The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-10-31
TIE Great valley Of In Plata and the strua-

sic for Its D0minatieu.
We publish to-day the closing half Of his
torical sketch Of the troubles in the Plata val
ley from the anti Brazilian standpoint. To
wipe Spanish American political questions
clean from the dross and blood which besmear
them and discover under all this any great po-
litical principle which gives impetus to con-
tending factions is difficult matter. Here,
however, we find clear statement of the poll
| cy, the steady territorial march and the
siealthy diplomacy of Brazil in the direction
Of the great valley to the southwest Of her.
The outlet OF this valley once gained, the
States Of Uruguay, Entire Rios, Corrientes
and Paraguay once under the imperial eel,
Brazil will be master of the southern half as
we are masters of the northern half of the
Western World. 1t viii be an easy matter for
her afterwards to stir into civil war action the
feuds which exist between the gGucho and
civilized elements in the Argentine republic
elements which more than once have yielded
blood at the touch OF Brazilian gold and impe-
rial diplomacy.
| We are accustomed to point to Brazil and
compare her peace TO the turmoil of her neigh
bora. and wonder why the empire gives more
quiet than the republic. Few, however, ina
| CINE that the existence Of the empire has in
South America been the cause of more civil
| warfare than any other element. The history
Of the Argentine Confederation and Uruguay
are bold proofs OF this while the combination
made against Paraguay shows how plastic the
blind leaders OF the republics are in the hands
Of the imperial statesmen. IT. however, we
compare the material prosperity of the
Argentine republic, Uruguay and Para
quay with the empire, we find at once
how infinitely beyond the monarchy
they have marched during the brief period OF
their national existence. In exports, imports,
national revenues, retaining of virgin lands,
extension Of agricultural and pastoral industry,
railroads, telegraphs, literature-in fact, in
everything which gives solidity in the future
and guarantees compact acknowledgement
is far in the rear Of any Of her neighbors
whom we have mentioned despite the war
fare which has periodically desolated them.
In view Of these heretofore unc0nsidered facts,
1t becomes serious question whether Brazil
has a right to exist any longer as an empire.
When we consider that progress in the re-
publics has to fight its way through Brazil
ian efforts to crush it, that the policy OF
the empire is to mount to power upon
the misery which she foments among her
neighbors; that commerce is by her annu-
= ally cheated out of untold millions of dollars
in ciyilizing exchanges; that it was not until
the past year that the five nations at the head
waters of the Amazon were permitted to en-
10y the same contact with the world that
Brazil enjoys; that the empire represents the
hopes of monarchical Europe as against re-
publicanism on this Continent we submit that
Imperialism in Brazil should give place to re-
publicanism as the one thing necessary to put
South America in that track Of prosperity to
which she il entitled by her wondrous pro-
ducts, her magnificent valleys. her mighty
rivers and her geographical position with refer
ence to ourselves. So long as the two an
tagonistic governments-the monarchy and
the republic-exist side by side there will
be no peace We recognized this fact upon the
northern half Of the Continent when we drove
ASoc
applicable with reference to Brazil and her
neighbors. II is as inevitable as fate that
South America must be wholly republican or
wholly imperial To-day the empire Is gain
ing ground owing to the suicidal position as
sumed by few Argentine leaders in opposi-
ton to the great majority Of the people. This,
however, will changes and it is not improba-
BILE that the world win before long witness the
more Natural war of the Argentine republic,
Paraguay and Uruguay against Brazil--the
latter, if possible, seizing upon Uruguay as a
base of operations for the salvation of her
present form Of government.
1t is conclusivcly shown that, in the war
against Paraguay Brazil and the Argentine
republic were the aggressors. The allied
, treaty was made before it was known thai
, Paraguayan troops had touched Argentine
soil and was the result Of long preneditated
plan between the parties signingit. Paraguay
instead of being the aggressor, was clearl,
standing on the defensive and il was only thu
daring quick strokes given against her enemies
that enabled these TO deceive tho world into the
ridiculous idea that ten millions Of Brazilian
and Argeniines were standing on the defensive
against the half million of Paraguayans occu
plying but seventy thousand square miles o
territory, shut ont from The world in the hear
Of South America.
In military view Paraguay occupies a
splendid detensible position but her agrees
sive strength is very limited. If Lopez viii
only show the same powers In the defence Of
the interior that he has shown upon his from
: tiers we may expect 10 see the allies fail IN
their efforts to conquer the country. They
can no longer use their iron-clads. Lopez