The New York herald., 1868-11-24
Our Relations with Paraguay.


through her citizens, was the first nation to
call the attention of the world to the enor-
nous advantages offered to commerce by the
navigation Of the Paraguay and Parana rivers,
and the tapping by steam communication of
the vast resources of the little State now SO
bravely battling for its national existence at
the head waters Of these streams. We were
the first to put steamers on these magnificent
water courses, and the first to put Paraguay
in quick communication with the world, thereby
starting her upon the pathway of progress.
Our expedition sent against her a few years
since to make reclamation of million of
dollars, however just the claim, only brought
the country into more prominent notice from
the fact that the Paraguayan statesmen de-
feated our commissioners in their object.
This claim still remains unsettled and
recognized as valid by both the Bu-
heels of this comes the Washburn difficulty;
and, strange to say, the same Minister in Para
quay Bergts) who CLOSED over, or rather
gilded over, our Paraguayan commissioners Of
former years is the one who, hand in glove
with Mr.. Washburn, plunged into revolu-
tionary movement to overthrow Lopez. We see,
too, in the evidence elected by the Paraguayan
government from the conspirators that our re-
spected and able minister of finance to Brazil,
the Hon. James Watson Webb, is also implicated
in the conspiracy. 1t is therefore very natural
that Mr.. Webb should defend member of the
firm as he defends Mr.. Washburn. This de-
fence will be of great value to our late Minister
to Paraguay, who has ere this, according to
evidence, accumulated sufficient financial and
military knowledge-first of the Paraguayans
in the early part of the war, and now of Brazil
to- start with Mr.. Webb respectable business,
say" Small governments overthrown at mode
rate prices, old vessels sold on commission.
Apply to Washburn and Webb, army and navy
bankers, Asuncion and Rio Janeiro."
While we on the one side are ready to sup
port our just claims for indemnifcation pend
ing against Paraguay, we are quite as willing
on the other hand to recognize any injustice
done against that people by our own govern
ment or by any other. In this Washburn
affair it is our duty to make most thorough
Investigation; to request of Paraguay full
copy of the evidence of Mr.. Washburns COM
plicity with the contemplated revolutionary
movement, as also any information possessed
of the reported assistance afforded by our Bra
lillian Minister, Mr.. Webb If large sums of
money have been paid to Mr.. Washburn, as
charged in the evidence, it should be known,
and for the honor Of our people among the
nations of the world severe example should
be made. This trouble never could have
sense to withdraw Mr.. Washburn when the
allies, nearly two years ago, sent ample proofs
to our State Department of the abuse to which
our Paraguayan Minister then placed his official
seal. As to Bliss and Masterman, now prison.
ers in Paraguay, we believe them to be
very justly so, according to the evidence, not
only given by the Paraguayan govern
ment, but by Mr.. Washburn himself. Fur
thermore, we may say that throughout the
very lengthy correspondence between the
Paraguayan Minister Benitez) and Mr.. Wash
burn the latter appears to place himself as
culprit on the witness stand, arguing like
schoolboy before his master, showing, as
Benitez most sarcastically tells him, ''pro-
found knowledge of international law" Bliss
and Masterman were in no sense members of
the legation in Paraguay. Upon the principle
by which Mr.. Washburn considered them as
such he might have sheltered the whole popu-
lation in his diplomatic hotel" as the Minister
Of Lopez ironically called 1t.
The truth is, we have been most sadly and
disgracefally misrepresented in South America
by our diplomatic corps. It has been very
rare thing for any one Of them to be respected
among the people to whom he may have
been accredited-still rarer since Mr.. Seward
has made South America house Of refuge for
diplomatic ofI-scourings. There are but few
South American States where an American
gentleman would think Of paying his compli-
ments to our Ministers as he passed through
the capitals where they reside. At Paraguay
there never was any necessity for o minister,
and much to our shame the first one we send
there disgraces US. 1t is due not only to
Paraguay, but to our honorable relations with
every State and the honor of the diplomatic
corps, that Mr.. Washburn have fair trial, and,
if proven guilty Of the charges enumerated by
the Paraguayan Minister Of Foreign Affairs,
that he be disgraced and declared unworthy Of
holding any Office in the gift Of the United
States.
Tho Chinese Embassy at Windsor Castle.
The reception accorded by the Queen on
Friday last to Mr.. Burlingame and the other
members Of the Chinese Embassy at Windsor
Castle was Of character to fully convince us
that the great objects of the mission are in a