New-York tribune., 1870-04-18
LOPEZ.

Total di,pr0of of the news that Marshal
Lopez has been killed would hardly be needed
10 show that of all the Latins of the New
World those who invent for us the current
history of Paraguay take the palm for hydra
headed inveracity. The fahricatOrs of lllSpano-
Cuban history might dispute with them the
honors of one or two kinds OF ensanguined
and cnvenomed fiction but there, rivalry IN
pure Munchausensm would stop. True enough,
in most Latin questions of an infamed charac-
ter much ought TO be said against both sides,
since both sides so fearfully belle each Oher-and
in such cases we are pretty sure that the truth
will turn out at least stranger if not stronger
than the reddest and bluest fictions But the
Brazilians from the first have assumed an
almost geographical right to a monopoly of
Paraguayan events and their record. They
have boldly accepted responsibility for ali
the humbugs, miscreations and mOnstrosities
by which the truth of a wretched story has
become obscured. Gorgons and hydras of Bra
lillian manufacture were not wanted for the de-
velopment of Paraguayan character, but they
have served to reveal, at any rate, some dan
gcrous possibilities of Brazilian character
Let us suppose, however-what is not quite
unlikely, many circumstances cOnsidered-that
Lopez is dead We must accept, then, train
of circumstances which the Lisbon dispatches
parade as confirmative of the news of his
death We must admit that the eldest son of
Lopez and the Paraguayan Vice-President
Sanchez have been killed in battle, and take
it for proof at least that neither of them have
been fOgged to death by the ex-DictatOr. We
must grant, likewise, that the four children
and the brothers Of LOpez-which of these
amiable men was mortally tortured a year ago
are in Brazilian hands. In the same victori-
Gus custody is that thrice -martyred but
thrice-blessed lady, the mother of the Monster
she who has done SO much good service in
the Brazilian romance of Paraguayan history.
Now has come her apOtheosis, as it were, under
Brazilian auspices; for, be it remembered, in
immortal story she died, poor woman, long
ago in tortures.
In any event, no moral reason will remain
for regret over the death of Lopez. We can
claim neither himself nor his country-which,
by his peculiar personal government, became
absorbed in his own will and purpose-as
essentially representative of the republican
principle Doubtless Paraguay was as purely
a despOtism as some phases of Russian life
tempered by the nOn-existence of serfdOm.
But the Paraguayans, if taught TO fear their
master, were also taught to help them
selves and TO love themselves. When
strangers came to invade them, they fought as
hardy and exclusive people do-with mplacable,
indomitabe courage, and the deadliest des-
peration. The short, gross, acute, and very
able man of forty-three years who led them
knew them, held them in his hands, and threw
them at will against his foes. Beyond all dis
pute, the genius of the war in Paraguay-the
skill that made sieges shameful TO his enemies
and wrested victory from them in the hour of
seeming defeat-belonged to Lopez. His cause
might have better spared better man-if it
had any But the world will naturally not
regret the death of a hero whose baleful
genius belongs to more lurid scene than that
to which history welcomes the benefactors of
mankind. No friend OF Paraguay has yet dared
To make good name for Lopez, nor did he
seek one. Unconquerable hate. and courage
neither to resign nor yield.' which inspired
a more epical character, were his - but to
other inspiration his fierce nature seems to
have been a stranger. He has wrecked a
whole people upon his pride-and now what
Is the recompenseS where is the good
We confess that our file of The Congressional
Globe (FoTty first Congress second SESSION. he