The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1909-12-16
Calls Him One Of the Wors,
Criminals the World
Ever Knew.
WORST TYPE OF THIEF
Demands His Life or His
Liberty as Murderer of
TwoAmericans.

IN the senate last Friday authorizing
the President OF the United States to
take all necessary steps to appreheni
President Zelaya, of Nicaragua, and
bring him totrlal on a charge OF the
murder of Groce and Cannon, the
two American citizens, recently exc
cuted In Nicaragua, Senator Rayner,
of Maryland, today addressed the Sen
ate at length. Senator Rayners
speech, stirring and denunciatory in
tone and characterized by dramatic
fcvor, was an unsparing arraignment
OF president zelaya who he desig-
mated as one of the criminals of the
age.
What j am concerned in now
said Senator ,Rayner, sis not the
question of the belligerent rights of
the revolutionists, or in case of their
success. or their recognition either
as the de facto or the de jure govern
ment, but in the speedy apprehen-
sion and punishment of Zelaya. This
desperate is everything that the
Secretary of State says about him.
and great deal more. II the coun-
try knew what is known In official
circles in reference to his general de-
pravity, it would regard the Score.
tary's communication as exceedingly
temperate. as it shows upon its face
the restraint under which he was
laboring in dealing with such u
character.
II have watched for years the rev
olutionary history of Central Amer
lea, and am familiar with the career
of great many of the impostors
and usurpers and the grotesque and
motley leaders that have sprung
from their chaotic institutions. but
Zelaya is probably the most de-
spicablc figure that has ever risen
in their midst. If he were simply u
highwayman, We might identify him;
If he was simply tyrant who OPP
pressed the people for the purpose OF
robbing them. we might partcularize
him; If he was usurper who was
only holding on to power so long as
there was any money in the treasury
to. steal, or any further territory that
he;could sack for private plumber, we
=
could assign him aNproper place in
the ranks of some of his predecessors.
and il he was purely an assassin who
regarded murder as legitimate pro-
fession through which he could de-
spoil hts victims of their possessions
until the time came for him to fee
from the hands of retributive justice,
1t would he an easy task also for
anyone acquainted with the polite
al history of Nicaragua to classify
him.
combined. In the school of corrup-
ton, dishonor. perfidy and crime he
stands without a peer, and exhibits
in one glow OF associated harmony
the pride of every model and the per-
lection of every master. have been
informed upon the most reliable ap-
thority that the vices of his private
life are more infamous In their In
describablc details than the iniquities
~ NJ; ,.,,l,To noraar S,,ci, a CREATURE
as this deserves the exeeration OF
mankind. Now. as the eliminating
infamy OF his administration, tramp
ling upon every instinct of humanity,
in violation of universal law, in def
ance of those precepts of the inter-
national code that have been recog.
nized ever since the night of barbar-
ism recorded before the rays oil
civilization, he has put to torture and
then to death the American citizens
who were not guilty of treason. who
we've not spies, but whom he had cap
tured 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 Re
public, and cannot remain unayeng-
ed.
1T is absolutely preposterous for
Us to talk about indemnity. Indem-
nifty is no recompense for murder
there is no one to give US indemnity
because the revolutionis6 will soon
be in power. and the comrades in
arms of these unfortunate men
shout never be assessed for compen-
sation for their unlawful death. 1t
Is said that we ought to break off Of
fetal communication with his ac-
credited representatives. We have
already done that. and that amounts
TO nothing. and is matter of abso-
lutte unconcern to him.
Then 1t is said that we ought to
dccinro t,,ar againet -Nioa ra oua I