The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-06-28
THE PARAoUAYAN WAR.


Reply Of PRECEDENT Lopez TO the Demand OF
the Allies for His surrender-He Declines
90 Compiy-Is willing TO Treat for Peace
ON Terms Of Equality.
WASHINGTON, June 27, 1859.
The following is the answer OF President Lopez
o the summo rs by the allies to surrounder:-
HEADQUARTERS IN PARAGUAY,
Dec "a, 1868 p. Nj. !
The Marshal President OF the republic OF Paraguay
might well hold himself excused from giving writ
OF the allied armies engaged in war with the nation
over which he presldes, because OF the tone and
OF soldier and the dignity OF the Chief Magistrate,
with which your excellencles have taken occasion
TO convey to me the intmation to lay down my arms
within the space OF twelve hours In order to ter
inmate so prolonged a struggle. threatening
20 throw upon my head the blood which
ing down OF arms, and holding me re.
which your excelencies represent and the civilized
world Nevertheless choose to impose upon myself
tnis duty, rendering thus tribute to that same
blood SO generously poured out as well by my peo-
pie Dy those with whom they tight as also to the
sentiment Of religion. humanity and cviiization
which your excelleacies invoke In your demand
These same sentiments are precisely those which in
nuenced more than two years since to rise above
ruler OF my country has been treated in the war.
sought then at Gatatycora, IN conference with his
and President OF the Argentine republic, Brigader
General Don Bartolemi Mitre, the reconciliation or
the four sovereign states OF South America, which
had already begun 10 destroy themselves IN notable
manner, anu yet my initiative and most earnest
effort met with no other reply than disregard
ernmenis and new and sangulnary battles
upon the part oil their armed representatives.
as your excelencies can bear witness. Since then
nave seen more clearly the tendency OF the war OF
the allies against the existence OF the republic or
Paraguay. and. deploring the blood which has been
shed IN SO many years OF strife, silent, and
placing the late or my country and her generous
sons in the hands or the God OF nations fought her
enemies with the loyalty and earnestness l have
shown, and | am still ready to continue fighting
until the same God and our arms decide tine definite
late OF the cause.
Your excellences are good enough to advise me
OF the knowledge which you possess OF the re-
sources which can actually command, believing
that also am aware OF the numerical force OF the
allied armies and OF their resources every day IN
crcasng. have no such Information, but have
the experience OF four years, during which this nu-
mercal force and those resources have never pre-
vailed against the self-denial and courage of the
Paraguayan soldier, who lights with the resolution
of an honorable citizen and q Christian man. that a
narrow grave may open for him In his country be-
fore he Will see her In any manner Inundated.
Your excelences have had the goodness to re-
mind me that the blood poured outat Horora and
Abay should have decided NE to avoid the boodshed
cies forgot without doubt that these same actions
have demonstrated in advance how certain Is the
compatriots and that each drop OF blood which falls
to the earth Is new obligation to those VINO sur
yive; and before such an example can my poor head
be afrrighted by the threat SO very unchvairou5
permit TO call 1t so) which your eXcelences
have deemed 1t your duty to convey TO me2
Your excellencieS nave no right to accuse me
before the republic OF Paraguay, my country.
because ] have defended her. do defend her and
Will yet defend her. SHE has imposed upon me tins
duty, and 1t is my glory TO Iulhl 1t to the last ex-
tremiy and for the rest, leaving my deeds TO his
tory have to account only TO my God; and II 1t be
that blood must still De shed, de VIII take note OF 1t
and OF where the responsibility rests !, FOR my
part stl disposed TO treat for the termination OF
the upon bases equally honorable to all the bel
ligerents; but l am not disposed to hear one word
to the laying down OF my arms called Tor by your
excellencies, In order to treat for peace.
Thus in my turn believe comply with my I'm.
perative duty to religion humanity and civilization
on the one hand, ana with that which owe to the
unanimous cry which have just heard from my
friends chiefs, Oiiicers and troops to whom have
communicated the demand OF your eXcellencies,
and with that which owe to my own name and
honor.
/ ask your excellencies to excuse my not quoting
the date aud hour OF your notification inasnpch as
1t bore none, and received In my lines ~ half
past seven this morning.
God keep your excellencie5 many years.
FRANCISCO s. LOPEZ.
To their excelencies the Marsha. Marquisde
CAxIAs, Colonel Major HENRY CASTRO aud Briya-
dier General JonN A. GELLIAND lBES.