The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-12-21
The paraeunynn War.
PORTLAND.

The ParaguRyun War. s5t
Congress has found leisure, amidst its press
ing occupations, to glance at the South Amer
lean wars. and the House has adopted the
following resolution, reported by Gen. Banks,
from the Committee ON Foreign Affairs
Whereas wars destructive of commerce and
injurious and prejudicial to republican inst-
tntions have for some time been carried ON be-
tween Spain and several American states on
the Pacific coast, and also between Paraguay,
Brazil and Uruguay and the Argentine Repub-
lie on the Atlantic COAST
Resolved, That it is recommended to the
Executive Department of the government
that the friendly offices of the government, if
practicable, be offered for the promotion of
peace and harmony in South America.
Ii the American government is about to
offer its mediation in these quarrels, 1t VIII DE
interesting to know more about them than
the public, absorbed in other matters, has
hitherto cared to ascertain. Even welEnfofmed
men, as a general thing, know but little about
Paraguay and less about the war which has
been so desperately waged there. Paraguay
contains about $1,000 square miles, mainly of
swamps Its territory is not much greater
than the State of Missouri. The swampy
mazes of its interior are easily defensible, and
are inhabited by an almost unmixed Indian
race, long trained by the Jesuits and by their
successors, the dictators, to unquestioning
obedience. These people number over SOO,-
900. The dictators are the most absolute
monarchs on the face of the globe. All the
manufactures and most of the farms are pub
lie works; nearly all the products of the coun-
try belong accordingly to the public treasury
and the public treasury is the dictator's pri-
vSte purse. The people are merely laborers.
They are as prosperous in war as in peace,
since all the costs of the war come out of the
pocket, as it were, of the ruler whom they
style Ell Supreme. They do not dream of
avoiding the CONSUMPTION, and they fight like
devils.
The territory of the allies is as large as Eu-
rope; their combined population outnumbers
the Paraguayans five to one; in wealth and
naval and military forces they are greatly SUI
periOr. Yet they have been quite unable to
make an impression upon the half savage lit
tie state, and now lie as heretofore before the
fortress Of Humaita, near the junction of the
Parana and Paraguay rivers, unable to get
past or round it and unwilling to go back and
yield the contest. The Paraguayans, shut
out from all foreign intercourse, live as well
as usual and seem able to continue the de-
fence hundred years. The resources of the
dictator will aot prove so exhaustless as the
endurance of the people.
There have been three dictators of Para
quay since 1914, Francia, and an elder and
younger Lopez. The younger Lopez, now
ruling, succeeded in 1862 There were ieal-
otlsies then existing between Paraguay and
Baazil. Lopez sent for mechanics from Eu-
rope and imported vast quantities of machin-
cry and iron. From the first he seems to
have contemplated war. His lines of defence
were chosen and fortified by capable engi-
neers. He has iron, lead and copper mines.-
His troops live on wild oranges and beef He
has aimed to make his country thoroughly
selfsustaining, and has approximately sue
ceeded. All things being ready, it was easy
to lind an occasion to quarrel with Brazil. In
1864, Uruguay was in state of civil war
the two parties being distinguished as Blan-
COS and Colorados. The Blancos committed
some injuries upon Brazilians residing in Uru-
quay. When Brazil, unable to obtain salts
faction, threatened to march into Uruguay
and restore order there, Lopez said, "Attack
Uruguay and will attack your The Brazil
ians taking no notice of this insolent threat,
helped Gen. Flores, the leader of the Colora-
dos. to pacify the country. Thereupon, ON the
18th November, 1864, without declaration of
war; Lopez seized Brazilian mail steamer,
threw officers Of the Brazilian army and
navy, so captured, into prison, where they still
lie; and fitted out an expedition which falling
Unexpectedly upon the defenceless people of
Brazil, did considerable harm. At the same
time he claimed the privilege of marching ov-
er Argentine territory to attack Brazil, and
when told that the request was unreasonable,
seized all the steamers within reach, belong
ing TO the Confederation, also without decla-
ration of war, and let loose his troops into
their territory.
1t was in this way that Paraguay became
involved in war with Brazil, Uruguay under
Flores, and the Argentine Confederation
The Paraguayans were defeated in naval
engagement on the Parana, June II, 1866,
and in pitched battles August II and Septem-
Der Is, 1865. Thereupon they retired to their
detences, where ON the 22d September, 1866,
they repulsed the allied forces with loss OF
1000 men killed and wounded. Gen. Flores
has since withdrawn with his tIifing contin-
gent. The Argentine forces, it was thought,
would be recalled The Brazilian govern
ment alone stood firm, and has appointed
new commander, empowered to conduct the
operations in the field without dictation.
There seems to be 10 real occasion for the
United States to interfere in this business
What Lopez needs is obviously thrashing,
and so long as Brazil is disposed to give il to
him, she deserves the good wishes of the civ
ilized world.
d