The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-08-12

The Cbase-radical party yill come to grief even
in thai their last resort?
! The War ina south AmerEca-E3razi and
Paraguay.
| The naval action in South America between
| the ships of Brazil and those of Paraguay was
| severe and well contested battle. The num-
Der of the Paraguayan ships and floating bate
ries together was fourteen, and the Brazilians
had nine steamers; but the weight of metal
was nevertheless greatly in favor of the Bra
zilans. They had sixty-two guns while the
Paraguayans had but forty-seven. The Para
| guayan ships were perhaps all small, and their
floating batteries not of great account. It tells
well for the fighting qualities of tho Para
guayans, that with such inferiority in weight
| of metal they could continue to combat for
eight hours and were able to destroy two of
| the Brazilian ships. The Brazilians were finally
| victorious, only when they used one of their
| large ships as ram and ran down the smaller
| Paraguayans. This is the Brazilian account
This battle has continental character, and
| in this respect is an important point In the
| news. It is part of the irrepressible con-
| fict that is and must be always in progress
wherever monarchies and republics are neigh
bors Brazil is the last stronghold of monar-
chy on this side the Atlantic, as it was the
last of American States to relinquish its con-
nection with European government. But
while other American States giving up their
European associations have soon after assumed
a republican form of government, the monar-
chical form has held its place in Brazil
| principally because II has been well admin
istered. The present Emperor is an able
ruler, and governs the country WELL He has
| also some ideas of the necessities of progress
as may be seen by his acquiescence in the pro-
| jected abolition of slavery in his dOminions
He is, however, influenced by the monarchical
desire to hold the balance Of power, and is dis
posed to make bold use for that purpose of
his geographical and political position.
| This fact has made him troublesome to his
| republican neighbSrs. He controls the Amazon
river, and makes that stream the grand lever Of
his power over his neighbors in the North, and
| he evidently desires to secure similar con-
! troll of the immense system Of rivers-Para-
| quay, Uruguay and Parana-that reach the
| Ocean by the river Plate. Having secured the
control of that SYSTEM and holding the Amazon,
he holds the whole river system Of that side the
continent, and his will will be law for all the
Powers that depend upon those rivers for &C
cess to the outer world. There will be only
the Pacific coast left. The battle on the Parana
river was an event in this grand game. The
| Emperor of Brazil has had but little difficulty
In making his arrangements with the other
Powers Interested in this question. Monte
video, Uruguay and the Argentine Republic
have all judged it to their interest to maintain
friendly relations with their powerful neigh
| bors, and tr;pGrtite treaty has actually been
| signed between Brazil, Uruguay and the
| Argentine republic.
The terms of the treaty between the three
Powers have not been made public, and in an
| swer to q call for the treaty in the Brazilian
Senate II was declared that it would not be ex-
pedient to give 1t at present. But tho fact that
| a treaty has been made u.s. in view of the situa-
| ton, significant Of an error on the part of the
republics thus leagued with Brazil against Par
aguay. Paraguay is the only Power that ven-
lures to fight and she goes into the combat
with spirit worthy of the best result Brazil
is PROFESSIONALLY immensely stronger without
her allies than this little State, but the Para
guayans are large hearted, brave and ener-
| getic people, and it will be seen that they are
not TO be put down by q. single battle. II is to
| be hoped that the other South American repub-
lies will see the real issue and necessary result
Of these struggles before the triumph over Par
aguay may be SO complete through their assist
! ance as to damage seriously the cause of
republican government in South America. 1t
is to be hoped that the shortsightedness or
selfishness OF these republics may not give the
final triumph to monarchy.
| The SLAUGHTER ON THE ARRow.-When the
| Peekskill steamer Arrow exploded her boiler,
on Saturday last, The disaster was at first
treated very lightly. II was reported that only
| a fireman and engineer were scalded; but il
has since turned out chat four lives were lost
by drowning and scalding. Coroner Cover
has taken the matter in hand, and will COM
| mence thorough investigation at the Coro-
ner's office, Tryon row, on Tuesday. We
understand that the surviving hands of the
boat, the relatives Of the sufferers and others
are subpenaed as witnesses. II is to be hoped
that Coroner Cover will give his most assidu-
Gus attention to the case, and not cease his
labors until he discovers the responsible par
ties to this wanton destruction Of life. II, as IL
has been alleged, the owners Of the boat are
culpable to the extent charged, in neglecting to
repair the boilers when they were known to Be
in dangerous condition, then let that fact be
shown in evidence and the owners punished.
II will be remembered that communication
from Mr.. Tappan was published in our columns,
stating that one of the boilers of the Arrow
had given out on the down trip from Peekskill
on the morning of the disaster, and that he