The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-04-13
7 O r Il x .
DEATH OF THE PARHGUAYAN DICTATOR.

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DEATH OF THE PARAGUAYAN DICTATOR.
By the AngIo-AmericGn Gable.
LONDON, April lathe rumors of the death
of Lopez, the Paraguayan leader, which were
current yesterday but not credited, are confirmed
to-day by dispatches from Lisbon.
A Confirmation.
WASHINGTON, April 13.-Mr. Garcia, Argen-
tine Minister, this morning received the follow
ing telegram by the Atlantic cable:-The Para
guayan war is ended. Lopez has been killed.
JOHN FAIR,
Argentine Consul, London.
Don Francisco SoIano Lopez and His Career.
Lopez the Paraguayan Dictator, whose death
is announced in the above despatch, has been
driven to the wall so often only to reappear in
the field against his enemies, that for years all
reports of his adverse fortunes have been re-
ceived cum grGnO sails. But this is, we believe
the first time that news of his actual death has
travelled so far and it is possible that there is
some truth in the report.
Don Francisco Solano Lopez was born in the
year 1897. He was the son of Don Carlos
Antonio Lopez, who had succeeded the Dictator
Vibal as Consul in 1884, and in 1874 was 'elected"
President of Paraguay for ten years, being sub
sequently twice re-elected-in 1854 for three
years and in 1867 for seven years. Don Fran
completed in England and in 1858 he entered
upon public life, being sent by his father to
Europe to ratify the treaties of commerce which
had been concluded by Paraguay with England,
France, and Sardinia. Don Carlos died in Sep
tember, 1862, and on the 10th of October follow
ing, his son was unanimously proclaimed" his
successor.
The new President, or Dictator, as he was in
fact from the first, had been thoroughly educated
in, the despotic school of government founded
by DR.. Francia and so faithfully adhered to by
the elder Lopez. The interests of Paraguay
! meant simply the interests of Lopez, and as
| they were so closely identified, the country for
| a time enjoyed q measure of prosperity, the
attention of the Dictator being especially di-
rected to the encouragement of the cultivation of
| cotton. But even in the early portion of his
reign he was beset with difficulties. Conspira-
cies against his power were concocted by the
! priesthood and by younger brother, and be-
fore long he became involved IN difficulties with
| the surrounding countries. The war which has
rendered Paraguay little better than a desert
originated in the internal troubles of Uruguay.
Flores, the leader of the "Colorado" or Red
| party, had raised the standard of revolt against
Aguirre, the lawful President, and by the
assistance which he received from Brazil, in
arms and money, succeeded ia driving Aguirre
from power. Aguirre, after appealing in vain
to Europe for aid, turned his attention towards
Paraguay, and succeeded in persuading Lopez
that as soon as the Brazilian party had absorbed
Uruguay they would pounce upon Paraguay and
annex it to Dom Pedro's empire. In August and
September, 1864, through his Minister of Foreign
Affairs, Lopez protested against the course of
Brazil, and on November IL following Para
guayan war-yessel captured, without previous
lanlo ION Of ro1ili cta
declaring its passengers to be prisoners of war.
On November 10 the Brazilian Minister at Asun-
cion, Lopez capital, was notified that, on
account of the refusal of Brazil to respect the
protest of Paraguay, the flag of the former
country was regarded as hostile one by the
latter, and the Paraguay river would helceforth
be closed to all Brazilian vessels.
The Brazilian Minister at once started for
home, and on December 14th Paraguayan
army entered the Brazilian province of Matte
Crosse with which the Brazilian Government
had no channel of communication save the
blockaded river Lopez therefore had every
thinghis own way for time, capturing a Brazilian
fort and several towns, and finally, on April TO-
1865, the capital of the province Cuyaba.
Meanwhile, Flores, who had now become sole
and undisputed ruler in Uruguay, had, on Feb
ruOry %. 1865, concluded an alliance against
| IudSuay Wi1h DlNAll' LOpSA was uOJ SOuICu
with this array of odds against him, but OF
suspicion that the Government of the Argentine
Confederation was unfriendly to him and in
tended to enter the alliance against him, agair
anticipated formal declaration of war, ant
early in April seized an Argentine vessel which
G lay in the Paraguay river near Asuncion.
few days later q Paraguayan army was marched
into the Argentine Confederation, capturing tin
. city of Corrientes on the 14th. On the 10th tn,
II Argentine Government declared war agains
/ Paraguay, and the latter responded on the 18th
c The three surrounding countries were thu
n fully embarked in the warfare against the Dlcta
" tor, which was destined to be prolonged almos
indefinitely. The allied governments, fully real
If % izing the necessity for desperate conflict en-
y tered into a secret treaty, not made public TO
ID some time afterwards, in which they ''solemnl
bound themselves not to lay down their arm
unless by common consent, nor until they ha
er overturned the actual government of Paraguay,
C. and furthermore not to enter into any separat
Ch treaties of peace, truce or armistice, except
mutual consent, l......