The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1909-12-09
ZELAYl THE DICTATOR
OF NICARAGUA
Sketch of His Stormy Career-A
Bully and a Strategist.

involved have brought forciblY to
|Ne attention of this and other
< Jvernments the arrogant ruler of
that turbulent Central American
republic-Jose Santos Zelaya-
who for nearly a score of years
has been one of the most trouble
some figures IN international af-
fairs.
That the latest difficulty in
which he has become involved,
through the execution of Groce
and Cannon, citizens of the United
States, will result in his final
elimination from the field OF poll
tics, is now generally believed by
diplomats in Washington. The
long list of insults to which var
ious nations have been subjected
by this troublesome executive, and
which eliminated in the killing of
Leonard Ctroce and Leroy Cannon,
American residents of Nicaragua,
will undoubtedly be avenged by
Uncle Sam. While a substantial
indemnity undoubtedly will be de-
manded for their deaths, the inter
vention of this nation is expected
10 result in the success of the pres
ent revolutionary movement under
eral Juan Estrada. This
would mean Zelaya's deposition
as president and undoubtedly his
exile from Nicaragua,
For nearly a score of years this
autocrat has ruled Nicaragua with
an iron hand, substituting military
force where moral sausion proved
ineffective, and sowing the seed
of discord among the other Cen
trail American states, which would
ultimately be harvested to his adj
vantage. All industries, whether
native or foreign, have been COM
PEELED to pay toll to this avariCious
ruler, who supports his various
military movements with the pro-
eedss TIE most profitable Of
ase, such as sugar, tobacco and
aGffee, are controlled by him or
his rep esentatives, and the vast
returns have made him immensely
wealthy. One source of revenue,
however, he has been unable to
get control of, namely the vast
mineral wealth on the eastern
coast. Yankee ingenuity has de-
veloped this section, and despite
the heart-breaking tariff and var
10 rs other Zelayan schemes, the
Am Nricans have managed to retain
their hold.
Zelaya has blamed the Ameri-
cans for the many revolutions
stirred up against him, and when
the recent and most riotOus upriS-
ing broke out in the Bluefields
district, it did not serve to increase
his affection. This has been the
basis for the report that the exc
cution of Groce and Cannon was
purely a matter of personal re-
venge on the part of the Nicara-
guam executive. Zelaya is a man
with a purpose, and for many
years, even before his advent to
the presidency, has had in mind
the union of the Central American
states, with himself at the head.
Born of wealthy parents, very
little is known of his early life eX-
cept that he is of "unmixed"
blood. The date Of his birth is
fixed between I845 and 1850. Ac-
cording to the best information
obtainable, his early days were
spent in the dirty little city of
Managua, the capital Of Nicara-
qua, where, with his indolent COM
panions, he passed his time in
gambling and cock fighting. AS
military service is compulsory,
young Zelaya entered the army at
an early age. This marked the
of his career. The en-
setic qualities of his character
which had long laid dormant, now
asserted themselves.
The enormous power Of the
army in the affairs of the state
formed bla2ed path for his stormy