The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-05-06
coRREsroxDxxos.
nlppr,onp. May 3. 1870.


then made to write you from Brazil would be
% long unfulhlled. I, however, never forgot
the promise. and confidently believed that you
would receive many communications from me
before should return to the States. My sud-
den recall home, for the saddest of reasons, Of
course puts an end to this matter for the pres
emf. You suggest rs something in the way CT
reparation that write letter now. Bus Is Il
not impossible, ask myself, to compensate for
the omission by any effort herel Is not the
charm and influence Of locality, against which
Jonson reasons 80 powerfully and 30 beautifully,
an essential element in successful narration or
description II not. then il will be both agree
able and easy for me 10 give you IN account Of
some Of the experiences Of my BRAZILIAN life
They may prove interesting to portion OF your
readers.
Ten days since landed in New York city AZ
ter an absence Of more than three years from
my native country. During these ten days
have seen sights new and strange; bnt they
have not yet been able to efface from my mind
the impressions Of Tropical life. still see the
narrow streets, the tiled roofs and beautiful gar
dens Of the Oldest city on our continent; the
ceaseless jargon Of many tongues; the water
carts as they 20 numbering by; the negro Poor-
ter with his immense basket; the negress with
her babe attached behind, o tray filled with
sweets balanced upon her head and the little
stool in her hand which is to serve as a rest for
the tray when q customer Is found; the tilbu-
ries with their rascally Portuguese drivers; the
odd-looking signs over the shops; the queeriy
named streets (for instance, ''Sosp' street.
"Count Of T. street,, the quaint old churches
and cathedrals; the bunglng diligences; the
well-dresed beggsrs; the noisy schools; the
national guards In their most uncomfortable
uniforms; the police with their swords; and the
fremen with their flashing helmets and terrible
horse pistols-all these things l still seem to
hear and see. Only day or two since as l was
passing the BidiefOrd House heard . fearful
gathering behind me ard instnctively turned
my head thinking to see the advanced couple Of
the Imperial body guard who with drawn sa-
bres generally go before to clear the way. But
was mistaken. II was only one Of the enter
prisng youths of our city indulging himself In
q break-neck gallop through the streets, and
what had for the moment fancied was the I'm
perial turnout proved to be only one Of Governs
coaches Just returning from the depot. As 1t
went rolling by, there appeared Mt the window.
not the gracious and benignant countenance OF
Don Pedro, but the well-known features OF one
Of our principal grocers and most worthy citi-
| Icns.
Your readers do not need to be reminded that
since 1865 Brazil has been engaged In an ex-
pensiye and disastrous war with Paraguay, ex-
pensive to the National and Provincial Ex-
chequers, disastrous TO every one Of the great
private interests Of the country. The other
parties to the Triple Alliance, the Argentine
Republic and Uruguay, have also had their
share of the terrible evils which always follow
in the wake Of war As to Paraguay she Is oil
but annihiated, and q century must elapse be-
fore she can recover from the effects of the strug-
gle.
The sharp and decisive battle fought on the
LIST day Of March last, on the LEFT bank Of the
Aquidayan. stream In the northern part OF
Paraguay, closed the war. There ut daylight
Lopez himself taken by surpais". and unable to
form his men in time to repel the foe, fell VIC
tim to the impetuous charge OF the Brazilian
troopers. The Panguayan force was nearly
exterminated. The stories regarding the par
ticulars Of the fight that have yet come TO US
are all from Brazilian sources, and 1t Is not i'm
probable that recital of the affair from Par
aguayan standpoint would enable US to get near
err the truth, Just as after our own civil war the
true history Of battles fought was arrived Mt
only by comparison Of the reports Of opposing
commanders. Still beyond question, the war
has ceased and peace once moro reigns among
the South American States cast Of the Andes.
What Is now TO be the tate Of Paraguay,
whether this Japan OF South America will now
be really opened TO the commerce Of the world,
whether the Provisional government established
| by the allies at Assumption some two years since
will be replaced by another emansting directly
from the people, whether the rule Of despots and
directors has now closed forever or has only
been postponed for while, and whether there
Is likely TO be any government set up there suf-
6ciently Just and wise and humane to warrant
the noble title Of Republic-these are enquir-
les which naturally suggest themselves to every
one who has given the subject any reflection.
Unquestionably the government Of the two
principal powers Of South America Is ut the
present time In excellent hands. Meyer probably
during their existence as nations have the
Argentine Republic and the Empire Of Brazil
had wiser or more liberal rulers. Sarmiento,
the President Of the former country, well-known
here in the United States y his works on edu-
cation, and South American life, has, since his
Inauguration some two years since, done won-
ders for the advancement and improvement Of
his people. Prompt and wise legislation under
his leadership has so increased the flow Of emf
grafton to the Plate that Europeans are now
pouring in there at the rate OF $4,000 year.
lie passed seven years Of his life here In the
United States and thoroughly mastered the
spirit and working Of our institutions His rul-
ing ambition now Is to build up In South
America another government similar to our own.
Is he likely to succeed considering the reyolu-
tionary tendencies and restless character OF the
people generality How will hecbeck the cor
r Al. ID o..I
the mighty power which they have always
welded in that part Of our Continent
u In this pernicious influence Of the Priesthood
there is little difference among any OF the
South American States. The fatal incubus
rests upon all alike. Don Pedro II Of Brazil
appears to silently lend his approval to all acts
OF the clergy in his dominiOns; but many who
know him we'll and are intimately acquainted
with his views upon this subject claim that it
Is a mere polite move on his part to more
firmly secure himself in his power over tho
people, the masses Of whom are still hopelessly
blinded by superstition. The Emperor Is far
seeing and wise. Confident that the only way
to free his country from the yoke Of ecclesiastical
seryituie is by scattering schools everywhere
throughout the Empire and having the masses
educated, like Sarmiento he seiies every oppor-
tunity TO spur the nation on Ia the great work
Of public instruction. Witness his late noble
letter refusing the honor Of q statue and
directing the attention Of his people to the need
Of more schools. This cry which Don Pedro
has just sent up in the midst Of exultant shouts
Of victory Is not the cry Of one who rejoces over
the fall Of any man, but rather Of one who
peering as Il were through the darkness that
enyelops him. looking towards the nights al
ready reached by other lands, cries In his an
guish for light-light for his people. Aud where
In the wide world shall this cry be heard with
more sympathy and approval than here in New
England, the land and home offree schools'
The progress and national development Of
Brazil during late years is something remark
able. The advance within the last FIVE years
even Is striking. At Rio de Janeiro, addition
al ferry lines have been established BY which
there Is now rapid and safe communication
with all the towns across the bay. In time
there will be an exact imitation Of the custom