Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-12-23
Spirit of Revolt in Nicaragua
Had Spread to the Palace
Gates.
new REGIME is PROCLAIMED
General Estrada will Have None
of Madriz-Who Will Be tho
New President, No
One Cares.

ManaSua, Nicaragua, Dec 1s-Jose
Santos Ieava has resigned from the
presidency Of Nicaragua. he placed his
resignation in the hands OF Congress this
morning Apparently there was no other
course for him to take. The people were
ut last aroused. The guns of the re-
volutionists threatened. The war~hips of
tie United states lay in Nicara guam
ports. The spirit OF revolt had spread
even to the nGtcs OF the palace. Zclaya
surrounded hrisei with en- armed
guard. Unchecked, the populace march
ed through tho streets. crying for the
end Of the old. procaimng new
! regime.
| Who will take UP the reins. no one
knows nor cares. It is sufficient that Ze-
| lava az dictator will lie no more. There
is no doubt that Congress will act quick
~ on his resignation fCr the people
! have demanded It.
Or. Jose Madrlz. fudge Of the Central
American court Of justice at Caratas-.
who is Zeayo's choice for President. is
on his way here and will arrive on Sat
urdav Madriz has his follow!ng strong
and Influential even among the revou
ttonists. but General Estrada, under
whose command tho grea- body of fight
ing Insurgents now face Nasquez's troops
at Rama. will have none of him. Es-
trada's word will bear weight in the
choice Of president
L. S. HAS NAMED NO MAN
| Zelaya has known. too, that Madriz is
! not acceptable to the Ccted States. and
! he has sought to learn who would be
looked upon with favor by that govern
ment as his successor. But the Ameri-
can government so far as can be learned
has named no man, and the choice prob
ably will lie with those who have gained
| the upper hand.
Accompany his resignation, Zelaya
sent the following message to Congress
THE painful circumstances in which the
country is plunged call for acts of
abnegaton and patriotism 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 under a shameless revolution
which threatens the nations sovereignty
and a foreign nation unjustly ntervenes
in our affairs. publicly providing the
rebels with arms which has only resulted
| in their being defeated everywhere
through the herosm Of our troops
ITO avoid further bloodshed and for the
| reason that the revolutionists have do
clared that they would put down their
arms when | surrender the executive
power, | hereby place in the hands OF the
national assembly the abandonment OF
the remainder of my term of office, which
is to he filled by a substitute of their
choosing. with the hope that this will
result in good to Nicaragua. the re-
establishment of peace and particularly
the suspension Of the hostility of the
United States to which | do not wish to
give pretext for intervention"
SHOUTS FOR ESTRADA.
a commission was appointed to draft
bill looking to the acceptance of Zelayas
resignation, which is now considered a
mere Formally. News of the Presidents
action spread throughout the city, and
soon great crowds were abroad. 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 restrain. when
it was certain that the dictator could not
breast the tide that has been rising
around him. During the latter days, Ze-
!aya has resortsd to all the known tricks
and contrivances TO hold the people OF
MaraKua with him. Reports Of gov
eminent victory ut Rama nave been free
ly circulated and runors that a massa-
Gro Of revoluttonists had occurred were
allowed to spread unchalenged and UNI
denied. 1t finally became known that
these were without q shred of truth and
they rebounded like n boomerang.
First one deputy and then another took
up the dennncint!on OF Zclaya IN the
chamber and later IN tho public places.
and soon throughout tho city demorstra-
tons were held in which open revo,.
was voiced. Last night, however, a pro-
Zels;a demonstration marked the session
Of Congress- but this had no effect out
side the walls of the house The rising
was moro marked to-day than ever and
the President. mindful that discretion is
the better part OF Haor. withdrew from
Office.
Jose Santos Zclaya has been in COM
mand in the republic of Nicaragua for
l6 years. He ruled with strong
hand and has been called tho stormy
petrol Of Central America. He was
always noted for his cunning and |
bravery. and he was remarkable, too,
for his ability to surround himself |
with those who were ready to do his
bidding. AS consequence in later
years he was an absolute dictator. He |
amassed wealth by taking large |
percentage of tho profits from conces-
sons and by tho formation OF a group |
of men who aided him In eXacting mil
lions from the people.
Ielaya belongs to the arlstocracy OF
his country. He received his education
in Paris. He Is 81 years of age and as
he Is the most hated man In South or
Central America, the wonder Is that he
had managed TO live so long after maxi
Ing for himself some many tervent
| enemies. Innumerable attempts have
| been made against his life. While
compa ratively young man, Zelaya began
an agitation against the government, and
his actions became SO violent that he
was expelled He went TO Guatemala
then ruled by Barrios. obtained service
in the army and, after fighting for
number OF years, re-eppeared In his own
|