authorizing the
/ president of the United States to ap-
prehend and try the president of Mica
ragua for his crime against these two
4 American citizens.
The private life of Zelaya, almost
unspeakable in its enormity, said Mr.
Rayner, should be made public by
the state department in order that
the people of the United States might
know the kind of man Zelaya was"
Mr.. Rayner said there was ample
authority in international law for the
course he advocated to bring Zelaya
to the bar Of justice.
In moving the resolution be referred
to the committee on foreign relations,
Mr.. Lodge said he was glad to know
the senator from Maryland so thor
oughly approved the course taken by
the administration.
Senator Cullom Of the committee on
foreign relations said he would have
something to say about the resolution
when it was reported by his commit
tee back to the senate, a remark which
was interpreted as meaning he wished
it to be favorably reported.
Arraignment Is Severe
Senator Rayner's speech. stirring
and denunciatory in tone, and char
acterized by dramatic fervor, was an
unsparing arraignment of Zelaya,
whom he designated as one of the
criminals of the age.
"What l am concerned in now," said
Senator Rayner, sis not the question
of the belligerent rights of the reyolu-
tionists, or, in case of their success.
their recognition either as the de facto
or the de jure government, but in the
speedy apprehension and punishment
of Zelaya.
This desperate is everything the
! Of a 20 oh Ii, nd
a great deal more. If the country
knew what is known in official circles
| in reference to his general depraVity, II
would regard the secretary's commu-
nication as exceedingly temperate.
Il have watched for years the revo-
lutionary history Of Central America,
and am familiar with the careers Of a
usurpers and the grotesque and motley
leaders that have sprung up from their
, chaotic institutions, but Zelaya is
probably the most despcable figure
that has ever risen in their midst.
Flags zeIaya Numerically
, IF he were simply a highwayman
we might identify him; II he were sim
! ply tyrant who oppressed the people
T for the purpose of robbing them we
5 might particularize him; If he were a
= usurper who was only holding on to
/
in the treasury to steal, or any further
territory that he could sack for pri-
} vate plunder. we could assign him a
proper place in the ranks of some of
his predecessors, and If he were purely
an assassin who regarded murder as
legitimate profession through which
he could despoll his victims of their
possessions until the time came for
him to flee from the hands of retribu-
; tive justice, 1t would be easy also for
; any one acquainted with the political
history Of Nicaragua to classify him
He is, however, all of these things
combined. In the school of corrup-
tion, dishonor, perfidy and crime he
stands without a peer and exhibits in
one glow of associated harmony the
. pride of every model and the perfec-
: tion ofevery master.
II have been reliably informed the
: vices of his private life are more In
famous in their indescribable details
than the iniqulties Of his public caa
reer. Such a creature as this deserves
> the execration Of mankind.
, Says He Put Men to Death
I "Now. as the eliminating infamy Of
his administration, trampling on every
, instinct of humanity, in violation of
i universal law, in defiance of those pre-
l. | cepts of the international code that
| have been recognized ever since the
night Of barbarism receded before the
rays of civilization, he has put to
torture and then to death two Ameri-
J can citizens who were not guilty of
treason, who were not spies, but whom
he lad captured as prisoners of war
In the army of the revolutionists.
"This act was not only the act OF a
fiend, but was an insult to the honor of
- this republic, and cannot remain un-
avenged.
l. 1T is absolutely preposterous for two
6 to talk about indemnity Indemnity is
20 no recompense for murder. 1t IS said
f. we ought to break off official communi-
# cation with his accredited representa-
tives. We have already done that, and
u that amounts to nothing and is a mat
= ter of absolute unconcern to him.
"Then 1t is said we ought to declare
II war against Nicaragua. l think that is
=, unnecessary.
,, '"This government is a cowardly gov
ernment if it does not make an exam
- pie of Zelaya before the eyes of the
y civilized world. This case will not ad-
o nit of any trifling concessions.
8 IF two American citizens have been
murdered by Zelaya, then he must be
e made to pay the penalty of his crime
o Ignorant of Deeds Enormity
81 "Once spread before the American
people the details Of the execution. and
our people will rise in arms and de-
mand retribution. They have not yet
\ fully absorbed the significance of this
] deed.
Il IF Zelaya had the right to sentence
these men to death and execute then
/ in cold blood, then we must acknowl-
edge that right and recognize it before
the nations of the world. If he did moi
have that right, this government is hi!
| accuser, and if he is guilty he must be
| awarded the doom and fate that he de
| / serves, so that every tyrant on this
earth, in every nationality under thu
( sun and in every government, large oi
small. and especially those dictators il
several of these Central American
| states, who have received every favor
and consideration at the hands of the
United states and to whom has beer
I extended the official hospitality of oul
/ land. and who in return therefore have
exhibited TO us at times the bitteres
| hatred and visited on our citizens the
most cruel indignities and outrages
shall be told once for all that our fas
! follows our citizens wherever they so
: and that when an assassination lill
this occurs the malefactor must take
! his place like any other culprit at the