The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-02-12
Spain, Chill, and Peru.


From he Tribune.
The war between Spain and Chill increases in
importance and interest by the offensive and de-
fensive alliance which the new Government of
Peru has concluded with that of Chill, aud the
concomitant declaration Of war by Peru against
Spain. The Revolutionary party of Peru, first
represented by General Canseco and subse-
quently by General Prado, came into power on
the direct issue of a total reputation of the
timid, submissive attitude which the admins.
traton of the late President Pezet, In open oppo-
Biti0n to the clearly expressed wishes of the
Peruvian Congress, had assumed towards SPAIN
A reputation Of the treaty concluded by Pezet
with the Spaniards, an alliance with Chill, aud
. declaration of war against Spain, were, there
fore, regarded as inevitable the moment the
revolution in Peru had been successful.
The new Government, however, deferred
taking these steps, in order TO make previously
some preparations for both aggressive and de-
offensive and aggressive, was really concluded
as early as the 9Th of December, but it was kept
secret until the ratidcations by both contracting
Governments were exchanged on the l4th of
January, when Il was proclaimed at Lima with
military pomp and amid public acclamations.
Already the Peruvian fleet, consisting of two
drigates and two corvettes, has lett the Peruvian
ports, in order to form junction with the
Chllian naval forces, consisting of the two cor
Hettes EsnleTdtdd and COUadongd, (the latter cap
tured from the Spaniards), and the steamer
attack the Spanish vessels wherever they may
be met with on the coast so that we may expect
10 hear soon Of an important naval engagement.
The Spanish naval forces consisted at latest
accounts, oil nve frigates, one corvette, one dis
patch boat, and one other steamer recently cap
tured from the ChIans. The temporary sue.
cessor of Admiral Pareja, Commodore Nunez,
has concentrated all the blockadIng vessels in
the port OF Valparaiso TOR the purpose it was
thought, OF attacking the city, but probably no
less with view OF meeting an attack by tne
allied fleet.
The interest taken throughout South America
IN the issue o. this conflict is most intense. 1t
was confidently hoped that all, or, at least, most
OF the republics represented at the late South
American Congress of Lima would follow the
example of Peru. Particularly was this expected
from the United States of Colombia, IN which
the enthusiasm OF the peop.e, in behalf of great
South American alliance, and the hatred of
Spain, are fully rs profound us in Chill and
Peru. This republic, consisting OF nine States,
has recently elected General Tomas @. Mosquera,
one OF the most prominent statesmen of Spanish
America as President for the term from April
], 1866, to April l, 1868. Already the Legislatures
of several States OF the republic have unani-
mously passed resolutions OF sympathy with
Peru and Chill, and clearly intimated desire
for the conclusion of a formal alliance; and the
well'known sentiments of Mosquera leave hardly
any doubt that he will use his whole influence
tor the adoption of this warlike policy.
The new turn which the Spanish -Chilian war
is thus taking bodies no good to Spain. While
engaged with Chill alone she has met with q
series of disasters. Her prospects of success
become, OF course considerably less the moment
Peru unites her forces with those of Chilli And
should even Colombia and other republics join
the alliance, few people, outside OF Spain, will
believe in the possibility of Spanish success.
The Spanish finances have long been in des-
perate condition. One of the reasons why San
Domingo was abandoned was the inability of
Spain to meet the continued war expenses. The
recent insurrectlon in Spain and the war with
Chill have made the financial condition still
homeless n Of ha Wor
requiring on the part of Spain efforts
much greater than those already made,
cannot, of course but hasten the collapse
which has so lorg been imminent. The military
1nsurrection is declared to be for the present at
an end; but with it does not end financial en-
barrassment and political dissatisfaction. Both
the Spaniards and the South Americans fully
know that the sympathies of the civilized world
are all, with an almost unprecedented unanimity,
on the side OF the latter.
Thus the war, in Its new stage, opens with
prospects very ominous to the Spanards and
very promising to South American repubh.
Canlsm.