The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-11-17

DIsEraceruI Conduct OF aLIaIste
Washburne.
Two American CitIzens Thrown int,
Prison and Subjected to TOrturs.
PFomPt Measures Demanded 10 ne
sent the Outrage.
NEW York, Nov. I8.
The Herald says the Minister O
the United states to Paraguay has beel
getting himself into serious trouble
with Marshal Lopez. The latter 40
| cused Minister Mashburne of hayinl
entered into the conspiracy to assassin
ate the President, and 1t was charged
that he had received hundred and for
ty thousand dollars as the reward o
his action. The chief accuser IL Seno
Jose Berges, the Minister for Foreign
Affairs, who turned States evidenc,
against the conspirators. BE charged
Mr.. Porter o. Bliss, a member OF this
legation, with having signed q compact
with the conspirators. Although Mr.
Bliss denies all these charges in letter.
to friends, the ParaguayRn Government
has published letter PurPortins Il
have been signed by Mr.. Bliss admit
ting all the charges against bis OWE
minister. This letter Is generally be.
lieVed to have been gotten from the
prison. The whole foreign population
of the Rio de La Plata are Indignant al
the outrages committed by Lopez Ia
this affair, but regret that a Minister OF
the Great Repu bile should have ever no.
ticed such charges. The commander OF
the American squadron, Rear Admiral
Davis. had taken prompt measures to
Vindicate the insult to our flag.
The Post contains the following edi-
torial: Elsewhere we print letter
from q well informed correspondent In
Rio De Janeiro. Itrelates in Language
the tone OF which shows the deep feel
ing which exists among Americans in
Brazil, an extraoIdlnary story about
the United States Ministerin Paraguay,
Mr.. Washburne. It is asserted that
Mr.. Washburne left the country and
abandoned TO the barbarous dictator,
Lopez, two American citizens, Porter
@. Bliss and Geo. F. Masterman, both
moreover, employed in the Legation
and thus officers of the United. Soin-
credible story OF cowardice on the
part OF a United States Minister must
be received as at least doubtful and
susceptible of some explanation, hon
orable to Mr.. Washburne. Did not a
long letter of Washburne's, which Will
also be found elsewhere, fully confirm
ii? He relates In this letter, which is
addressed to the British Minister at
were "forced from his siden as he and
they were passing from the Legation to
the water side where they were to em-
bark in a u. s. vessel. Not only did
he suffer this atfocious violation OF the
rights OF Americans; of his officers, but
seems from his Hcconnt TO have gone
quietly aboard the vessel waiting for
him and sailed OF leaving them TO
their fate without stopping even TO re-
monstrate. 20
Our correspondent in Rio adds still
further that while the English and
French fleets are fastening TO Paraguay
to rescue their people, Mr. Washburne
has not even called for our fleet, which
lies idly in Rio, while Lopezis torturfng
and numbering at his own sweet will.
Mr.. Wsshburne's own letterscondemns
him, No such shameful outrage has
ever been suffered by American olti
zens, as that which he has tolerated; no
such meek minded person has ever
misrepresented our government abroad,
or suffered our flag to be dishonored
and the sanctity of United States lega-
ton to be violated. We will say nothing
OF reports which come from Rio of Mr..
Washburne's entanglements with Lo-
pez. OF his corruption with that bar.
barfan it Is quite enough. He has tame
ly submitted to have two American
citizens, besides a large number of per-
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 de-
mand the President shall send out with.
out the loss of a day, by the speedies
conyeyauce,a man with the spirit TO as
sert and maintain our rights and the
honor of our flag, to take the place oil
Mr., Washburne. And the new minis
ter must be backed by a 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 car
be no argument on this question. II
our flag does not protect Americans iu
foreign countries, 1t is a sham-it has
no right to a place among the Tags o.
nations; and unless our Government
acts promptly and vigorously In this
matter, we shall become contempttble
among foreigners. Let an officer oi
courage, u man like FarraRut or Porter
be sent out at once, in the fastest man
of-War we have. Let him take this
fleet which lies in Rio Janiero with
him, and be instructed to deal viii
Lopez as Decatur did with the Dey o.
Il appears from Mr.. washburne'i
own letter that Lopez is ruthless bar
Dartan, VINO ViOlaIeS every IAW anu Ie
spects the rights of no one, native ol
| foreigner. There IS reason to believe h'
| mas su ubmitted Bliss and MRsterman e
the torture, and there Is no reason e
deal with hun Otherwise than as ont
| would with a pirate, II Is humiliatinl
that 1t should be necessary for the press
4 of this country to call upon the Govern
ment to resent snch an unheard- of out
| rage upon our flag as Lopez has com
/ mitted, or to save from imprisonment
torture and death American citizens
Mr.. Washburne's misconduct is 1
stinRing disgrace to every American-
| one under which our people will hard
! Iy remain quiet, for n they did. ths5
| would have lost all spirit and sense o
honor. We trust the President and MIR
Seward will foronce act promptly anc
/ show there is some decision and vigo
left in the American Government. Mr.
washburne's own published iette
shows sufficient cause for the most en-
eTgetic measures which can be taken
PEHHsYLVAHIA.