The New York herald., 1868-04-06

THE PARAGUAYAN WA.S.

| tHE FAhAGOAfAN WA, ~
Origin and Progress Of the strusgIe-Brn
lillian Plots for the Destruction Of Repub-
hcan Governments.
INTEREST OF BRAZIL IN THE MOUTH OF THE PLATA
A glance at the map OF South America will con-
vince any one who bears tn mind the fact that the
great commercial centres Of the world can be es-
tablished only north south Of the intertropical
region, and at the mouth Of great arteries that the
empire Of Brazil has an interest in extending her
southern frontier to the left bank OF the Rio de la
Flata The accusation that she meant to do so has
"een oft brought against her by her neghboring
pNblics, and in August, 1885, the Brazilian special en-
yoy 10 Buenos Ayres and Uruguay, Senior Octaviano
asked Senior Varea, Of the latter republic, whether
the moment had not thea come for declaring Uruguay
annexed to Brazil. When Senior yarela expressed
bis surprise at such aremark, Senior Octaviano re-
piled that he thought Varela was aware Of the en-
gagement that existed between the Provisional Pres
dent Of Uruguay, General venancio Flores, and the
empire. Senior Varela signifed his intention OF
making known to his government the substance OF
this interview, and received for answer that ne
might do so, for he would not be communicating
anything new to his government in so doing. 1t is
not necessary TO enter into further explanations
as to the interest of Brazil in gaining foothold on
mark that the notion held in certain circles that the
object of Brazil In the Paraguaysn war is to force
open the Rio de Ia Plata ana its tributaries and to
secure their free navigation is erroneous. Even to
this day the navigation Of the rivers in the empire s
not free. On September I, 1867 the Amazon, To
cantins and San Francisco were opened under GER
tam restrictions for part Of their courses, only to
certain classes Of trade. 1t will be noted that this
took place three years and half after the opening
of the war against Paraguay.
THE FIRST BLOW AT URUGUAYAN INDEPENDENCE.
During the administration Of President Bernardo
Prudencio Berro, Of Uruguay, who was elected to
serve from March l. 1880, to March 1, 1884, General
Venanca Flores, chief Of the colorado party raised
the standard Of insurrection. He had been exled
and had taken service in the Argentine army On
learning Of the revolt the Legislature Of Uruguay de-
clared General Flores guilty Of high treason and sent
small force to drive him from the republic. This
force proved inadequate and Flores with his troops
zilians recruited in the border provinces advanced
as far as three leagues from Montevdeo the capital
On August 10, 1885, he was defeated at Las Piedras
by General Medina; but, soon AFTER he IN turn de-
feated General Lanias. On March 1, 1894 Sehor Ata-
naso Cruz Agurre, Vice President was chosen to I'LL
1885, s and nesoatons atoms or ending ne war war were un
successfully begun by the Brazilian Minister Saravia
the argentine Foreign Secretary ESado and the the
terms which these last presented on behalf OF Gene
raj Flores consisted In q demand upon President
Agurre to change his cabinet to suit the views OF
General Flores; hence the failure Of the negotiations
HOsTILITIEs BEGUN BY BRAZIL BEFORE ANY DECLAR-
At the beginning Of the insurrection the Brazilian
residents IN Uruguay, as well as the people OF the
adjoining Brazilian province Of Rio Grande do su
openly supported the chief OF the Uruguayan insur
gents General Flores This naturally produced a
great irritation the part Of the people Of Uruguay
induced the government Of Brazil to ask for in
Identification and guarantees as TO the future
This matter was also taken In bands by the
pose Of obtaining an amcabe adjustment;
but they failed again. owing to the partial character
OF the commission. On August g. 1884 the Brazilian
envoy sent an ultimatum to the government ut Mon
tevideo: but President Aguirre refused to accede to
trouble to the arbitration Of the foreign ministers at
MontevideO. The Brazilian Minister rejected this
fair OFFER and gave orders to Vice Admiral the Baron
de Tamandare, commanding the Brazilian squadron
in the Rio de Ia Plata, to at once make reprisals.
Thereupon the Brazilian manofwar Jequitnhonha
attempted to seize the steamer villa del Sato but
the of the latter set her fire rather than wit
ness her fall into Brazilian hands.
PARAGUAY RUSHES TO THE RESCUE OF URUGUAY.
When the news Of this outrage reached Asuncion
the Minister for Foreign Anars OF Paraguay, on Au-
fster resident there protesting against the umatum
OF Brazil to Uruguay and the threatened advance
of Brazilian troops into that republic. Detach-
ments Of the latter, however, crossed at once into
Uruguay. On September the Paraguayan govern
ment renewed its protest Of August 30 On the 1lth
of October 1894, Vice Admiral Tamandare addressed
at Montevideo Informing them that in consequence
OF 5ne ice % gIay Se as be ra
Of reprsals by sea and the right OF search on all
foreign vessels. Against this the foreign ministers
protested, denying the right Of Brazil to declare
blockade without previous declaration OF war, and
stated that they would not allow the right OF search
On the following day another corps of Braziltans,
under General Barreto, moved from Rio Grande do
Sui into the northern provinces OF Uruguay, under
10th the ports Of Sato and Paysand1, on the Rio de
Ia Plata, were bockaded by the Brazilians.
PARAGUAY WILL GIVE TIT FOR TAT
ton In Uruguay confirmed the suspicious enter
tanned In Paraguay, as well rs In the northern prov
1ces tne Argentne y, Mepupc snat @ ene ION
tain complete control OF the mouth OF the Rio de la
Plata. The President Of Paraguay, therefore, notified
Brazil that an armed Brazilian Intervention In Uru-
quay would be regarded by Paraguay as a cdsuS beM
In assuming this attitude the government Of Para
as those Of the republics traversed or
bordered by the tributaries OF the Rio de
Ia Plata, demanded energetic measures to defeat
such means as the imperial government had used
in its aggressions on Uruguay. Hence on November
IL, 1854, the mail steamer Marquee Olinda was
seized on her way to Matto Crosse, near Asuncion,
by Paraguayan war steamer. She was condemned
saners n the following day the Government OF
Paraguay declared In note to the Brazilian Minis
ter at Asuncon that, as the protest OF August 80 had
remained unheeded, the imperial nag should be re-
garded as that OF an enemy, and the Rio Paraguay
should be closed to the navy and merchant marine
OF Brazil. On the 14th the Minister received his
passports and left Asuncion for home.
BRAZIL DESTROYS REPUBLICAN GOVERNMENT.
November 20, 1864, the bulk Of the imperial army
entered Uruguay. December Q, after having cap
tured Salto the troops OF General Flores In concert
with the Brazilian army and neet attacked the for
titled town Of Paysand1, and after four days OF
bloody fighting reduced the works Of the place
almost to ruins but the garrison, only 100 strong,
held out Till January 2, 1885, when the insur
gents and Brazians, numbering S,000 captured
the place by treacherous stratagem. General
Leandro Gomez, the gallant defender OF Pay
sandG, was brutally executed and the town aban-
doned to pillage. From Paysandd the CON-
bined force Of insurgents and Brazilians
moved against the capital Of the republic Of Uruguay,
Montevide0. blockade Of the city was declared
February 1885, and seven days thereafter hoetftee
began. On the same day President Aguirre resigned