The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-10-28
THE H4IR IN PARAGUAY.
lopez Tho True Condition OF tho
Parngunynn Cause.

General Mcmahon, cX-Unltcd States Minister
to Paraguay, who arrived ut Washington on
Monday last, was with Lopez up to July last,
when lie received Ills recall, and started I'M
mcdatcly for the United States by way of
England. At the time OF the evacuation OF
Asuncion General McSahon left the United
States Legation In charge OF the italian Min
lister, and one of the first acts of the Brazilian
troops was to sack the house occupied by tho
legation, destroy tho nag and take possession
of some two hundred thousand dollars I'm
specie, which had been lcft there OH deposit.
To accomplish that object the iron safes were
blown open with gunpowder, and the archives
of the legation wero scattered in tho street,
where u number of them were picked up by
Mr.. worthington, then United States Minister
to the Argentine Confederation, who was on
visit to AsuncIon.
General Mcmahon speaks OF Lopcz In terms en-.
tlrcly different from the accounts which have
been published by Messrs. Bliss and Mastcrmun.
lie represents him us man OF arablc manners,
statements OF atrocities alleged TO have been per-
pctratcd by his orders are wholly without foun-
of his brother is true. but that was upon convic.
ti0n utter O prOtracted trial for conspiracy and
have been Killed by his order, arc still living, and
his devotion to his mother Is oil that could lie re-
Qulretl OI q HOll.
After Lopez left AsuncIon, DR.. Stuart, the
medical director or his army, was entrusted with
large amount OF money to be deposited In Scot
land for the benefit Of the children OF Lopez but
as soon es he got possession he desorted to the
Brazllians. Shortly after that the commander
that lie was prepared to stand a Siege OF at lenst
a month, and received In reply instructions to
his own discretion lis Before tho eSpration h Of s te
eight days, Stuart communicated with Thompson
and informed him that Lopez had been defeated,
httf ,,n1I oft nj.
army left. Under the impression that Stuart had
been taken prisoner, not s,lspcctIng that lie was
surrendered the post, which was The strongest on
the River La Plata. The garrison consisted OF
about TWO thousand men, mort than half Of whom
shortly after found their way back to the camp OF
Lopez:
Most OF the victories OF the allies, which lnvc
represented such great slaughter OF the Para-
guayaus, are said to have been imaginary, and
one OF the most important, for which the cities Of
Montcvldeo and Rio dc Janciro were Illuminated,
never occurred Mt all.
General McMahon left Lopez at Ascura, nnd lie
was determined to fall hack to the Cordlllerus,
where 1t would he impossible for the nllics TO fOl-
low him, as their lines Of communication will be
so long that they cannot get supplies. Tic re-
sources or The Pnrngnyans are said 20 be unlinl-
ited. While the greater part OF the army are sun.
piled with flint lock muskcts, they arc amply sup.
plled With ordnance and ammunition, nll OF which
they manufacture.
The Paragunyans are reported to be excellent
soldiers, far superior to the Argentincs, who arc
much better III an the liraZillans, and the dcvo.
tion Of the Paraguaynns to their country and
leader Is without u parallel. Lopez is not strong
enough to make aggressive war; but In defence
he has all the advantages, and can select his own
ground of combat. General MchIalon has no
doubt OF the final success OF Lopez, rs the war
costs him comparatively little, while the allies
prosecute their aggrcssions ut enormous cost. II
is part Of the system OF the allies to permit
nothing TO pnss through their lines that Will re,
fleet unfavOrably against their Cause and they
went 80 far ns to refuse to allow the dispatches
from the United States Government to General
McMahon to pass for eight montlls.- When the
or!er for Ills recall was sent on that was permit