The Portland daily press., 1868-12-25
NEW YORK,
NIB. wAsEBuRNE's ACCOUNT OF HIS TROUBLE
-re.+...-... WITH LOPEZ,

. -ea.s.-s.. WITH LOPEZ.
NEW YORK, Dec. 24.-The Sun reports an
interview with Mr.. Washburne. late Minister
to Paraguay. Mr.Washburne saws Lopez had
ordered everybody out of Asuncion, and s3me
hfty persons hockad to the American Lega-
ton for protection, among them The Portu-
guese Consul Lopez demanded this Consul
MIR. w ashburne refused to give him up. unless
the charge was stated. Lopez then charged
him with completely in revolution. He was
then given up, as were also Others on the same
charge and demand, except Bliss and Master
man, who were attached to the Legation
THESE were demanded on the same charges.
Mr.. WashoYrne refused, and demanded his
passports, which were refused. Finally he was
informed that there was proof of his own COM
plicity, but owing to Lopezs respect for the
American Republic he would grant Wash
burne his passports instead OF arresting him.
On leaving, however, Bliss and Masterman
were arrested. Soon after Mr.. Washburne re-
ceived letter from Bliss charging him with
completely in the revolution The letter was
extracted from Bliss by threats of torture.
New YORK, Dec 24.-Intervews were held
last evening with Mr. Webb and Mr.. WASH
burn relative to South American affairs
Gen. Webb, in the course of his remarks
stated that he had been Minister to Brazil sew
en- years, and proposed to remain there no
longer after next March. The war in Para
quay was commenced without any just cause
on the part of Lopez, the self-imposed dictator
of that pretended republic. His enemies are
the Brazillians, Uruguayans and the Argen-
tine Republic, who consider him the common
enemy of mankind. The allies, however, have
prosecuted the war in most inefficient man.
ner. The troubles have but just commenced.
Brazil has wasted 10000 men already and she
cannot afford to lose more. That country is
greatly in need Of laborers, and it would take
twenty years before emigration could supply
the loss of the last two years. Her conduct Of
the war has been shameful and criminal The
allied forces outnumber those of Lopez three
to one, and yet he keeps them easily at bay,
and IT forced to any extremity he can fly to the
strongholds in the mountains, where it will be
impossible to dislodge him.
Our own troubles with Paraguay are of
very serious nature, as two of the American
legation are now held prisoners by Lopez
England spent e30000,00O to protect English
men In Abyssinia. but the United States has
done nothing yet to defend her honor in Para
quay. Gen. Webb said that Minister Wash.
burn was in danger of his life in Asuncon
and that he was compelled to send a United
States war vessel after him, The allied forces
would not allow it to pass their blockade, but
the General declared that if the right was not
given to his ship to go up the river, he should
become unpopular at his station The General
was particularly severe ON the conduct of Ad-
miral Davis on his tardy movements
Mr.. Charles A. Washburn recent Minister
to Paraguay, reviewed all the events of the
past two years. When he returned to Rio in
1866, he found that the allies were blockading
the Platte river, and that they refused his pas
sage of the blockade to Paraguay Admiral
Gordon, of the United States declined to en-
force the right to pass up with the United
States Minister until SO ordered, and then no
resistance was offered. Mr.. Washburn thus,
after fourteen months of fruitless attempts to
reach his station, finally arrived there in No
vember, 1865 He took with him provisions
enough to last eight months, as the country
was almost in starving condition. Lopez
+, welcomed him on his arrival, and for about a
year matters went en- smoothly. Trouble, how
ever, soon came Lopez is man of deep sus-
picions and intensely hates everyone not known
to be truly loya to him. He is an object of
fear to all the inhabitants of Paraguay, and
his nature Is cowardly, cruel and bloody. He
suspected that revolution was being organic
ed against his government, and that foreigners
were implicated in il. Mr.. Washburn detailed
his troubles with Lopez ON this account, the
circumstances OF Which have heretofore been
made public. He has received no intelligence
from, either Mr.. Bliss or Mr.. Waterman, the
members of his legation who were detained by
Lopez, since he left the country. What the
new Minister to Paraguay, Mr.. Mcmahon, will
be able to accomplish in the matter remains to
be seen.
The condition of Paraguay Is forlorn in the
extreme. A reign Of terror exists there and
the policy OF Lopez seems to be to kill off every
man not heartily engaged in his desperate
= cause. Our ministers believe that injustice
has been done them in this country respecting
state of affairs at the seat of war in South
America. When the entire history of the
events there is known, their conduct, they
claim, will be justified.
TELEaRAPHIc DEMONSTRATION IN HONOR OF
PROFESSOR MORSE.
NEW YORK, Dec. M.-Chief Justice Chase
has consented to preside at banquet to be
given to Professor Morse at Delmonico's on
the 18th. We understand that telegraph in
struments will be brought into the banquet
room, and communications sent to and from
all parts of the world.
CITY AND VICINITY.
NEW YORK, Dec. 24-District Attorney
Courtney ipnblishes letter in the Evening
Post, denying any responsibility for the post
ponement of the trial of parties indicted for
whiskey frauds, and says he is ready, willing
and eager to try any or all of their cases as
soon as he can have an opportunity to do so.
Heinrich Schafer, the alleged German wife
murderer, who was surrendered under the ex'
tradition treaty, left on the steamer Main fol
Bremen to-day, in custody of Deputy Marshal
Dwire.
Edward Stevenson, a boy eighteen years old
of Bridgeport, Conn.,, unsuccesstully attempted
to commit suicide in City Hall Park this fore.
noon, by shooting himself with pistol. Cause
extreme poverty. .-
The liabilities of Turnbull, Stade & Co., dry
goods dealers, who have failed, are $1,000 900.
Their books, however, show surplus of $780,
600. and It is thought they may be able to make
a settlement and go on with their business.
Wendell Phillips, in the Slavery
Standard to-day, opposes vehemently the re-
peal of the tenure of Office bill.
In the Belmont vs. Erie Railroad case, argu
ment was had to-day before Judge Cardoza,
on motion to vacate the order appointing
Gratz Nathan referee, to take the compulsory
affidavit of Vice President Diyen, The de-