The Sun.
London, England, 1867-04-22 00:00:00

PARAGUAY.

Paraguay is an inland country of South America,
lying in the fork of the rivers Paraguay and
Parana, which join near the fort of Humaita, and
flow in a broad stream navigable for ocean ships.
Near the sea, the Uruguay enters this river, which
then becomes the La Plata, and assumes the pro-
portions of a gulf, on which stands the great city of
Buenos Ayres. The Republic of Paraguay has an
area of 100,000 square miles, with a population of
1,500,000. It was discovered by the Spaniards in
1508, and ten years after, the city of Assumption,
now the capital, was built. The native inhabitants
belonging to the tribe of Guarani amalgamated
with their Spanish conquerors, and at once became
converts to the Roman Catholic religion. Being
docile, amiable, brave, and truthful, they were a
singularly easy people to govern, and for 10') years
they were peaceably and happily ruled by the
Jesuits. After the expulsion of the Jesuits, which
arose from causes over which the Paraguayans ex-
ercised no influence, they continued to derive the
advantage of good administration till the year 1810,
when the ambition of Buenos Ayres induced that
province to declare itself independent of Spain.
The first step taken by Buenos Ayres was an en-
deavour to induce the Paraguayans to join in the
revolt, and to place the city of Buenos Ayres at the
head of the Republics. This the Paraguayans,
who had never been well treated by Buenos
Ayres, declined. The army of Buenos Ayres
invaded Paraguay, and was defeated at Paraguary.
After rallying from this defeat, they were
again beaten and forced to capitulate at Ta-
cuary. Elated by their triumph the Paraguayans
assumed national independence, offering to elect
as President the Spanish Governor. The post
was declined by this gentleman, who felt he
could not in honour accept it. The choice then
fell on Dr. Don Jose Gaspar Fraucia. This ex-
traordinary ruler, seeing his efforts thwarted to ob-
tain the free navigation of the La Plata and its tri-
butaries, by the grasping policy of Buenos Ayres,
closed Paraguay to the world for nearly 30 years.
Dr. Francks was created dictator for life, and hebe-
came the absolute ruler, in whom was centred
all power, representing, in conjunction with his
Secretary Patino, the machinery of the Govern-
ment,- and directing the business of the country.
Four years after his death, which occurred in 1840,
Don Carlos Antonio Lopez was elected President

for ten years. Under his rule the Republic rapidly
advanced ; the rivers were opened, roads completed,
ships built, schools founded (which have taught all
the people to read and write), hospitals erected, and
an army
and navy formed. This was effected with-
out burdening the resources of tLe country by debt.
His son, Francisco Solano Lopez, was sent to
Europe to benefit by travel. on the death of the
President, which took place in his 69th year, 10th
as a gentleman of high
a
Sept., 1862, ere his second term of office bad ex-
pired, hd was succeeded by his son, General Lopez.
The
anturents t, rulerof te
n
tion ; able and judicious, graceful and refined, of
great conversational powers, speaking and writing
attainments,
is described
travel, tr, and keen observa-
tion
many languages. lle took up his father's policy ; but
in the midst of his patriotic efforts to advance his
country, the Republic over which he presided became,
against its settled policy, entangled in the complica-
tions of its neighbours, which has ended in one of
the greatest wars of South America, and one of the
most gallant struggles ever made by a people for
independence. The most powerful and grasping
Government of South America is Brazil. Paraguay
is but a patch on its extremity, and Uruguay but a
bit, at the end of its empire. Brazil, in concert
with General Mitre, the President of the Argentine
Confederation, intrigued for a cause of quarrel
against Uruguay—a State hostile to General Mitre
and coveted by Brazil. Through a political adven-
turer, skilled in guerilla warfare, the excuse was found.
General Flores landed in Uruguay on the 18th
April, 1863, and at the head of some banditti
and cut-throats, plundered the villages on his way
to the Brazilian frontiers over which he passed, and
in concert with his allies who were conspirators in
the plot, was pursued into the territory of Brazil,
which that Government represented as a cams Belli.
Uruguay was overrun, and Monte Video surren-
dered, when Flores was proclaimed dictator ; Pre-
sident Lopez, who justly considered the independ-
ence of Uruguay necessary for the freedom of his
country, protested against the invasion of that
State. He asked permission to march his troops
through Corrientes to the assistance of his ally—a
request refused by Mitre. The delay was fatal to

Uruguay, for when Lopez got into motion Monte
Video had fallen, and Brazil ruled from the Amazon
to the La Plata. With an audacity which has alike
surprised his enemies and all other States, President
Lopez undertook with his own resources to face the

mighty empire of Brazil, joined by all the power of
Buenos Ayres, and even the forces of the State,
now in the hands of his enemies, in whose interest
he had become involved in the quarrel. A glance
at the map would give something of the idea of this
act of President Lopez by supposing Ssvitz,2rland to
undertake the defence of Denmark against the
united power of France, Germany, and Austria.
No wonder the attitude of Lopez was the subject of
banter in the camp of the allies, or that General
Mitni—then at the head of the allied army—de-

dared a war with Paraguay would be merely a
paseo neilitar, which would take him in three
months to Asuncion. Brazil, in concert with
her allies, placed on the frontiers of Para-

quay an army of 'Moo° men in cc)-opera-
tion with the largest and best equipped fleet that
had ever steamed up the broad waters of the La
Plata. For three years the little Republic has
held its own, and inflicted on the allies severe and
damagi❑g checks. Already the army of the allies
has become demoralised through their heavy losses,
while their vaunted fleet of iron-clads has been
shattered before fortresses of a secondary power.
Brazil has in this miserable war spent £40,000,000
in her ineffectual efforts to subdue the gallant little
Republic, while the loss to Buenos Ayres has been
even heavier in proportion, and she has to mourn
not only over treasure sacrificed, but death carried
into every family of the city. The great Slave
State Brazil has lost prestige, and a feeling of
resistance to her usurpation is spreading strongly
and widely throughout the States of South America.
As yet little interest has been excited in Europe
by the noble efforts of Lopez to maintain the inde-
pendence of the Republic. This is accounted for
by the general ignorance of Paraguay. The Die-