The Express.
London, England, 1868-10-24 00:00:00

TilE EXPRESS, ,SA..Tyit4pAir ,

from the spring of 1883, when uora.Y., the Praia-
dint of Paraguay, charged Brazil with the viola-
tion of the treaty of 1830 " for the maintenance of
•• nationalities," and with the usurpation of a
ti rritoly which belonged to Paraguay by vir-
tue discovery, possession, and treaties.
31oretiver, lie chat ged 'the Argentine Cabinet
with sanctioning the innovations of Brazil to
the detriment of Paraguay, and on these grounds
Loryz, vigorously supported by the Senate,
declared war against Brazil and against the
Aigititine and Uruguayan republics. A treaty,
known as the Triple Alliance, was at once formed
between the government of Brazil and the two
rcpublicit just mentioned, in which the elites
pledged themselves not to lay down arms until
the government of Paraguay should be over-
thrown and certain boundary treaties ratified.
It was also agreed--and this according to recent
news has been accompliahed—that the forti-
fications of Ilumiuta should be destroyed.
Thus it appears that LOPEZ commenced the
war, and the justification of his conduct can
warmly be regarded as satisfactory to outsiders.
Yet it must be remembered, on the other hand, to
his credit that he was also the first to propose a
treaty of peace which the allies scornfully rejected.
LorEz is evidently a man of vast ambition,
energy, and determination, a man ignorant of
fear and undahnted by difficulty. And this
bravery, invincible in fight, irrepressible in suffer-
ing, al-pears a characteristic of the people over
whom be rules. Mr. HUTCHINSON witnessed
sunny lust:awes of passive courage on the part of
the Paraguayans. Several of them fearfully
woendcd wire brought on board an English
guulaait after having been four days and
nights living on biscuits and water. One
of the nun, groaning with severe pain, was
conlnuaided by his sergeant to be silent, under
jent.lty of being reported to Lora. From
that moment the soldier, who was evidently in
dreadful torture, never uttered a moan, although
lie sun ived four hours. Another story is told of
u Paraguayan who, when surrounded by a dozen
of the enemy, refused to surrender because he
had no orders to do so, and was slaughtered on
the Tot. Again, we hear of a number of
Paraguayans throwing themselves overboard and
refusing twin life, when offered them by their
opponents: and of a certain commander, HIEWIEL
Petit:", who, after a severe wound, tore off the
dri ,sings made by the Brazilian surgeons, and
uri It 1 red. bleeding to death rather thou owe his
" life to Brazilian care."

In. .:ems such ns there show an implacable
it and a decpernte courage on the part of the
which justify Mr. 111-ren rvs.s iu
hi., I.li, f that the allies are opposed to no oral-
y cemy, awl that the war is one of which it is
',illy to for.-:re the end. $ nuething,
leis le. n etbete.l since Mr. I ssoN wrote by
the of Ilumaita, and more recently by
the r. tit. must .f I.orrz upon Villa Rica. This
leeks likc an amknowlodgtuent of weaknev, but
we has cno nouns of forming a judgment. So fur as
we know the Paraguayans are as resolute as ever. and
th. re is no sign of showing the white feather.
I.a.".ies are contributing their jewellery and plate
to the expenses of the war, and women of a
humbler class have relieved their husbands and
brothers by engaging in agricultural pursuits.
The blockade of the Brazilian fleet instead of de-
pressing has apparently stimulated industry. and
it is said that the internal resources of the country
are sufficient to provide for all its wants. Already
many thousands, both of the Paraguayans and of
tLe allies, have been killed in this war, and an
immense amount of money has been spent ; yet
there seems no reason to suppose that the end is
reached.

We do not pretend to say whieli side is in the
right—indeed it is more than probable that both
sides are wrung ; but it is hupossible not to ruipect
the pluck exhibited by Paraguay in thus fighting
against tremendous odds, and apparently without
any fear as to the issue of the conflict.

disguised. A postscript to %Wit eimptor Under
the PUDIC heading would be awoncierfully taking
title for an essay in the Revue by M. Gtrizoti, who,
with the proclamation of the Provisional Ci..ivern-
ment for his text, might discover at Madrid and
ut rau subjects for a now religious moditation, and
for a vindication of the doctrine of two moralities,
the one forprivato use and the other for statesman-
ship. The description of Queen ISABELLA'S flight
with her " consort" by her aide and her " inten-
" dant" face to face would be well told by the
retired minister who only tho other day WWI so
proud of his preparation of that unholy contract
which brought ruin on a woman's honour and a
nation's happiness. Tho President of the French
Bible Society, who devotes his latter years to dis-
courses on religion, and combines a pure Protos-
tent faith with devotion to the temporal interests
of the PocE, would edify the political and the
religious world at once by an essay on Spain at
this moment. Wo trust ho will turn his attention
to the subject.

OUR CONTEMPORARIES.
(THIS DAY.)

The 2'inies aides with General Prim in his contro-
versy with M. Emile de Girardin, and supports generally
the arguments put forward by his excellency in the letter
which we published in yesterday's Express. Commenting
upon Lord Stanley's Liverpool speech, the Times contrasts
the defensive measures which England is taking with his
for confident assertion that war is now loss likely to
occur than in all former time. To our contemporary the
probabilities of war seem much the same that they have
always been; so that the true course is to expect neither
place nor war, but to do our utmost to avert the latter
and to be prepared for whatever may Come.
Mr. Ituvenly Johnson, the Daily News observes, has
given an explanation of the sense in which he has Mc-
celled the banquet at Liverpool at which he was enter-
tained on Thursday. He regards it as a confession of sin
and an expression of penitence on the part of his hosts ;
end he graciously gives absolution to the offenders.
Viewed in this light, the presence of the ba.ld•rr of tho
Alabama was the crowning triumph of the festival.
There is probably almost as much reason, th 3 Daily
:Via a thinks, for the use of a common hymn-book as fir
that of a common prayer-book. A comprehensive book,
prepared and issued under the express sanction of the
authorities of the chinch, might be as wide as the
religion of the nation. It would be no more authori-
tative than the commentary suggested by the Speaker of
the Ilouse of Commons, but it would have the advantage
of its own superiority to sectional and party collections
and the prestige of authoritative recommend won. It is
evidcut that the power to sanction sush a book exists in
the bishops, and it would well repay the lalruira of a
whole 114 .sion of ..a3avocation to compile and is,uo it.
The Daily likiraph protests against the perpAaatioa
of lama] di,Cll,iolol in the face of wary, well-organked,
and e. meentrated tory opposition. The sternest reproba-
tion (it rap) will be earned by those lib. rah who, per-
in selfish and petty courses, stifle or pervert the
utterance of any community in the land ou the groat
quest eau now before the country.
The St.:( calla upon lied Stanley to give a prictical
illustration of his theories by aiding in cutting down the
•• bloated at maments" of the country.
The Baal.' hopes that Lord Stanley's anticipations may
not prove too sanguine. They have this in their favour—
that hope so caressed partakes something of the cha-
racter of injunction. England will not interfere in a
continental war, but the power which may wantonly com-
mence one will do so at the price of her esteem and
frkuchhip.

F(iZGN Nf4S.I.

(THIS DAY.)

(T 111.017011 ILEITIMR.B ACIENOY.)

SPAIN.

MADRID, Oar. 23.
The juntas throughout the country are dis-
solved. _ _ _

Senor Rios Roman has tendered his resign ►Lion
as Vice-President of tho Council of State.
It is expected that the foreign powors will
t.hortly meanie(' tho Provisional Covernuymt.
To-morrow tho Oficial Gazette will publish
regulations relative to the manner in which tho
new poll-tax will be collected.

AMERICA.
NSW YORK, Oar. It

Closing prices :—Gold opened at 1351 and closod
at 1361. The range of the fluctuations during the
day was j per cent. Sterling exchange on Lon-
don, 1094. 6-20 U.S. Bonds: 1832, 113; ; 1885,
1111 ; 1865, 1101. 10-40 Bonds, 1051. Illinois,
144 ; Erie, 44Z. Cotton, middling Upland, 23.
Petroleum, standard white, 30. Flour, extra State,
7 dolts. 70c. to 8 doh. 30c. Corn, old mixed,
1 dol. 18c.
HALIFAX, Ocr. 23.
The Inman royal mail steamer City of Cork
arrived out at 10.30 a.m to-day. All well.