Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-11-17
DoMESTICiNEw
An Outrage !uPon Americans in
Para g nay by Lopez the Con-
duct OF Minister VVashburne.

duct OF Minister Washburne.
nO-YrFy ygNEw YORK, Nov.16. =
The Herald says the Minister of the
United States to Paraguay has been get
ting himself into serious trouble with Mar
sinai Lopez. Tue latter accused Minister.
Washburne of having entered into the con-
!spiracy to assassinate the President, and it
was charged that he had received one hun
'dred and forty thousand dollars as. the re-
ward of his action.
The chief accuser is Sener, Jose Berges,
the Minister OF Foreign Affairs, who turn
ed States evidence against the conspira-
tors. He charges Mr.. Porter G. Bliss,
member of 9the legation, with having
signed a compact with the conspirators, al
though Mr.. Bliss denies all these charges
in letters to friends. The Paraguayan
Government has published letter pur-
porting to have been signed by Mr.. Bliss,
admitting all the charges against his own
Minister. This letter is generally believed
to have been gotfrorn the writer by means
of torture, while in prison. ,~
The whole foreign population of the Rio
de la Plata are disgusted at the outrages
committed by Lopez, in this affair.". but re-
gret that Minister of the great republic
should have ever noticed such charges.
The commander of the American SQUAD
rond, Real Admiral Davis, bad taken
prompt measures to vindicate the insult to
our flag.
The Post contains the following editorial:
Elsewhere we print letter from a we'll
informed correspondent in the Rio de ia
Micro, relating in language, the tone of
which shows the deep feeling which exists
among Americans in Brazil, an extraordi-
nary story about the United States Min
lister at Paraguay, Mr.. Washburne. 1t is
and abandoned to the barbarous dictator,
Lopez two American citizens, Porter G.
Bliss and George f. Masterman, both,
moreover, employed in the legation, and
thus officers Of the United States. ,yf.EssE
So incredible story or cowardice on the
part of . United, States Minister, must be
received as at least doubtful, and suscepti-
BILE of some explanation honorable to Mr..
Washburne.- A long letter. from w ASH
burne, which will also be found elsewhere,
fully conf rms it. He relates in this letter,
which is addressed to the English Minister
at Janito, that Bliss and Masterman were
forced from his side as he and they
were passing from the legation to the wa
ter side, where they were to embark in
United States vessel. Not only did he suf-
ter this atrocious violation of the rights of
Americans, of his officers, but seems, from
his, account, to have gonequietly aboard
the vessel waiting for him, and sailed off,
leaving them to their fate, without stop.
ping even to demonstrate.
Our correspondent IN Mo aQQS sClil Iur-
ther, that while the English and French
fleet are fastening to Paraguay to rescue
their people, Washburne has not even
called for our fleet, which lies idly in Rio,
while Lopez is torturing and numbering at
his own sweet will. i..
Mr.. Washburne's own letter condemns
him. No such shameful outrage has ever
been suffered by American citizens as that
which he has tolerated. No such weak
minded person has ever misrepresented our
Government abroad or suffered our flag
to- be -dishonored ~ and the sanctity
of United States legation to be violated.
We will say nothing of reports which come
from Rio of Mr.. Wash5urne's enJangle-
ment with Lopez, of his corruption. by
that barbarian. 1t is quite tnough that he
has submitted to have two American citi-
zens, besides large number of persons of
other nations, taken from his legation,
where they had sought refuge from the
fury of Lopez.
We hope our Government will act
promptly in this matter. The country has
right to demand that the President shall
send out, without the loss of day, by the
speediest conveyance, man with spirit to
assert and maintain our rights and honor
of our flag, to take the place of Wash
burne; and the new Minister must be
| backed by fleet which will enable him to
wiring from Lopez the most ample repara-
tion and apology for his outrage on our