The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1869-03-05
storr of the Parayuavan Cantivac

Story of the Paraguayan CaptiVes.
Porter C.. Bliss and George H.
Masterman, the two young American
citizens who were arrested by Lopez,
dictator of Paraguay, on charge of
engaged in a consiracy against bis
authority and life, and who were re-
Gently delivered up TO our new min.
lister, General McMahon, have ar
rived in this country and their story
is printed in the New York papers.
The treatment inflicted upon them,
according to their testimony, was
certainly such as would disgrace any
civilized nation, and would, if Lopez
we're in condition to answer, make
necessary demand by our govern
ment for prompt and full reparation.
The Imprisonment in wretched
tent, were it was not possible TO
stand upright ; the denial of sufficient
food or clothing; the application OF
a heavy ball and chain so tightly
fastened that it chafed and wounded
the ankles; the imposition of cruel
and unusual task, whose performance
was enforced by blows with the fist,
or with the fiat side of sword and
above all, the introduction of an in
strument of torture to extOrt con-
fession-these are demonstrations of
cruelty that carry the mind back to
the barbarism of the Middle Ages,
or to the savagery of aboriginal
tribes, who mutilated and burned
their prisoners.
But it is possible that there is a
spice of exaggeration in these rela-
tions, and when We consider that the
whole of Paraguay at this time is q
vast desert save where the camps
are, and that the whole population is
under arms, we can understand how
the best possible treatment would be
full of hardship. 1t is certainly true
that whether these young men were
implicated in the conspiracy against
Lopez or not, the Dictator believed
them to be. There were, too, some
facts which would seem to justify
his suspicious. His own brother had
confessed to the existence of con.
: spiracy with which Mr.. Washburne
and Bliss and Masterman were con-
nected Afterward, Mr.. Washburne
was detected, as he himself admits,
in forwarding, under the seal Of his
office, bag that contained treasona-
bic correspondence with allies ; and
: at later period, his house became
the refuge of an individual who was
undoubtedly a conspirator. After
the arrest and detention of Bliss and
Masterman, both of them gave
statements in which they acknowl-
edged their culpability. Bliss indeed
says that these stories were told un
der the influence of threats and ill
treatment but in almost the mex
, sentence he admits that Lopez be
lieyed their confession q truthfU
one.
1t is significant fact that Genera
, McMahon and Admiral Davis seem
, ed rather to side with Lopez against
the prisoners, and for this the pris
oners denounee these gentlemen
severely. When Minister McMahoI
took up the case, he not only failed
j to find circumstances that demanded
| apology and reparation, but so fal
indorsed the course pursued b,
Lopez as to receive Bliss and Mas
: terman as prisoners, and send then
: TO the United States under a pledg
that they would report to Secretar.
Seward in this character. If the sC
count of the transaction given by th
e young men is strictly accurate, b
did wrong, and gravely, in not dc
D manding of Lopez complete apolt
, gy. 1t is fair, however, to presum
that there is another side to th
story