Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-12-13
MAY HAVE TO INTERVENE.

President Zelaya's reasoning is plaus-
ible enough. when he argues that Groce
and Cannon were amenable to the laws
of Nicaragua. and that he, therefore,
had a perfect right to stand by Inactive
and see them shot to death. He may
have had legal right to permit their
execution. but II is not always best to
do thing simply because 1t can be
done under the law. In some parts OF
Africa the ruler OF tribe might have
had the right" to let them be roasted
and eaten. but II this had been done.
civilization would have demanded that
such a ruler be taught an impressive
lesson. And this may be the case with
Zeiaya notwithstanding his rights" 1t
may be necessary to teach him, and
others at the same time, that the de-
mands and ideals of civilization are
superior to the Anticipated laws of any
country.
The two Americans were duly COM
missioned officers in the insurgent
army. 1t is TO be presumed that they
had Joined the rebels because they
conscientiousIy believed in that cause.
1t is true the insurgents were not recog-
nized as belligercnts. but they were
such in reality, and the two Americans
would have been treated as prisoners
OF war by any civilized government II
Zelaya had been anything but small
souled dcspot. he would have said to
those two Americans: Gentlemen,
your lives are forfeited. but If you will
give me your word of honor never
again to take up arms against my
government, you are free" He would
then have let them go. and they would
probably have left his country for ever.
But being very narrow-minded, petty
tyrant, he let his minlons take their
lives.
And there is reason to believe that
he did SO to satisfy his thirst for re-
venge upon the United States. There
is reason to believe that the bullets that
pierced the hearts of those two Amerl-
cans were really aimed at Uncle Sam.
In those two Americans, Uncle Sam
was. as it were. shot in efiigy. Zelaya
intimated that, himself, when he emu.
merated to q representative OF the Az
sociated Press, several instances of hos
tility against him in the United States
through paid articles appearing in
American newspapers. In one Of these
instances, he said. he was endeavoring
to raise loan in France. when his enc
mics persuaded the United States to in
terpose an objection through the
French embassy at Washington on the
pretext that the money sought was In
tended for the purchase of war mater
ials. when in reality 1t was to have
been used in the construction OF rail-
way. 1t is evident that Zelaya thought
he saw chance to getting even with
Uncle Sam for alleged acts of hostility.
and that the shooting, therefore. was
an act of retaliation. Under the cir
cumstances the United States govern
ment seems TO be justified in accepting
the challenge and see the matter
through to finish.
The Central American states are all
suffering from the misrule of Zelaya.
one OF the chief obstacles to those
states obtaining American capital Is the
brutal autocracy of theNicaraguan pres
ident IT Is now believed that with him
out OF the way, peace viii come to all
the Central American states, and the
way VIII be opened for their unifcation.
Central America is a hne country, rich
IN resources. The mines there are as
ricn as any in the world. and the agri-
cultural resources are simply Immense.
But capital Is timid. as long as the
governments arc uncertain. with a
united Government strong enough n
keep peace and protect Investments.
capital would How In. and Central
America would become strong rcpub-
lie The United States may have TO
help matters along. for the protection
OF American citizens and property.