Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1866-02-22
SPAIN, CHILL AND PERU.

offensive and defensive ailance WHICH tHc
new Government of Peru has concluded |
with that of Chll, and the concomltant
declaration OF war by Peru against Spain
The Revolutionary party OF Peru, first re-
presented by Gen. Caoseco and subse- |
uuentIy by Gen. Prado, came into power
o.. the direct issue Of total reputation
OF the timid, submissive attitude which |
the administration Of the late President
pe2et, in open opposition to the clearly
expressed wishes of the Peruvian Con-
eress, had assumed toward Spain. A re-
pudiation Of the treaty concluded by Iezet
ne the Spaniar Is, an alliance with
ni, and a declaration Of war against
spain, were, therefore, regarded AS IN
ovitable the moment the revolution IN
Peru had been successful. The new Gov
eminent, however, deferred taking these
steps, in order to make previously some
preparations for both aggressive and de-
iensive Operations. An .alliauce with
Chill, offensive and aggressive, was really
concluded as early as the 18th Of Deem
Der, but is was kept secret until the rati-
fcations by both contracting Governments
were exchanged on the l4th of January,
when it was proclaimed at Lima with mil
itary pomp and amid public acclamations.
Already the Peruvian fleet, consisting Of
two frigates and two corvettes, has left
the Peruvian ports, in order to form a
junction with the CHILEAN naval forces,
consisting Of the two corvettes Esmer-
aida and Coyadonga (the latter captured
from the Spaniards). and the steamer
Maipu The united feet have been Or
dered to attack the Spanish vessels wher-
ever they may be met with on the coast,
so that we may expect to hear soon Of an
important naval engagement
The Spanish naval forces consisted, at
latest accounts, of five frigates, one cor
vette, one dispatch boat and one other
steamer recently captured from the Chill
ians. The temporary successor Of Admiral
Pareja, Com. Nunez, has concentrated all
the blockading vessels in the port of Val
paraiso, for the purpose, ii was,thought, Of
attacking the city, but probably no less
with view of meeting an attack by the
allied fleet
The interest taken throughout South
America in the issue of this conflict is
most intense. 1t was confidently hope
that all, or, at least, most Of the Republics
represented at the late South American
Congress of Lima would follow the exam
pie Of Peru. Particularly was this ex-
pected from the United States of Colon
bia, in which the enthusiasm of the peo-
pie, in behalf of a great South American
all lance and the hatred Of Spain, are full
! y as profound as in Chill and Peru
This Republic, consisting of nine States,
has recently elected Gen. Thomas G. Mos
buera, one Of the most prominent states
men of Spanish America, as President for
the term from April |, 1866, to April l,
1868. Already the Legislatures ofsevor-
al States of the Republic have unanimous
ly passed resolutions Of sympathy with
Peru and Chill, and clearly intimed
desire for the conclusion of formal al
lance and the wellknown sentiments Of
Mosquera leave hardly any doubt that he
will use his whole influence for the adop.
ton of this warlike policy.
The new turn which the Spanish Chill
ian war is thus taking BODIES no good to
Spain. While engaged with Chill alone
she has met with series Of disasters
Her prospects Of success become, of course
considerably less the moment Peru unites
her forces with those Of Chill. And
should even Colombia and other republics
join the alliance few people, outside of
Spain, will believe in the possibility of a
Spanish success
The Spanish finances have long been
in a desperate condition. One Of the rea-
sons why San Domingo was abandoned
was the Inability ofSpain to meet the
continued war expenses. The recent in
surrections in Spain and the war with
Chill have made the financial condition
still more hopeless, and the enlargement
Of the war, requiring on the part OF Spain
efforts and sacrifices much greater than
those already made, cannot, Of course,
but hasten the collapse which has so long
been imminent. The military insur-
rection is declared to be for the present
at an end; but with it does not end fnan-
clal embarrassment and political dissatis.
faction. Both the Spaniards aud the
South Americans fullyknown that the SYM
pathies 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 span
iards and very promising to South Amer
cans Republicanism- Ncv Eorh Tribune