The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-12-26
War Between Spain and the South
American Republics.


War Between Spain and the South
American Republics.
Our advices from Peru indicate grand
crisis In the internal affairs, as well as in the
exterior relations Of that republic. Congress,
supported by that small body of intelligent
men which may be called the public" stands
in open hostility to the executive, and refuses
to be placated by the efforts Of the latter to
conform itself and its policy to the sentiment
of the country. No less than four changes in
the cabinet have been made in "a many months,
besides several abortive attempts at change,
and yet the relations between the Legislature
and the government remain substantially the
same The secret of this hostility, which seems
to admit Of no compromise. consists in
the total lack Of confidence in the acoi-
dental President, General Pezet, whose moral
aud intellectual status certainly is not high.
Be the facts as they may, there can be NO
doubt Of the entire unpopularity OF the Presi-
dent, and the belief is next to universal that
the inactivity of the Peruvian feet is due to his
absence Of sympathy with his own country In
the hour Of its peril
Congress, some months ago, gave into the
hands of the President the power Of peace or
war, investing him with absolute powers in the
question between Peru and Spain, aud making
no condition, except the rendition of the islands
by the latter under salute to the Peruvian
fig The President having made no use Of
this extraordinary power, Congress, on the 25th
ult, passed a resolution, with but one dissent
ing voice, directing the President to attack the
Spanish feet within eight days. The day fol-
lowing tho passage Of this resolution was sig
nalized by two important events, viz:-the ar
rival Of the news Of the accidental destruction
by fire of the Spanish flagship FL Triuufo, thus
leaving but one frigate and two steam sloops
at tho islands; and the arrival of q new Eng
lish packet, bringing the news of the speedy
approach OF heavy achievements to the Span
sh feet She had passed them in the Straits Of
Magellan.
Early in the morning OF the day, however,
the President undertook sort Of mild coup
d'etat, an irresolute half measure, perfectly in
keeping With his alleged character. Troops
| were put under arms, cannon peered grimly
out Of the portals Of the ricketty pile called tho
palace" one or two newspapers were sup
pressed, and number of the leading members
l
prison, while others only escaped similar
compliment by seeking protection in tho differ
| ent legations. No demonstration Of vigor could
have been made more inopportunely, consider
| ing the nature Of the news which reached Lima
In the afternoon, and which carried the war
excitement to the highest pitch. "Now Il
our time to attack" was the universal cry,
"while tho enemy is materially weakened.
and before reinforoements can arrive" On
Saturday, the 2Gth proposition was submitted
openly in Congress to declare the Presidency
vaoaut--a step preparatory TO calling General
Castiia or some other known fighting man, TO
the head OF affairs. No action Was taken that
day on tho proposition. On Sunday, the 27ths
the p-o~;a..., uisner alarmed, or sharing tho
popular sentiment, oalled q council Of war o.
the Peruvian flagship In Callao harbor, In which,
It Is said, 1t was unanimously resolved to fight
within the time fixed by Congress. A trial was
made Of the vessels of the squadron, including
the new iron-clad Loa, and when the mail left
Calla0 on the 28th ult, 1t was pretty we'll un-
derstood that battle would be offered to The
SpauiAyds on the 3Oth. -
II the Peruvian navy is properly managed it
is more than match for the Spanish squadron
in its present weakened condition. It is pos
sible that the latter will avoid fight, tempo
rarily give up the islands, aud seek junction
with Spanish relnforcements in Valparaiso, q
some other place to the southwark. II, how
ever, il accepts the Issue, which 1t is now pretty
sure 10 have presented, the result can hardly
be doubtful. The principal reliance Of the
Peruviaus is, naturally enough, in its new IRON
clal, the Loa, converted by American ings-
nuity and skill, in face of infinite obstacles aud
all sorts Of Official jealousies, into most for
midable vessel Her armor is of railroad iron,
substantially on the system Of the Merrimso
and Tennessee, and she carries two heavy
guns-one, ten inch, forward and the second,
q seven-inch, oft. Her boilers are new, and
she is fitted with beak 80 as to be used as O
ram. She steams we'll up TO eight and half
or min, miles per hour. The principal fear
Is that the other vessels of the Peruvian fleet,
instead of galIantly aiding the little Loa, will
keep out of tie fight and leave tho whole
weight of the battle to her alone, In whloh case
| her success will be doubtful.
| There is, therefore, every reason to believe
| that open war has been inaugurated between
| Spain and Peru, and, almost as a consequence,
between Spain and Chile aud Bolivia. It
seems to have been very we'll understood that
the Chilean corvette Esmaralda was to join
| the Peruvian feet in its attack on the
| Spaniards, and It Is we'll known that the repre-
sentativcs Of Chile and Bolivia, in the "Ameri-
can Congress" now in session in Lima have
| officially informed Admiral Pinzon, that In
any collision with Peru, their respective
countries must cspouse the cause of the latter.
In such an event Spain will have serious cause
| 10 rorrok hnr a xparin,n nA Nth iha Chinnhaa