The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-10-18
THE SOUTH AMERICAN WAR.

To EDITOR OF THE HERALD
viii you permit reader Of your paper for over o
quarter of century-during which time he has
always found its correspondence impartial and its
structures generous and just-to take exception to
the very parte manner Of your Lima correspond
ent and his openly expressed exultation ut any
Chilean in this unfortunate South American
war? No one more than the writer recognizes tho
vast influence of the HERALD with its glorious privi
lege and tremendous responsibility. mouldcr OF
public opinion and therefore deprecates ts present
Partially. Itseems from your Lima correspondence
published yesterday. that Peru has been startled
from her propriety by General Daza. President of
Bolivia, making known that in June last (mark the
date) he received an official invitation from the
Chilean Minister of Foreign Affairs to break his
treaty of alliance with Peru JOIN hands with Chile
and receive his reward immense tract Of terri
tory, the natural seaboard Of Bolivia, but now in
possession of Peru. In passing may be permitted
to remark that this treaty OF alliance against Chile
secretly made years ago ut time when both
professng regard for her. The audacity and
fdy of Chile held up public indgnatiion Chilc
is audacious for else she would never have attempted
single handed, to war with two larger States but
not perhdious. Surprising Chile did make such an
Offer what wretched opinion she III ust have had OF
Boliva's President! And Chile is familiar with all
his sntecedents And wherein would the Minister
time immemorial have played the same game-are
playing 1t while write? Is it unprecedented
an offer as to merit such blazonry or to excite
priseg But deny that such official proposal was
made, and for simple reasons. Had 1t been made
1t would have been accepted. II made in June
why did DaZa make known the fact only in
September He hesitated too long. while Weighing
the advantages, not to be morally lost to be
credited now. And, unless you adduce the 'prius
dspseRtdt" principle, can any one suppose that q
foreign Minister would expose himself to an
enemys mercy as to sign such proposal unless
guaranteed its acceptance? The Minister in ques-
ton, Don Domingo Santa Maria Is OF the ablest
statesmen i'll South America. Oh. no; the wish was
father to the thought and the Peruvian
signature easily VERIFIED ut the Foreign Office OF
La Paz. Why tho necessity Of such verifcation?
Was not the Presidents word sufficient? Is not tho
letter said to have been delivered by trusted friend
long after had been declared and neither before
since could he have had any official communica-
ton with the Bolivian Cabinet. As to your CORE
spondcnts assurance OF General Dazas bravery. that
wsdes through his fallen citizens blood to the Bov-
ian Presidency, and who knows that when he
reaches that giddy height his days numbered.
But rs to- being "a gentleman and an honorable
news than Daza himself, and certainly should not
dare to tell him to his face. Your correspondent
is wrong in supposng that Chile had vast quantities
OF arms which were being unused She entered the
totally unprepared, and the first. with trifng
exception, she has received. those alluded to
In the correspondence. One word more. / have
lived long In Chile and know we'll tho unimpeach-
able integrity OF her government and tho indomit-
able patriotism of her people. and plainly read
the handwriting on the walls of Lima Fortunately
for Chile she requires no foreign aid favor From
the press she asks only patience and impartiality.
She forced into this conflict but she will retire
from it with untarnshed honor and increased repu-
tation. Her past guarantees her future. and the
HERALD. always just will be the first to of her,
Conscia mems recti fa,nm mcndacis ridet
NEW York. Oct. IL. 1870. FAB.