Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-06-25
NICARAGUA.
II Liberals and Conservatives.
BY Frederic ]. Haskin.

While the principal difference between
the two political parties in Nicaragua
Is that ever-present Latin American is
sue of the "ins'' against the outs,
there are some really important govern
mental principles at stake. The con-
servatives are tho blue bloods of Gran
ada and their adherents. The liberals
are the people OF Leon and their fol-
lowers. From time immemorial there has
been a bitter rivalry between these two
cities. each of them ambitious to domi-
nate the politics of Nicaragua, and each
In turn being able to do so. Managua,
the capital. for years has held the bal
ance of power. and as the state of New
York for many years held the balance
of power In presidential elections in the
United States. giving rise 10 the SAYING
..as goes New York so goes the Union"
in the same way Nicaragua has largely
determined the outcome in the politics
and warfare of Nicaragua.
The conservative party always has
been the clerical party of Nicaragua As
a result ii has advocated the union OF
church and state. and. while some or It's
more progressive leaders belleNe that
this is against the interest of progress.
the party as whole still adheres firmly
to the doctrine. on the OTHER hand. the
liberals, following the example OF the
United States insist that religion and
politics shall not be mixed. AND they are
firmly set against anything which saNofS
of such a union. Under the liberal re-
gime, covering the ascendency OF Zeiaya,
there was complete enforcement OF the
two. but as soon as the conservatives
came into power through the triumph or
the revolution led by liberal ana back
ed by the conservatives. constitution
was adopted providing for the.feunion
Of the church and state.
Another issue between the two Parties
u the question of suffrage. The liberals
profess to
Suffrage an Issue believe thor
Between the Parties. tho nr,,,ch,le
of manhood suffrage, and strenuousay
oppose any restriction of the ballot ~
course it must be remembered that dur
ing the many wears of Zelaya's ascend
ency representing the liberal party,
there was no greater degree OF enfran-
chisement of the people than there Is I'M
der the conservative regime. The liberals,
when this charge is made against them
admit the truth thereof, but declare that
1t was Zelaya. and not the party, which
was responsible for the denial to the
people of the right of free government.
No man could be more unpopular in his
own country than Zelaya is in Nicaragua
today. Even his most intimate friends or
the past now freely concede that the pic
ture which the world has Of his brutality
and tyranny is not overdrawp, and the
liberal party insists that the sins OF his
administration We're not those of the
party, but of tyrant who dominated mis-
party as we'll his country. They agree
that his enforced retirement was boon
10 the republic.
Ii is said that during the early part OF
Zelaya's regime he made very decent
sort OF ruler. That he was firm goes with
out saying, for no man can rule long IN
Central America without liberal use OF
the mailed fist but he was interested in
the development of the country, and his
Interests and those Of his people were so.
interrelated that TO benefit himself he
would also benefit them. After few
years. however, il is said that certain
foreigners. who We're upon intimate terms
with Zelaya, began TO show him how he
could make some money for himself out
of this project and that proposition In
this school he proved himself such an apt
pupil that ne soon was Shaming his
teacher and became such q glutton for
graft that the last years of his reign were
indeed a nightmare TO everybody.
= x
y
ragua was sure of either his fortune
or his life. If any
No Security for one happened to
=. have proper
Lie OF Fortune. which ZeIaya want
ed he either gave it up or went TO jail If,
In travelling about the country. he hap
pened to see any young woman who
struck his fancy. she must come to Man
aqua and become his mistress. IL her
people rebelled they We're sent to jail
until they became reconciied 10 this con-
dtion. The jefe politicos and other I'M
derstrappers of the Zelaya machine cur
ried favor with him by assisting him in
all his nefarious schemes. Seeing their
leader engaged in these things. they
themselves followed suit in their own be-
half. and the result was such wide
spread system OF depravity as to con-
stitute a blot on Latin American civiliza-
ton.
Since the abdcation OF the mad dog Of
Central America" as Zeaya has been
called. the liberals have realized that the
only way for them to secure restora-
ton to public favor would be through
decent conduct. and when their hanished
leaders were permitted IL return under
decree Of amnesty they all came back
with tile announced intention OF laying
low and hopin2; that at the end of the
provisional government and the election
under the new constitution they would
be returned 10 power. They have pro-
fessed TO feel that they are in the ma
Jority in the republic. and that they can
win revolution or carry an election
whenever the contest is on even terms.
The new American minister, 10 Mica
ragua arrived just about a month after
the return OF the banished liberal lead
ers. These liberals were persuaded that
Minister Northcott would be fair with
them. and hoped 10 see him and relate
haf
he was prejudiced against them by the
conservatives.
Tie leader OF the liberals was DR. Ro-
dolfo Espinosa, the most popular physi-
clan in Managua
Blame for Explosion and form erly
Put on Liberals. 80 @ - Nm ~ u
ington. The very day of the arrival of
Minister Northcott a part OF the bar
ro4alrC >-;.t.,,