Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-11-25

VI cuith O'Ci bWcuiJ lccl bulcht iEOn
which he never ventured for weeks to-
gether, and at the same time that his
organ was filled dd nduseUm with ac-
counts of the great Lopez leading, with
dauntless valor, his legions to victory, he
was sitting quaking and shivering in his
cave, afraid to venture out, lest a ball
might reach him.
On one occasion, some two years ago,
when he was out with his bishop and his
staff, she'll struck at distance of half
mile or more from His Excellency.
Instantly the brave Lopez turned and
ran like scared sheep, with his staff, in
sluding the bishop, after him, the latter
losing his hat as he fed afrighted after
his chief. This is the only instance
known of his ever having been in per-
sonal danger. he has not even the vul-
gar merit of personal courage, nor has
he any other.
His frmness, carried to obstinacy, is
the result of personal fear. Many per-
sons, his own people, who have escaped
from his power, and whose families have
been tortured and otherwise prosecuted
to death, have sent messages to him
threatening to kill him at sight, should
they ever meet him; he, therefore, does
not treat with the enemy, for so many of
them have sworn to pursue him, the
world will not afford him refuge if he
once has no army between him and his
enemies; he knows the country to be
lost and ruined; he has no navy, and, in
my opinion, not more than one-fifth of
the land forces of the enemy. Why the
latter do not attack him and put an end
to the war do not know; but they do
not do so, and the war may not end for a
long time. Lopez has recently said he
expected to be compelled to fall back
from the river, and then he would retire
into the mountains, driving everybody,
foreigners and Paragueyans, alike before
him. In that case, at he rate the allies
have been going on for the last two
years, it will be long before he will. be
able to present as strong front to his
enemy as he did when they landed above
the Tebicuary; viz: one man to match
the telegraph.
1t was not, however, till August that /
heard, besides the conspiracy against the
Government, that there had been great
robbery of the public treasury. OF the
particulars of this robbery could never
learn anything; neither did l ever have
any knowledge of the details of the plan
of the conspiracy. 1t was said in one of
Benitez' letters that Mr.. Bliss, a mem
ber Of my Legation, had signed paper
with others in which they had engaged
to assassinate President Lopez. knew
that was false, or, at least had no doubt
that it was so, and defed them to pro-
duce any such paper, but they never |
showed it. They never gave me any |
clue as to the manner of the conspiracy,
or how the revolution was to be effected, |
and | do not believe to this day that any
thing of the kind was ever attempted. |
The declarations of the prisoners prove |
nothing except the merciless cruelties of |
Lopez, for it is known that he freely en-
ploys the torture. He loads his prisoners
with heavy fetters-sometimes two, three
or feur pairs, and besides, hogs them, if |
they do not give the testimony he re-
luires, till they die.
The country, however, is entirely de-
Iuded Of its male population. All the
planting and sowing is done
by women. Women must yoke the oxen,
10 the butchering and all the other
work usually done by men. There are
many women also with the army to do
he labor of men, and thus relieve the
roops, but none, / believe, are forced to
)ear arms.
With the hope that the war would end
hortly, | remained year longer than !
Intended, very mach against my interest
lud suffering great discomfort believe
hat at the final catastrophe l could be
# great service, especially to the for
igners; and had Ascencion been taken
n February, when the iron-clads went up
here, as we then expected it would be, !
hould doubtless have been able to save
be lives of many who now will never
ee their native land again. But when
IL Of them had been killed or made
risoners, and nobody dared-native or
near my house, and !
'as utterly powerless to do service for
nybody, thought it time to obey the
rders Of my government and return to
he United States. Very respectfully,
our obedient servant,
CHAs. A. WAsHBURE