Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-06-05

the other to his colleague who, in tho distribution
of tho power, no better treated than ms h'stor
! ical prototvpe Franca not man who could
brook In divide his power with any ore, much less
with an individual whom he dcspised, and whose
! party he suspected. His ambition soon betrayed
itself; for, in 1912, tho songress assembled to re-
new the government. In order to get rid OF his
adversary he induced the assembly to conhdc, IN
INIT alton of the ncighborng states, the direction OF
u republic TO Il single magistrate; and nc proposed,
as IN only alternative to save the country from the
dangers which mcnacod it, to follow the example
| of the Romans, and create dictator.
| Observing, on the first two days, when the Con-
grcss had asscrnbcd for this purpose that majority
of the votes were for Don Fulgencio Ycgros, he
had tho address 10 suspend the ballot AT last, on
the third day, the deputies understood tho motive
for having adjourned the election; and tired of Ii
wing a. great expense IN the capital, and weary OF
attending congress in which they fcit very h'tlo
| Interest," and, more especially, alarmed by strong
body of troops devoted to Franca, he was appoint
cd dictator for three years, by an immense major
ity of the votes; while, at the moment, thore was
probably not twenty individuals in all Paraguay
who understood the precise nature of tho title of
dictator assigning no other meaningto it but that
| Of governor.
The congress assigned to Francia the title of
| "Exccllcncy," with allowance of 5000 dollars
of which sum ho consented to receive only
third observing that the state stood more in need
of money than he did; example of moderation
worthy of imitation, and from which he has
never since departed.
|
complct revolution in his own life. Wom,n and
play were for aba ndoned; and his moral con-
duct marked by more than monkish austerity.
The morning was devoted to business, the evening
to reading, especially such French authors he
was able to procure having studied the language
short timo previous TO the revolution. Belles-let-
tres, history, geography, and mathematics, were
particularly the objects of his application The
medical science being but little understood in Para
quay, he read Buchan and Tissot, and made an
experiment of their prescriptions upon his own
person. But it was TO the military science that
his attention was principally directed, fully sens
BILE that upon the effective organization of his ar
my depended tho existence of his country and the
| duration of his authority. His first care was
therefore, TO officer it by creatures of his own and
to enforce the most rigid dsiplne; and, ,he felt
his power increased in strength, changes were
gradually brought about both in the civil a. ecclesias'
teal administrations. The three of his dicta-
torship were on the of expiring, and new
congress assembled in 1917, in which he SO
effectually intrigued, that they finally chose him
dictator for life. Having attained the sum-
NIT of his ambition, Francia boldly threw off the
mask. and sgnalizcd the commencement of his
career by acts of the most atrocious despotism.
Whenever he rode out, he was attended by strong
escort of cavalry, to whom were given orders to
cut down all those who should appear in tn e
streets through which he passed. The most trivial
offences were visited by imprisonment and letters.
Two Spanish friars were treated very uncercmoni-
Ousy; the dictator threw them into a dungeon,
having first ordered them to be dressed in yellow
Jackets, and their heads shaved, to prepare them,
as he said, 'for the crown of glory"
Another Spaniard Don Jose Caussimo, was treat
in a manner still more cruel The chains which
he wore absolutely lacerated his flesh; and wher
Francia was informed of the circumstance, he re
piled, elf he wants other chains, he must get then
himself and, in fact, the wife of the unfortunate
prisoner had the sad Office to perform of procuring
other irons, with which her husband to be ma
naced.
1t at this period that our Swiss travellers
reached Assumption; and the particulars of their
first audience with the Dictator are extremely in.
itcrcsting. Gle is 4 man." says Reuggcr, with re-
guar features, and those fine dark eyes which sc
eminently characterize the Creolcs of South Anne
RIGA. The expression of his countenancc was sin
g"lar, combining shrewdness with dstrust. He
was dressed in the embroidered uniform Of a Spa
nish general officer, and although in the sixty SC
cond year of his age did not appear to be thar
fifty. lie addressed me at first with studious hau
tcur; but finding me unembarrassed, he chang
ed has tone On opening my portfolio to take on
| some papers which had to present to him, he per
| ccived portrait of Bonaparte, which l, knowing
his admiration of the original, had designedly pla
| ced there. He took it up, and examined il with
great interest on my telling him whose likeness il
was. He then entered into n familiar conversation
on the political state of Europe, and surprised me
with the extent of his information. He demanded
the news from Spain, for which country he profes
sed the most profound contempt. The constitu
tional character of Louis the Eighteenth was no
to his taste; he admired much more the military 90
vernment and conquests of Napoleon, whose down
fall he deplored; and, in speaking of his reign
remarked he loved TO dwell on those passages which
were in some degree analogous to his own situation
He reproached us Swiss with the melancholy cam
Palgn of 1915, comparing it to the kick bestowe,
upon the dying lion in the fable But the princi
pal topic ofhls conversation turned upon the monks
Tie accused them of pride, depravity, and intrigue
bitterly Inyeighing against the tendency which tn,
clergy, in general, evnced to throw off the autho
rity of government. "If the sovereign pontiff.
said he, ''were to come to Paraguay, would make
him only my almoner." Foreseeing for Eurepe the
return of fanatcism and superstition, he insisted
on the necessity of crushing the monastc spirit in
America. He declared his devotion to the cause OF
South American Independence and his IDEAS on the
mode of government for the new States appeared TO
be just, although in opposition to our own He show
ed us his library, the only in Paraguay; it was
small, but well composed. BY the side of the best
Spanish writers, found the works of Voltaire
Rosscau, Raynal, Rollin, and La Place. He had
also some mathematical Instruments globes, and
charts These simple people, when they be-
heid Inc Dictator employing the celestial globe,
were impressed with the idea that he could read the
stars. But Francias aim has always been rather to
enliglten than deceive his countrymen On dis.
missing us, he addressed us as follows: 'You NAV
do here whatever you plcase-profess whatever re-
lIgIon you hke but do not NEEDLE with my Gov.rn-
mcnt"
AT this period the dictator addressed the troops
of the line, and placed the country in posture of
defence. The new levies were quartered in the
Convent of st. Francis, circumstance which
greatly exasperated Spanard, who had the impru.
dence to say openly-'Ihe Franciscans il is truc
are extinct, but Francia's turn will come next y
This language reported to him, and he sent
for the Spauiard, and addressed him as follows:
| 'As TO when shall 20, am really Ignorant; but
this know, that you shall preccde me-" And the
unfortunate wretch was shot on the following day.
and his property confiscatod. The re ign of terror
! he