The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-08-01
THE WAR IN SOUTH AMERICA.

THE WAR IN SOUTH AMERICA.
Our own affairs have so entirely engrossed
our attention during the past two years that
events in the world outside have made but lit
tie impression upon us. The war between
Spain and Chill interested us as little US the
quarrel now pending between Queen VICTORIA
and her sooty suitor, the King of Abyssnla
The war between Austria and Prussia excited
some attention here, because of the many COM
patriots of the two belligerents residing in our
midst. The long struggle between Turkey and
her christian subjects in Gambia, we fear, has
never touched our sympathies, or excited our
admiration as under other circumstances such
q heroic combat, kept up so long, and on such
UNEQUAL terms, would have done. The Fenian
outbreak in Ireland caused but little more ex-
citement here than recital of the battle OF
Culloden would produce. The Paris Exposi-
ton. the wonder of the world, is not for us /;
Confederate bonds being no longer negotiable
in that gay capital. The Mcssrs. ERLANGER, our
ouondam banker friends, who knew us once,
now know us no more. The sovcrcigns OF
these uprcconsructed States are dcbarred the
privilege of meeting their brother soveregns
of France, Turkey, Prussia, Austria, Spain,
Greece, Belgium, and all the rest of them, on
the banks of the Seine. We spent our money
for grand pyr yr,technic and strategic displays
few years ago. and now must stay at home.
Mexico, while the fight was an even one,
while the French held their own, and JuAREz
was in-campbell- atable, excited in our breasts
but little interest or sympathy. tits only late
". since the fortunes of MAMMALIAN began to
wane and become desperate, that our attention
has become aroused We have sometimes for
got our own sorrows, regrets and misfortunes,
and followed the closing career of the unfortu-
nate prince with anxious care and solicitude.
That drama is closed. The curtain has dropped;
and the circle of our interest, as of our vision,
is once msre restricted by this narrow Southern
horizon. The daily recurringiquestion, how TO
live, gives us enough to do in the way of busi-
ness, and reconstruction serves as standing
dish in the way of recreation. But oil this
must change ere long With the rcconstruc-
tion of these States, we again become repre-
sented abroad, and naturally take our legiti-
mate share in foreign politics and wars
That millennium is not yet. But it may he
useful, nevertheless, to look little at one Of
these foreign questions, the war in South
America. Brazil and Paraguay have been at
WARRIOR several years, and the struggle is con-
Quoted with lupinc ferocity. The sinews of
war, however, are giving way. Money is very
scarce and becoming daily more so. The ar
mics are recruited with extreme difficulty, |
bloody riots having taken place at San Paulo,
Bahia, Pernambuco and other places in Brazil, |
while the Argentine Confederation is seriously |
threatened with revolution; and, more than all, |
the ranks of the hostile armies arc decmated |
by the ravages of cholera. The SylO, of Mon
tevidco, states, on positive authority, that over
camp, and corroborating testimony is furnished
by correspondent who writes from the United
States flagship Brooklyn, June 25th, that the
oworst battle for the Brazilian army in Para
quay has been with the cholera. Six hundred
died on the island of Curuzu in one night
That the allies must suffer terribly from disease
is inevitable, on account of their unfavorable
position, and it is not possible the Paraguayans
are wholly exempt
Looking at this strife from an impartial
standpoint, knowing little and caring less about
the merits of the controversy, We ask what has
been achieved thus far by either side, and what
advantages are promised? The simple fact is
apparent that for months past the allies have
remained motonless in their intrenched posi-
ton, making no pcrccptiblc prog ess, and this
after vainly cssaying to enter the Paraguay
River with a fleet of ironclads In other words,
all the exertion thus far put forth has availed
only to secure foothold on thirty miles of
Paraguayan soil. As for the "Gamccock Re-
public she probably has little cause for boast
ing, though writer in one of the London pa
pers makes the best possible statement of the
situation as follows:
Paraguay, Ear from being exhausted, is said to
bo in q magnificent state, considering the long
blockade to which it has been subjected. The
Two enormous guns have been cast at the iron
works Of Ibicuy, and have been forwarded to tho
fortress of Humaita. The spirit OF the army is
excellent In the beginning of tho present war
Brazil and her allies thought Paraguay an easy
prov and were SO sure of conqucrng that when
Admiral Tamandaro first took the command OF the
Brazilian fleet of this Parana (about tho beginning
of 1861, he declared that Sin fortnight the peace
will be negotiated in Ascension, the capital OF
Paraguay" President N1tre also ION April 1G,
1861 in q speech to largo popular meeting i'll
Bucnos Ayres, made uso of the following fanfaro-
nlde "Citzens three davs in tho barracks, fifteen
days for the march, and within throo months in
Ascension" Two years hayo now elapsed since
President Nitro and Admiral Tamandare used the
above memorable words, and since then both have
been obliged to leave the seat of war, aftor many
defeats from The valiant soldiers of President Lo
pez without accomplishing their purpose Others
have taken their places with no better success.
The Paraguayans afford a rare illustration
of what may be accomplished by bravery and
an unconquerablc determination; but the dis
play of hcroism by one side or the other passes
for nothing more among civilized nations than
a contest between barnyard fowls The prin-
ciplcs involved might have been settled in
accordance with the usages of enlightened
nations, and the opportunity is not wholly
passed. Arbitration offered by the United
States, according to the latest reports, is likely
to be rejected. If it is, then henceforth the
contest can only be regarded as q wanton
sacrifice of life and treasure, and disturbance
of the peace of the world for which there is no