New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-04-24

establishing friendly relations with Lopez,
and remained with him in his shifting
camp until Congress annulled the mission.
After the loss of his capital the fortunes
of Lopez went steadily on the downward
course. Though driven to the mountains,
he raised new armies and made new at
tempts to maintain his authority. The
allied army, commanded by the. Count
d'Eu, son of the French Duke de Ne
mours, and son-in law of the Emperor of
Brazil, pushed him from position to posi-
ton. AS his forces grew weaker the fero-
city of his nature increased. He was i'm
placable toward his foes, land gave quarter
neither to his prisoners nor the Paraguay
ans who were lukewarm in his cause. The
allies established at Asuncion provisional
government, and the first act of the new
Paraguayan Congress was to declare the
defeated President an outlaw. A prlce
was set upon his head, and death was de-
creed to all who should recognize his au-
thority. The finishing stroke was given
at Ascurra. August Is, 1863. Lopez lest
nearly seven thousand men. Thencefor-
ward he was fugitive With few de-
voted adberents, his mother, children and
mistress he penetrated the savage Matto
Crosse district, to the north of Paraguay.
From time to time we have heard of his
wanderings, of his skirmishes with the
vanguard of his pursuers and of his diet
of roots and herbs. A few weeks ago it
| was said that he was striving to make his
| way into Bolivia. Now comes the tidings
| of his bloody end by the lance of a Bra
! lillian trooper, after he had deiautly re-
| fused to surrender. He was literally
hunted down.
| passes away the last vestige of personal
government in Paraguay. 1t will be to
the interest of the allies to establish and
maintain a constitutional government al
Asuncion. The dictatorship has cost the
little inland nation dearly in treasure and
lives. The six years war has reduced II
10 desert. The fields are destroyed and
| the cities are in ruins. Out of popula.
| ton of over one million souls, it is said
that barely one hundred thousand remain.
| The fact is appalling. Such destruction
| of life 10 six years is almost unparalleled
in history. OF the survivors the great
| m ajority are destitute, and actually Deepen.
dent upon the Brazilians for their daily
| food.
Lopez was only forty-three years old
In personal appearance he was, like all
the native Paraguayans, OF mixed blood
and swarthy complexion. He was very
fat and short of stature, and inclined tt
sensuality, both in eating and drinking
| Of his extraordinary executive abilities
his management of the war against such
| heavy odds is the best evidence. Whether
it was fear or patriotism that moved the
Paragraphs to immediate themselves, il
can not be denied that they rallied arount
him after every defeat with undated con
fdence. Lopez was generally regarded
by the people of this country as merci
less tyrant, although he had no small
party of believers. Many stories of hi
cruelties are related, and on the othe
hand much has been said of his drawer,
and the devotion of his followers. 1t ha!
been stated that even the women wen
into the bitches and fought in his cause
and that bis men We're ready to sacriict
everything tor hir-. Surely the complete
true story of this mans life will be al
interesting narrative.