El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-06-24

With Treasury Depleted and
Lands Devastated, Coun-
try Is in Bad Shape.
REVOLUTIONS HAVE
RUINED THE NATION

still bleeding from the unhealed
wounds of war, and its finances still
showing the blight OF Zelayaism fand
revolution, the politicians of Mica
ragua. but lately agreed that fpeace
must be maintained a. all Hazards, are
now again PLAYING that peculiar game
of Latin-American politics whose
usual end is war;
While they are doing this the Am
erican government is striving TO pre-
vent them from flying at each others
Threats again Through the state de-
partment and minister -Northcott,. the
United States is urging upon the poll
ticians In Nicaragua the absolute ne
cessity Of sinking their personal am
billions for the welfare of their coun-
try, and is striving to secure tbs
ratification of a treaty which VIII
enable American bankers to secure
themselves IN furnishing funds for the
payment Of the republics foreign
loans, for the rehabilitation of its
finances, the construction of Internal
improvements. and the development OF
its resources
President Is Dcpoxed-
The provisional president, Juan Es-
trada, appointed last winter, and at
the time acceptable to all sides has
been forced out Of office and his
gone to New Orleans, presumably fol
t the purpose of financing another
revolution. II is definitely known
that an offer has been made to one. OF
the big foreign interests in Nicaragua
10 give il certain valuable concess- ons
If il will furnish the funds for the
prosecution OF the war. Meanwhile
there are two other rivals for the
presidency. two who we're allies until
their an.3:tions conflieted- since
which time they have been bitter en-
ernies. and no one knows how soon
their differences may precipitate an
other outbreak
Consul Forced TO Retire.
While all of this has been happen
ing the American consul at Managua
has been retired from the service
He disagrees with the American min
lister over the policy of the United
States towards Nicaragua He was
the close personal friend Of Juan
Estrada. the provisional president
and asserts that the United States
ought to support Estrada, even after
he had apparently broken his promise
10 minister Dawson that he would
not be a candidate for reelection TO
the presidency
In its multiplicity of plots and
counterpIots, Of intrigues and double
dealings, of broken agreements ana
The Standardization Of the general vel
of Nicaragua represents climax IN
I.atin-American politics. immediately
after the close of the revolution IN
which Estrada was the victor the
state department dispatched the Am
erican minister to Panama, Thomas
c. Dawson, to Nicaragua, with orders
to patch up some sort OF agreement
which would make possible lasting
r,eace When he arrived in Managua
he called all the leaders Of the revo-
luton together and IN a conference
with them it was decided that Es-
+rada should be made the provisional
president of the republic for a term
of two years, upon the definite under
standing that he SHOULD not be can
didate for reelection 1t was also
agreed that a congress should be
elected and that it should constitute
q convention for the adoption OF q
constitution which should be subject
70 the approval of the provisional
president. Estrada was q liberal. but
N his revolution was allied with the
Conservatives In the election OF
congressman, which was not by popu-
lar vote, as Americans know It,
practically unanimous Conservative
congress was selected.
When the constitution was COM
Melted II contained clause providing
FOR the reunion of church and state,
q proposition wholly unsatisfactory
10 the Liberals and also to president
ESTRADA. Another clause limited the
electorate and practically insured the
election of general Chamorro as presl-
dent st the first regular election
Wien these clauses in it Estrada re-
fused TO approve the constitution and
sent congress home. Another congress
was then chosen, and this also was
of a Conservative complexion, but as
friendly TO the political aspiration of ,
general Mena as the other one had
been TO those of general Chamorro- |
This congress brought in constitu-
zion which, should it go into erect J
would give general Mena every dd- !
vantage in the presidential race that
the former one had given to Cham !
orro. In the meantime, it is asserted,
estrada developed-or resuscita ted I
an ambition to succeed himself, and
vas forgetful OF his promise to the /
United States in that respect
official Split Occurs.
Deciding TO thwart the political /
ambitions Of general Mena' VINO "as
then minister of war. Estrada remoY-
ed all of the officers Of the army who (,
had been appointed by Mena, and, as /
appointed new
set OF officers who were friendly to |
him. He thereafter ordered the ar
rest of Mena. and refused TO take
orders from those appointed by Es-
trada. With the army loyal TO Mena,
and with no Immediate chance for !
recruiting another army friendly 10
him. there was little left for Estrada !
70 do but accept the inevitable and
resign
From that time on things have
been IN a very chaotic condition Min
lister Northcott has been keeping the
state department carefully advised as
TO the movements Of all the different
;nterests. and it is confessed that the
outlook for peace is none too bright
IT is conceded on all sides that but
for the restraining hand of the United
States there would be a revolution In
a few weeks at most, and there are
many who believe 1t will come in spite
of the efforts of the state department
TO preserve peace. No one is able to
forecast the developments of the next
six months
What effect all OF these conflicting
ambitions may have upon the welfare