The New York herald., 1869-12-17
rho ParaSuayan Wsr-BrsxM aad Hor
Allies.


Tho latest news received here from Rio de
Janeiro, via Lisbon, of tho progress Of the
war of the allies against Lopez, under the
command of the Count D'Eu, is that one
after another of tho strongholds Of the Para
guayans had been captured and that Lopez's
position was almost hopeless. II should be
remembered, however, that similar tone for
a long time past has characterized the reports
received through the same channels and
should be received with some degree of caution
For almost five years has the allied army
continued its operations in the little republic
of Paraguay. For the same length of time
has Lopez been hunted from city to town, from
the fruitful plains to the rugged mountains,
fighting when he considered himself match
for the allied army, retreatiug when he ascer-
tanned the numbers of his foes were too many
for him. Even in Brazil we find that the war
against Paraguay is not popular. For long
time have the prominent members of the
liberal party cried out against it. Our latest
advices from Rio Jaueiro tell us that the
Brazilian Ministry, having unsuccessfully op-
posed the continuation of the Paraguayan
war, had rendered their resignation.
The persistency of Brazil and her allies,
composed of the Argentine Confederation
and Uruguay, has been only equalled
by the courageous and stubborn resistance
with which Lopez and his followers have con-
tested every inch of The march of the invaders
A most important crisis, however, in the
unu1a hoQ ahaI nd wa m
well inquire what has been the cost OF this
war, in time, blood and treasure, to Brazil
and her allies, and what have been the results
accomplished For nearly five years has the
struggle gone on, and during that time it has
cost the Brazilian empire 1853, 900 men and
1921, 400, 900; the Argentine Confederation
has contributed Is, 720 men and $4G, 800, 900;
while Monteyideo has furnished quota Of 3, l20
men and an expenditure of $G, 240, 000-swell-
ing in the aggregate to the number OF 100, 900
men, and the cost of the war up to the present
time reaching the huge sum Of 1884, 400, 900.
And what, may be ID, has been accom-
plished by all this startling expenditure?
country desolated-c changed from fruitful
garden into a bowling wilderness. This is
Paraguay Of to-day. Should the Brazilian
empire be successful in the war now
raging, not only will the republic of Uru-
quay become a Brazilian province, but
possibly the Argentine Confederation may be
absorbed by the same Power. Primarily the
success of the allies means the destruction of
many Of the South American republics and TIE
extension over the eastern portion Of the Con-
tinent Of an empire based oa h;inan slavery
and illberal cxcl..;aa. 1t means also the
closi:. c? =. Plata and its continents to
rc-aign flags for Brazil has always opposed
the opening of those rivers. These are grave
considerations and such as should not be
ignored By American statesmen. The Para
guayan war, the alleged atrocities OF Lopez,
the uniitncss of the Paraguayans for s,lf-gov-
ernment, and hence the necessity Of a proyi-
sionM government at Asuncion, under the
ostcnsible control of the Brazilian empire and
the Argentine Confederation, but really gov
erned by a Brazilian proconsul may yet prove
only mere show to attract notice, while
divertng the attention from the real under
taking of the absorption of the South Amcri-
can republics by the great Brazilian empire.
The time has come when the United States
should interpose her good Offices in behalf of
republican institutions in South America. The
American people arc not wholly indifferent to
the struggle going on in Paraguay. Nothing,
however, has yet been done, nor has any ex-
hibition been made to convince the republics
of South America that we rejoice in their sue
ccsscs and regret when misfortune falls heavily
upon them Let The United States take upon
itself In initiative ia a peaceful way of the
settlement Of the dispute between the allies
and the Paragraphs, and then leave to the
people OF Paraguay the rejection or acceptance
OF Lopez as their President and the internal
management Of their own republican institu-
tons.
Our WAR on CUBA.-Under cover Of the