Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1867-01-12

Dr.. Don Gaspar Pndriquez Francia,
the Dictator OF Paraguay, who for so
many years tyrannized over that conn
try, was detested by the people; and at
the same time feared by them. IL was a
wonder that one whose life was marked
with so many crimes, and such unpar-
alleled acts of injustice, shOuld have
escaped the assassin's knife. Such,
however, was the fact But his remains
were not permitted to rest in quiet,
where they had been deposited. His
sepulchre, beneath the altar of the
Church of Saint Paul, in Assumption,
was mined, and blown up, by gunpow-
de-, in revenge for some of the crimes
of the Dictator. But TO this day the
people, and even the priests believe,
the affair to have been the work of the
devil, who came 10 claim the body and
soul of one, who while living hal been
wholly his own.
The following is the story as told by
the padre Juan Guizman, "TdigGB1e
DiOSl Senior Americana (God bless me-
its a fearful tale" said the old priest,
as he hurriedly crossed himself, and
cast suspicious chances about him.
cts n fearful tale, ali amigo" aud low
ering his voice to a scarcely audible
whisper, which Missed strangely through
his cadaverOus lips, as he led me
through the ruined church, he COM
menced the narrative.
The facts were then altogether new to
me; but afterward, during my brief re-
s.dence in ASltHciOH, where my position
brought me into intercourse with some
of the most intelligent people of the
country, learned that the incident, re-
lated by the worthy eeclesiastic, had
become a portion of the history of their
city, and was readily vOuched for by
laymen as well as priests.
''YOu know, SeEOr AmerieanO, how,
for more than a quarter of a century,
our poor Paraguay bled beneath the
tyrannical sway OF HIM, who living, was
mentioned only as "EI Supreme" and
who, since death, the king of tyrants
has claimed him for his own, is spoken
of only as "H DefiultO." You know
how our late Dictator, Ell Doctor Fran
cha, crushed the budding energies of
our young republic; and, unchecked by
the Feproaches and discomfort of the
drawer spirits among rs, tyrannized
over our lovely country, and perpetrat-
ed long catalogue of crimes, the story
of which fills all listeners with horror
how his chief delight was In the cold
blOOded execution of our people; and
how, to crafty his quenchless thirst
for blood, our prisons were continually
gOrged with fresh victimsl You know.
for It is no secret TO the world, when
the ..yrant, old, and worn ont in I'M
guilty, gave up the ghost; how his dun
geon doors were unhinged, and more
than seven hundred wretched beings,
were brought out to the binding light
of the day,-sOme on whom the blessed
sun of heaven had not smiled for TWEEN
ty long years; who reduced to hopeless
ldiocy aud lunacy, by their terrible
sufferings, refused to return to a world,
from which all their homes and friends
had been swept by the ruthless tyrant's
hand. You may be familiar with ell
these eruelties of the infamous ruler of
Paraguay; but yon cannot conceive the
deep hatred, and utter detestation, with
which his memory is regarded by all
classes of my eountrymen.
"Yet so extraordinary was his supre-
macy over even the very thoughts of
his people, that his name, To this day,
is scarcely ever heard, lest the ghost of
the hated Dictator, no longer permitted
to rest in peace, may be wandering
among the scenes of his iniquities, and,
with the same malignity that prompted
him, while en- cUeTpO, might be listen
ing to the curses that must accompany
its utteranCe.
''Well, Senior. after the country had
for twenty-eight years been blighted
by his wicked rule, the Blessed Virgin,
In mercy to us, sent the angel of death
TO call the tyrant to fearful reckoning;
and Paraguay, than which no fairer
land blossoms now beneath the sun,
once more breathed freely; and secret
rejoicing went up to Heaven from
every loyal heart in the republic.
son his death-bed, conscious of the
slight claim he had on the merits and
sufferings Of the Redeemer, Et Deft1gt0
directed that his earthly remains, the
worn-out tabernacle that for eighty-five
years had encased his wicked spirit,
should be deposited here, within the
sanctuary, and beneath thessholy cross of
the altar dedicated TO the holy San
PaulOs; and that for the space of twelve
weeks, day and night, We should say
masses for his safe passage through the
purgatOriai fires.
THE wishes of the departed were
strictly cbeyed; and here beneath this
mass of ruins, which was once a holy
shrine, the body was entOmbed; and foT
the appointed period the religious GER
emonies of our holy church were pune
tually performed.