The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1870-05-07

and remained with him in his shifting
camp until Congress amul'ed the mis-
sion.
After the loss of his capital the for
tunes of Lopez went steadily on the
downward course Though driven to
the mountains, he raised new armies and
made new attempts TO maintain his au-
thority. The allied army, commanded by
the Count d'Eu, a sou Of the French Duke
de Nemours, and son-in-law of the I'm
peror of Brazil, pushed him from position
to position AS his forces grew weaker,
the ferocity of his nature increased.
He was implacable towards his foes, and
gave quarter neither to his prisoners
nor the Paraguayans who were luke
warm in his cause. The allies estab
lished at Asuncion provisional govern
ment and the first act Of the new Para
guayan Congress was to declare the de-
tcated President an outlaw A price
was set upon his head, and death was
decreed to ali who should recognize his
authority The finishing stroke was
given at Ascnrra, August 13, 1869,
Lopez lost nearly 1000 men. Thence
forward he was fugitive. With
few devoted adhsrents, and 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 pusuers, and of his diet of roots and
herbs. A few weeks ago it was said
that he was striving to make his way in
to Bolivia. Now comes the tidings of
his bloody end by the lance of Bra
lillian trooper, after he had de6antly re-
fused to surren Ter. He was literally
hunted down.
With the death of Francisco Lopez
passes away the last vestage of ''per-
sonal government in Paraguay. It
will be to the interest of the allies to es-
tablish and maintain o constitutional
government at Ascuncion. The dicta-
torship has cost the little inland nation
dearly in treasure and lives. The six
years War has reduced it to a desert.
The fields are destroyed and the cities
are in ruins. Out Of a population of over
one million souls it is said that barely
one hundred thousand remain. The
fact is appalling. Sush destruction
of life in six years is almost unparal.
leled in history. OF the survivors the
great majority are destitute and actually
dependent upon the Brazilians for their
daily food.
Lopez was only forty-three years old.
In personal appearance lie was, like all
the native Paraguayans, of mixed blood
and swarthy complexion He was very
fat and short of stature, and inclined to
sensuality, both in eating and drinking
OF his extraordinary executive abilities
his management of the war against such
heavy odds is the best evidence. Wheth.
er it was fear or patriotism that moved
the Paraguayans to immediate them
helves, it cannot be denied that they
Jrallied around him after every defea
with unabated confidence. Lopes was
generally regarded by the people of thi:
country as a merciless tyrant, although
he had no small part of believers. Many
stories of his cruelties are related, ane
on the other hand much has been saie
Of his bravery and the devotion of his
followers. 1t is stated that even til,
women went into the bitches and fought
in his cause and that his men wer.
ready to sacrifice everything for. him
Surely the complete. true story of this
mans life will be an interesting nara
tive.