Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-01-29
AN ECuADoRIAN ExPEDITIoN
Hitherto UnPublished History OF q
Filfbnstering RIzxne.
Chicago TINES.


ST. LOUIS, January 21.-The details of
filibustering scheme have been made
public here to-day, it Is believed for the
tirst time. During the early part of
1875. when the ring rule was rampant In
Washington. and everything was done
through ciiques and conspiracies, a gi-
gaptic flibustering scheme was con
cocted. Among those privy to it were
men OF more or less prominence in vari-
Gus parts of the country, not excluding
81. Louis. The plan aimed at nothing
less than overturning the existing gov.
ernment OF Ecuador, and the txem.
plification of the principle that
to the vlctors belong The
spoils. Ecuador was st that tine
in a state OF disquletude. Certain cd
venturOus citizens of this country had
investigated the condition OF the thing,
and claimed that q few bold leaders
could develop the revolutionary spirit
among the natives. overturn the admin.
istratien, aud, what was most, come
into control of some $50, ,O0O. 900 of sill.
yer, the revenue for the year at that
time in the treasury at the capital. A
gathering of those who were interested
In the revolution was held al The Eutaw
House, N Baltimore, early in 1875. One
Of the ruling spirits of the aSsenblage
was Maj. William NJ. Leland, who had
been Grants quartermaSter at the battle
of Pittsburg Landing. Major Leland
was intimate aud closely associated
with The Winans family, and was uB-
dersto0d to have the influence and back
ing of that family in what he was under
taking. Emissaries were sent down
into Ecuador TO represent that
they had come in semi-official charac
ter from the United States, and that this
country desired TO see the people put in
possession OF the form of government
enjoyed here. The agitators were told
to prepare the natives for definite date
of uprising, July "a, 1875, and to pledge
them that a United States force would
land on their shores that day TO aid them
in their fight for liberty. Ecuador was
ripe for the scheme, and the pioneers
succeeded in enrolling fifteen thousand
natives, sworn TO participate in the out
break. Meantime the men at the head
Of the conspiracy in this country pro.
ceeded with their part of the scheme. A
force Of fifteen hundred men were en-
rolled, and three well-armed vessels
were got in readiness. They Sfay in the
harbor, with clearance papers TO
convey coal to San Francisco, but,
in reality, to take on board the
little army bound for Ecuador, when
the proper hour should arrive. Then
occurred hitch. The leaders were not
of the quality who burn the bridges be
hind them. AS the time for embarka-
ton drew near they felt more and more
seriously the propriety of providing q
means of escape in the event OF defeat
The most feasible plan was the appoint
ment of minister resident in Ecuador,
who would be In sympathy with the
government to the extent of interposing
between the filibusters and the latter, If
worst came to worst. After good deal
OF discussion, Robert L. Lindsay, q law
yer of st. Louis, was selected as qualified
for the position. His fitness for the place
was indorsed by Thomas Ewing, Will
liam Mckee, Thomas G. Fletcher, w.
4. Pile, United States Marshal New.
comb, ex-Gov McClurg, Clinton B. Fisk,
JudgesC. u. Drake, f. o. Stanard, and
many others who had no knowledge of
what was gong on with reference to an
expedition. The appointment seemed |
SCCuASB WASn AOuty H. OlOW put 1u nlS |
determined opposition. Mr. Blow had
been South American minister, and he |
was then one of the Commissioners OF |
the District of Columbia. He had great |
influence at the White House, and |
brought all of it to bear on Grant to pre-.
vent Colonel Lindsay's appointment.
He had gained information of the in-
tended revolution. and of the fact that |
the ilibusters wanted Lindsay. The
time came and passed for the |
departure of the expedition,
and Lindsay was still pri.
vate citizen. The leaders still had hope
of carrying out their project; but the
oath OF July came, and tie revolution I
they had fomented could not be checked.
The natives Tevolted without the antici
pated help from the United States. They
killed Morales, and upset his govern.
ment, establishing on the wreck re-
public which still exists. Col. Lindsay
is of the opinion that the prosperity and
republican principles Ecuador is blessed
with to-day are due to the impetus i'm
parted to the feeling of discomfort among
The down trodden-nat by the agita.
tors sent there to further the expedition.