Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1881-02-17
The FaIl OF Lima.


Vanquished. At the commencement Of
the triangular contest between Chill and
the allied republics of Bolivia and Peru
in April, 1879. the population of Chill
was only about equal to that Of Bolivia,
while Peru's was considerably larger than
that of either. The standing armies of
the allies were double Chilis. The navy
Of Peru was powerful in contrast with
that of her opponent. Nearly every civil
lied nation had an interest in the pro-
ducts OF her mines and her inter and
guano beds, and might be relied on to
advance money literally and to impede
the success of her antagonist.
1t was doubtless these considerations
that induced her to support Bolivia in
her breach of treaty with Chill with re-
gard to the Atacama inter beds and the
guano deposits of the Bay of Mejillones,
BY treaty. ratified in IA, both repub.
lies were to share equally the guano de-
posits, and for "a years the Chilians were
guaranteed the liberty of exporting inter
and other minerals from between the lati-
tudes of % and "a without an increase of
export duty.
On the alleged failure. of the Chilian
contractors to comply with the terms of
their bargains, the Bolivian Congress, in
February 1878, laid an export duty of ten
cents per 100 pounds. upon the Chilian
exports of inter. The protests of Chill
were disregarded, and the plucky little
republic at once seized upon Antofagasta.
the chief Bolivian port from which the
nitrates were exported. Peru, jealous of
the spirited rivalry of Chill in the fertil-
izer trade, sided with the Bolivia, in the
confident expectations of an easy victory
and g monopoly of the inter and guano
resources of the country. Chill. not a
whit daunted, promptly declared war
against this new enemy. anxious to defer
hostilities until she had made better pre-
parations for the contest.
FROM the outset the armies OF the Chi
lians have. been uniformly successful on
land, and, with the exception of the
early brilliant achievements of the Peru
Wan iron clad Huascar, and few losses
from torpedoes, their fleet has been
equally victorious at sea. While their
army pushed vigorously northward,
gaining victory after victory and forcing
the defeated Bolivians to seek shameful
safety in their own country, the fleet de-
vastated the Peruvian coast and levied
heavy contributions on its panic-struck
inhabitants. Their brilliant successes,
crowned by the triumph of January II,
considering the poverty Of their resources
and the small number of their population,
place the Chilians high among the mill
tary nations of the world, and give them
the begomony, or leadership, all of the
South American Republics.
A few months ago an attempt was made
through. the mediation of the United
States, to conclude peace between the
beiligerents, but as the Chilians insisted
on the cession to them of the territory
of Atacama, about which the dispute
arose, as we'll as on pecuniary compen-
sation for the expenses Of the war, the
terms were deemed too severe, and were
consequently rejected. Although many
of the wealthiest provinces of Peru are
east of the Andes, and therefore still un
touched by the. ravages OF war, yet there
is little doubt thot peace will be soon
forced upon the humiliated people. After
the additional outlay and bloodshed the
terms imposed by the victors will be
hardly less severe than those formerly
offered, and will probably include the
cession by Peru OF the Province of Tara
paca, with its great mineral and fertilizer
wealth, in addition to the annexation of
the part of Atacama claimed by Bolivia,
together with several Peruvian seaports.
Such an agreement would give to Chill
almost an entire monopoly of the vast
nitrate resources of South America and
preponderating share of its guano wealth,
and must therefore be of interest to the
agriculture of the world. Foreign ma
tions, however, may interfere in the set
tlement of the terms of peace, in defence
of the interests of their subjects, who
have made large loans to Peru on the
security of her nitrate and guano depos-
its. There is a report in this city that
syndicate of wealthy spectators have
within the last month concluded an
agreement with Peru by which they OBJ
tain entire control of all her guano de-
posits fora term of twenty years for
twenty million dollars, five millions of
which have already been paid. Should
the report prove correct, as Americans
we may rejoice that our citizens have
superseded the English in control of this
lucrative business: but as farmers we
shall probably have no cause for exulta-
ton, as experience has taught us that
American capitalists are as eager as the
greediest foreigners to wiring the greatest
profit from the American farmer.
A Cough, Gold or Sore Throat should !
be stopped. Neglect frequently results
in an Incurable Lung Disease or Con-
A