The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1858-05-19
Our Relations with Paraguay.
May IL,

Our Relations with Paraguay.
Society, we believe, has ever recognized
the right of individuals to separate them
selves from their fellows and to become as
obscure as they please, claiming no right
to obtrude upon any such unwelcome ac-
quaintanceship or undesired intercourse.
But nations, as yet, seem little inclined to
practice this kind Of etiquette. The ma
tioDs of Europe have made ard are ma
king systematic attempts upon oriental
exclusiveness aud their success warrants
the belief that, ultimately, all Asia and
the islands about it will be compelled to
enter into friendly and intimate relations
with the 4" barbarians " of the West We
do not propose to discuss the rightfulness
of this policy, Or its probable results to
mankind, but to mention humble inita-
ton Of European practice by our own
government in our own neighborhood.
Paraguay, in South America, composes
about $4,000 square mills of territory
and has a mixed population of about
100000. It's agricultural resources and
productive wealth are said TO be almost
boundless. Incited by such accounts,
made by travellers, commerce has di.
rected towards it her covetous eye and
has been led to desire more intimate and
free intercourse with that State than its
policy indicates that it desires. This
policy has hitherto been to exclude as far
as possible all Europeans and Americans
from the country, and thus to isolate Par.
aguay from all the rest of the world.
Considering European and American an.
/ tecedents in their relations with weaker
powers, it is not strange that such poll
cy should suggest itself, nor is it more
strange that,in pursuance of such policy,
they should have committed acts which by
strict construction might be considered
unwarrantable. 1t appears that Mr..
Hopkins, son of Bishop Hopkins of this
this State, after heightened residence in
that country succeeded in fin1ing special
favor with the Chief executive. He sub
sequently obtained consulship from our
government, and as might be expected
from the premises, was soon involved in
disputes with the government officials Of
that country. What the difficulties were
we are not particularly informed nor does
it matter. About the same time an Amer
lean war steamer, attempted TO ascend
the Paraguay liver on an exploring ex.
petition was fred upon by order Of gov
eminent and compelled to desst. The
whole affair shows how easy it is to pick
quarrel, and in cases of such disparity
to make the least culpable party commit
the first overt act.
Now, it is held that the honor of the
United States needs to be indicated, and
the business is, by Congress, put into the
hands Of the President with full discres.
ionsry powers, and it need not be sur.
prising if he soon informs us that war ex.
lists, whereupon we shall conclude that our
lost honor is in fair way to be reclaimed
1t is suggested, and with plausabiity
that in pressing this measure the admins
tration has schemes apart from anything
that concerns Paraguay,-that the cloth
ing the President with such powers vii
be convenient precedent for putin,
him in way to get up other quarrels
having for their object the acquisition o
Cuba, or Mexico.