The New York herald., 1870-04-14
o BIT U A r Y.

Francisco SolanO Lopez, President ot Para
guay.
Lopez, or Paraguay, is dead. After heroic
struggle OF five years duration he has fallen, re-
fIsing to the last to surrender to his enemies.
HIS BIRTHPLACE AND EDUCATION.
Francisco Solano Lopez was born ut Ascunci0n,
Paraguay, III 1927. Ills father, whom he succeeded,
in accordance with the provisions Of his private viii,
by virtue OF the authority conferred upon him by the
constitution OF naming his successor was Don Carlos
Antonio Lopez, well known as the Dictator OF
Paraguay and successor OF DR.. Franxla. The
career OF Don Carlos ami OF the late Presi-
dent were remarkable. Tne first may be said
TO have been the Frederick william OF Paraguay.
lie moulded the people Of his republic INTO sod
compact mass. He was q complete aud absolute
dictator over the people From a population OF
26o, 600 souls lie organized army OF $1,000 men,
Of which $4,000 were always In service, while all the
able-bodlcd Paraguayans were subject TO be placed
under arms at his command In addition, the entire
commerce OF the country was under his control.
Undoubtedly full OF ambitious designs, Don Carlos
prepared his for the glorious destiny that he be
lieved awaited him. The deceased President was
sent Europe where he received brilliant ednca-
tion He was versed IN all the modern languages,
ahd Is said to have been close student OF history
One OF his special studies the art oil war. There
was no branch OF the military service in which he
was not proficient. as was proven by the allies IN
the recent War TO their cost
his ENTRANCE INTO PUBLIC LIFE
So0n after his return from Europe Don francisco
was commissioned general by his father In 1853,
Europe IN the capacity OF Munster Pen ipOleniiary
and Envoy Extrsordnary to the Court OF
France. AS such he negotiated treaties Of CONNER
win England, France and Sardinia, ali OF
which were very advantageous to Paraguay, and
Young As BE- m & S
that Of Paragnayah Ieadeis Ior many years. had
long since been abandoned, and although the
initiated numerous liberal measures designed 10 de.
yelop the resources of the country.
SUCCESSION TO THE PRESIDENCY.
Early In 1862 Don Francisco returned TO Paraguay.
and on the 10Th OF September Of The same ear his
father died. Before doing SO, however he had, as
to his son. The latter convoked the Bishop the
Presiding Judge or the supreme Court and other
high funcOnarles in unta or council anu II tner
presence read the will Of hisifatheF. SOou after
Congress was summOped in extra session aud Oh
assembling promptly confirmed Don FRANCISCO az
President OF Paraguay.
HIS CIVIL RULE
Like his fathers, the civil rule OF the new Pres
dent was admirable lOr It's perfect discipline
Every thing was done by means Of the army. and
tbat comprised the entire male population II might
Justly he said that tbe rule was that OF the people
From 1862 to 1865, when the latal war broke ont,
Lopez was busily engaged IN strenglhenlng h,s
military force was largely increased, ior,l.
1calions were constructed az various points
and every preparation made 10 resist attacks
from outside enemies. Although the most stringent
discipline prevailed the people fairly idollzed the
| President The army especially devoted 10 HIM.
| with c0nsummate skill the finances OF the republic
| were managed. Military ana civil officers received
scanty pay. while the prlyaes Of the army got no.
thing more than their clothes and ratiOns. Is must
not be supposed that these men were kept idie IN
camp during peace. Indeed, quite TO The contrary,
Ihey were alwa actively engaged constructing Tor
| ufcatons, making roads or employed on other pub.
| THE OUTBREAK or THE WAR.
Such was the POSITION OF affairs in Paraguay up To
the 1all OF 1864 Az this lime civil war was walng
IN the republic Of Uruguay. Flores, VINO subsequently,
became President, was the leader OF the insurgents
against the regular government, and received the
sympathy Of the Brazlans Tnis created III eeng
t'' eSsa ass @ ' 5siaa 'H inflicted osssaa 1poa ne n
and guarantees for The future, threatening 10 marcn
an army into the country these were denied THIS
action on tho part OF Brazh was decidedly wrong.
Al information reached President Lopez he
protested against ltirst OH August 80 1854, ana
| second time on September g. Of the same year
| The protest disregarded. On The llth OF No.
| vember paraguayan war vessel captured Bra
| znan mail steamer on us passage up the Paraguay
day Lopez notified the Brazilian Minister ut Ascun-
| clOn tnat hencelorth The Paraguay river would be
| diplomatic relations followed. ON tne IAN OF De-
celnber Palaguayan army began ITS march into ino
province OF Ma.teo M "roSso; Ine Braziaa port oi
lew months all the principal points IN The province
| were occupied by the Paraguayans.
The readers Of the HenALD have been made ac.
| quainted In minute detail Of the progress oil the
| war; from ITS outbreak TO the final nighr OF Lopez
lato the mountains For five long years he strag
| ged herocaly against overwhelming numbers. III s
defence Of the fortress OF Humatta was despcrat Q
| and brilliant. Inch by inch he contested ihc AL.
vance Of the allies into Paraguay. Battle after bat.
tie was fought and on every field, though often de-
feated the paiagtayans displayed q courage which
nothing could dAuut. II Is doubtful If the ;u nas OF
| war record more selfsacrlhcng hcroism than that
| displayed by these South Americans.
SYNPATHY FOR LOpEI.
SO long as the treaty oil alliance between Uruguay.
! Brazil and the Argentine Confederation was kept
| secret the weight OF puoic sentiment was against
| Lopez But when ts provisions were made known he
became m object OF general sympathy. As The repre-
sentative OF Iepublcansm he baltied against impcii
aism lie had often declared that the struggle
! would not end so long he lived aud he Kept
his word faithfully. To The end OF MS lie III nc Is
dead he cOmbatted the power OF Brazil, ana by MS
death on the battle field has attested his devotion TO
MS country ana 10 It's Institutions. III was NOT MS
| fate to pe Frederick the Great but mad he pos
sessed the resources of hat monarch he would nave
proved himself one. AS II l.. history must record
| Of HIM that he made Of the most brilliant de-
fences against heavy ODDS ever made by military
! itader
Charles Augustus dc BeriOt.