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

Rio Janeiro correspondence (0ct. 81 of the N.
Y. Evening Postl
The news received from the river
Platte, the day after the American
steamer sailed, was of the most startling
character. This time the public were
not stirred by the repeated triumphs of
the Brazilian arms, although the allies
have pushed the remnant of Lopez army
from Tebiquary, and fed farther north
ward, but not until they had surrounded
what was said to be the despot's last
refuge, Villa Riea, where were the arse
nal and foundries of the Paraguayans.
Lopez had committed such atrocities as
would be incredible if it were not for the
fact that the most respectable men of va
rious nations, now at the seat of war,
testify to them. The atrocities commit
ted upon his own people are horrible !;
but that which has made the people of
Buenos Ayres and of Rio Janeiro forget
for a moment their own victories, is the
conduct of the American Minister, Wash
burn, whose own published letters show
him to be devoid of every manly attribute
of courage and frmness, and to be en-
dued with an amount of cowardice never
displayed by an American representa-
tive abroad.
Think of an American minister, with
a gunboat at hand, delivering up to the
hands of Lopez, Englishmen, French.
men, and other foreigners, and even
Lopez own brother, who had fed from
the bloody hands of a man who was
ready to put him to an ignominious
death.
Think of this minister by his own con-
fession offering to tell Lopez of any con-
spiracy against him lopez.
But the worst of all, in the eyes of the
Argentiues, is the conduct of Mr.. Wash
burn in allowing an American, Porter G.
Bliss, to be torn from his side while on
his way with the minister to the United
States gunboat Wasp. Poor Bliss, from
Washburn's own occount, was hurried
to prison by the minions of Lopez, and,
according to letter published by Wash
burn, Bliss was afterward put to torture.
You cannot conceive of the shame OF
every American here at the cowardice of
Washburn, and at his complete trucking
to despot who has been represented as
hero, but who is as cruel as the King
of Dahomey The most charitable here
think that Washburn was stricken with
panic, but the majority believe that he
was so involved by "scsly" transactions
with Lopez that he would not stand up
like a man.
Bliss was we'll known at Rio de Janeiro
as one Of the most modest and retiring
of men. He is the son of Rev. Mr.. Bliss,
who was missionary TO the Indians, of
New York. Porter @. Bliss came here in
the family of Gen. Webb; but his great
aim was the study Of the South Ameri-
can Indians. For this purpose he went
to Buenos Ayres, and Rfterward to Para
quay. Lopez seems at last to have be-
come perfectly destitute of every senti
ment except suspicion and cruelty, and
suspected every one round him to be
plotting against him. Poor Bliss was
included in the number Of the suspected,
and was ANONYMOUSLY given up BY
Washburn. He (Washburn) may try TO
exculpate himself, but mis- own letter will
condemn him. Oh. that he had been
like Forsyth in Mexico, making the
American flag protect |all beneath its
folds; or like Slade, our Charge to
Buenos Ayres, years ago, who, through
the friend Of the tyrant Rosas, housed
scores Of refugees from that Nero-Bor-
gia's tyranny, and who, when Rosas vas
about to have the refugees forced from
the legation, like a man aud an Ameri-
can, put arms into the hands Of All be
meath his roof, and told them that Rosas
must take him dead before one Of them
should be touched. / inclose you por-
tions OF the correspondence, and let you
judge for yourselves.
rive reprint the following portion Of