The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1868-11-20
z RAGUA Y.
Ousragcs on american Citizens

ON A III eFican Citizens
COwardly Neglect of the American
Minister. Is =
ae is Charged With an Assassina-
ton Conspiracy. ~
OF the Govern
aent Demanded.
NV York, Nov. 16--The Herald
says the Minister of the United States
to Paraguay has been getting himself
into serious trouble with Marshal Lo-
PEI. The. latter accused Minister
Washburne of having entered into the
to assassinate the President
and it was charged that, he had re-
ceiyed reward of ahundred and forty
thousand dollars for his action.
The chief accuser is Senior Jose
Berges, the Minister of Foreign AT
fairs, who turned States evidence
against the conspirators. He charged
Mr.. Porter C. Bliss, member of the
Legation, with having signed a COM
pact with the conspirators Although
Mr.. Bliss denies all these charges in a
letter to his friends, the Paraguayan
Government has published a letter,
purportiug to have:beep signed by Mr..
Blisc, admitting all the charges against
his own Minister. This letter is gen
orally believed to have been gotten
from the writer by means of torture
while in prison The whole foreign
population of the Rio de la Plata are
indignant at the outrages committed
by Lopez in this affair, but regret that
the Minister of the Great Republic
should have even noticed such charges
The commander of the American
squadron, Rear Admiral Davis, has
taken prompt measures TO >vindicate
the insult to our tiag. I
The Post contains the following edi-
tOrial: zz~ .c. ac.- -.5ai
Elsewhere We print a letter from :
well informed correspondent iii Rlo
Janeiro, whe relates, in language, the
tone of which shows the deep feeling
which exists among Americans in. Bra
I'll, the extraordinary story about tho
United States Minister in Paraguay
Mr.. Washburne 1t is asserted that
Mr.. Washburnc left the couHtry, ans
abandoned to the barbarOus dictator
Lopez two American citizens, Porter
Bliss and George Masterman,l both
moreover, employed in the legation
and thus officers OF the United States
SO incredible story of cowardice OF
the part of 4 United States Minister
must have been received us at least
doubtful, and susceptible of some ex
PLANTATION honorable to Mr, Washburne
did not long letter from Washbune
which will also be found elsewhere
fully confirm it. He relates in his let
ter, which is addressed to the English
Minister at Rio Janiero, that Bliss anG
Masterman were forced from his side
as he and thoy were passing from tho
legation to the water side, where they
were to embark in United States
vessel. Not only did he suffer thi'
atrocious violations of the rights o
Americans, OF his officers, but seems,
from his account, to have gone quietly
aboard the vessel awaiting for him anC
sailed off, leaving them to their fate
without even stopping to remonstrate
Our correspondent in Rio Janiero add,
still further, that while the Englisl
and French fleets are fastening tC
Paraguay to rescue their people
Washburne has not even called for om
fleet, which lies idly at Rio, while Lo
pez is torturing and numbering at hi.
own sweet will. Mr.. Washburne's
49, u-..-- -~..I~.vs~~-&rrrrf=-- ~ s'tcf
shameful outrage has ever been suffer
ed by American citizens rs that which
he has tolerated. No such meekmind
ed person has ever represented oul
government abroad, or suffered oUr
flag to be dishonored, and the sanotity
of a United States legation to be vio.
lated. We viii saynothing of reports
which come from Rio of Mr.. Wash
burne's entanglement with Lopez. or
of his corruption by that barbarian. 1t
is quite enough that he has tamoly
submitted.to have two American citi-
zens, besides largenumber of persons
ofother nations, taken from his losa-
tion where they bad sought refuge
from the fairy of Lopez. We hope our
government will act promptly in this
matter. The country has a right to
demand that tie President shall send
cut without the loss Of day, by the
speediest conveyance, man with spirit
to assert and maintain our rights and
the honor of our flag, to take the place
of Washburne, and the new minister
must be backed by fleet which will
enable him to wiring from Lopez the
most ample reparation and apology for
his outrage on our flag, and the imme-
diate restoration OF all persons whom
he forced from the legation. There
can be no argument on this question.
If our flag docs not protect Americans
in foreign countries it is a sham-it
has no right to place among the flags
of nations. And unless our govern
ment acts promptly and vigorously in
this matter, we shall hecome contempt
ible among foreigners. Let an officer
of courage, ike Farragut or Porter,
be sent out at once. in the fastest man
of war we have; let him take the feet
which is in Rio Janiero with him, and
be instructed to deal with Lopez rs
Decatur did with the Dey of Algiers.
II appears from Washburne's own
letter, that Lopez is a ruthless harba-
rian who violates every law and re-
spects. the rights OF no one, whether
native or foreigner. There is reason
te believe he has submitted Bliss and
to the torture, and there is
no reason to deal with him otherwise
han as one would with pirate. 1t is
lumiliating that it should be necessary
or the press of this country to call
lpon the government to resent such
IN unheard Of outrage upon our flag
Is Lopez has committed, Or to save
rom Imprisonment, torture and death,
American citizens. Mr Washhurne's |
is singing disgrace to
,yery American, one under which our
'eople will hardly remain quiet, for if
hey did they would have lost all spirit
nd sense of honor. We trust the
President and Mr.. Seward willfor once
ct promptly, and show there is some