El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-04-06

, known to ride around on horseback un
attended in the suburbs of his capital
BoniIIa Became Reckless.
The financial policies of the Bonilla
administration were admirable. Peace
and plenty prevailed throughout the
country. But Manuel was not free from
the vices of his predecessors He could
and did at times take things into his
hands and smash the laws and the con-
stitutfon with typical Central American
recklessness; as for instance, when he
caused the arrest and Imprisonment of
seven congressman, on the charge OF
conspiracy, invading the halls of con-
greSs and taking the members in the
very place of assembly
By and by, clever as he was, Manuel
made a mistake. He sent Timoteo Mi
ralda as minister to Nicaragua. Miralda
was an accomplished gentleman. no
doubt, but he wasn't enough of diplo-
mat to keep his chief from getting into
trouble with Zelaya. In fact, Miralda
advised BoniIlo TO enter into a hard
and-fast alliance with Zelaya, a project
which Bonillo felt obliged to frown
upon. This displeased Zelaya. From
that day forth the ruler of Nicaragua
set about to compass the destruction of
the recalcitrant Honduran executive.
War With Nicaragua.
The opportunity which finally pre-
scented itself re1ulted from the an
| nouncement of the king of SPANS
award in the Northumberland qua
boundary dispute. The king gave the
territory in dispute to Honduras, and
Bonilla thought he was entitled to send
troops into that district and take pos
session.
His forces, however, were promptly
attacked by Nicaraguan soldiery, as in
vaders Of Nicaraguan soil. That was
| the beginning of hostilfties. Zelaya was
aided and abetted in his plans against
Honduras by a number of "emigrados,"
| such as Gems Rosales and Gutierres,
Constantine Fiallos and ex-president
Sierra. These men took prominent part
in raising and leading the army which
was presently dispatched against b.
nilla.
Though Salvador lent moral and ma
terial assistance to Honduras the cam
paign resulted in the complete defeat
Of Bonilla- The Nicaraguan troops de-
feated the Salvadoreans at Namasigue
and at San Marcos
One feature of the military opera
lions was the advance Of a Nicaraguan
army under Gen. Juan Estrada along
the northern coast Of Honduras. Es-
trada-the same, by the way, who is
causing so much disturbance IN Mica
Truxillo, Ceiba, Porto Cortez and San
Pedro, and held the coast thenceforth
until Davila, as provisional president.
secured the withdrawal of the Mica
raguan forces from Honduran soil.
Zeiaya Thwarted.
Bonilla, after many adventures made
his way to Mexico. Then he went to
Belize, where he now makes his home.
His deposition left the presidential chair
NJ r
body to fin it. To this task the ''junta"
of Honduran ex1les with the Nicara guam
army, addressed itself with great cheer,
though but small success
This "junta" had been formed early
in the campaign, and was composed OF
Gems. Rosales, Castro and Oqueli Bus
tillo. They agreed TO hold the chair
manship in rotation, each one for Is
days at a time, Naturally. enough, this
scheme produced discord. The longer
they debated the choice of president.
the more il became apparent that their
interests clashed. and the more OBJ
viously impossible became any eventual
decision
Zelaya. watching the process of events
with an anxious eye. now attempted to
forestal the ''junta'S' determination
At his suggestion ex-president Sierra
proclaimed himself president and raised
his flag at Amapala- The news of this
rising was received in Tegueigalpa with
quite other effects than Zelaya antici-
pated.
1t instantly became apparent that un-
less Sierra were to return to power
some person who would be generally
acceptable to the country must be put
in the vacant presidency.
DaviIa the Leader
The man wanted was one who would
be honest, able, and above all. one who
had taken no part in the recent revolu-
tion- Such man was Gen Miguel
Davfla- Davila had been elected vice
president on the ticket headed by Man
uel BoniHa, but had been legislated out
of office by the congressional decree
whereby Bonilla was declared dictator
for a term of six years He took ND
with energy and courage the difficult
and dangerous task confided to his
hands.
detachment of his troops intercept
ed Sierra and his followers at Nacaome.
and inflicted upon them a crushing de-
feat From that tine TO the present
peace has been the main object of Da-
Villas administration. He believes that
the one thing Honduras needs is quiet.
The country is rich and its development
is assured, SO long as no recrudesence of
revolution is anticipated
While he has been able to prevent the
actual outbreak of war, Davila has had
much 10 contend with in the constant
menace implied in the presence of Man
uel Bonilla in Belize. within easy strfk- !
ing distance of the Honduran coats. As
long as Bonilla is there, the risk OF
trouble is great. and that fact has suf-
feed to make Davila's way any but an
easy one.
For these reasons Davila has been a !
sincere supporter of the plan whereby !
Washington hopes to prevent any fur |
ther conflicts between the various Cen
trail American states. For these req
sons, too, he abstained from meddIine
In the present Nicaraguan embrogIio |
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