The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1909-12-09

nation. But he was also keen
enough to appreciate his defcien-
cies. He knew he must possess a
thorough knowledge of state and
military affairs in order to realize
this dream of empire. So with
this end in view, he left his native
country and spent ten years i'll
travelling i'll Europe and the United
States, where he studied the var
ious forms of government and mil
itarv training.
Fully equipped for his new en-
terprise he returned to Nicaragua,
where his superior knowledge of
military tactics won him place at
the head of the army. Then he
waited for his opportunity. This
came in 1895, when, after he had
suppressed revolutionary move
ment, he made himself president.
The dramatic details of this event
furnish a good illustration of Ze-
laya's character.
President Saracasa, who was
then in office, and the members of
his cabinet were seated in the
council room of the capitol at
Managua to welcome the victor
ious general. When Zelaya, sum
moned by his officers, strobe ma
jestically into the room, the presi-
dent began his little speech of
thanks, praising the conqueror for
his great victory. But the ex-
preston in the piercing gray eyes
of the stalwart soldier caused the
words to die in his throat. Then
drawing revolver from his belt,
Zelaya advanced to the table,
while all present, with the excep-
ton of his escort, turned pale.
The revolution is dead" he
said. Long live the revolution!
/ am the revolution. Do you
think I won the victory for you?
No!
MY army holds the town and
the country. The soldiers are de
voted to me. 1t is useless for you
to protest or resist.
To-day you must all leave the
city under escort for the coast,
and You will depart to the United
States or Europe by the first
steamer. 1t you refuse you will
be shot.
They went. Zelaya had now
achieved the first step of his am
bition. With a well equipped
army, he quickly silenced all OPP
position, for as he was wont to
say, "Opposition is anarchy, and
anarchy must be suppressed. "
Soon after he assumed control. he
issued a proclamation incorpor-
ating Mosquito Coast, which lies
on the Atlantic side, under pro-
test from the British consul, who
was clapped into Jail because of his
perslstenCy England immediate
ly jumped in and brought Zelaya
to his senses by forcing him to
pay an indemnity Of $4,000 In
1894 he drafted a new constitu
ton, but, from Zelayan point of
view, there was serious defect
i'll it, which provided that a presi-
dent could not succeed himself.
He had this remedied by an
amendment in 1896.
In the meantime, he had begun
his active campaign against Hon
duras. The settlement of this
was not satisfactory and was soon
followed by another. His cam
paigns became SO frequent that the
NiCaraguan army was spending
the greater part of its time march
ing across the state line. On the
slightest preteXt old troubles were
revived, and when there was moth
ing else to fight about Zclaya
would select the boundary line as
an excuse, this being a never fail
ing source of dispute since the
states were first formed. Finally,
with the aid of the United States,
Mexico aud Central America, a
Peace Conference was held in
Washington in 1897 and each re-