New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-01-31
PRICE FOUR CENTS
PERU in DESPERATE STRAITS.
HER SHANE. POVERTY AND SUFFERING.

LIMA, Jan. 5.-The last traces of Peruvian author
"y "lthln the Cbilan lines have finally disap.
pearod, and the conquerors now nominally 40
they nave long been practically, solely responsible
ior oil that occurs within the occupied territory
Except at the little blockaded village of Mollendo
no PERUVIAN civil, military judicial official exer-
cises MS functions upon the coast. The new civil
Judges have entered upon their duties, and num-
oer OF justices OF the peace many OF them natives,
have been appointed for the trial OF minor offences
In Lima and Callao. Having been long
deprIVed OF tho greater part of their
practice probably none will welcome this
change more eagerly than the lawyers, who
must anticipate rich harvest from the litigation
that will follow such long suspension 0f civil pro-
ceSses. 1t becomes question how binding the de-
crees of thee courts will be after The conclusion Of
peace, but 1t is probable such contingencies will 10
provided for IN the treaty. Heretofore, although,
TO do the tribunals Justice they were fair in the
main, owners OF property had great difficulty col
lecting rents. or evlcting tenants and claims Of all
Kinds and debts remained unsatisfed owing to the
difficulty military men experienced in graphing
With kn0tty questions of law 40 foreign to those
that usually engage the attention of c0urs-martial
Offences of criminal nature. however met with
punishment swift and severe when the evidence was
clear, though it had to be overwhelming when
Chlllan was concerned possibly on account Of tho
tendency of the people to testify against the
soldiers, but more probably because of a natural
leaning of the members toward their countrymcn.
The courts of Chill have an excellent reputation,
and it is to be hoped that those she now establishes
in Peru will rival them in dispensing equal and
exact justice TO all, without letting the passions Of
war or the bias Of country influence Judgment.
Many complaints have been made heretofore con-
cening the mail service, and it conducted by
Peruvian civilians under the au hority of Chilian
officials, it was impossible to fix the responsibility
for the miscarriage of valuable letters aud pack
ages. This difficulty has now been removed by
Chilian occupation of the Offices squad OF soldiers
took possession in Lima, guarding all the doors The
clerks were greatly alarmed. but the postmaster
retained his selt-pOSsesson, greeted his successor
very cordially, turned over the effects of the Office
and presented the books for inspection. Valuable
money letters having failed to reach persons there
the International Postal Office in Switzerland was
informed of tho facts together with Others con-
cening the reception of the mails by the military
authorities before they were turned over to those
OF the postal department, and this notice is sup
posed to have caused the change. However this
may he, the probiy of Lima's ex-postmaster is be-
yOnd question.
One of the most curious features Of the conduct of
this war has been the announcement CT intended
movements of the armies. Several expeditions
against Arequipa have been planned, troops enlisted
and even the approximate dates of sailing made
public. The last one was to have left Valparaiso,
about the 10th of this month. and reinforcements
were TO join it at COquimbo and Caldera, but upon
the possibility of a peace being patched up with
Pierola. it abandoned. Now another expedi-
tiOn from Lima to the interior and thence TO the
southwark is projected and publicly announced in
Chilian papers. Admiral Lynch is TO assume COM
mand, and Colonel Cana, the Chief-Of-Staf,
will remain here as Commandern-Chief after tho
departure of the expedition, which occurs with the
beginning of the new year. IL will probably again
take Matucana and Chosica subsequently follow the
line of the old Inca road, reducing the more fertile
provinces of the interior, and possibly
it will occupy Ayacucho, Cdzco and even
Arequipa itself, and forage literally
upon the country, and establish beyond peradven-
ture the utter inability Of further resistance the
part OF Peru. The battaons of PeDyo, Chacabuco
and Bulnes have left Iquiquc to reinforce the army
of the Admiral. The latest instance of Peruvian
apathy and cowardice occurred at the little town II
Chincla in the lea valley. This place, which is al
most equi-distant from the Port Of Pisco and the
City of lea, was captured by twenty soldiers IRON
Pisco with scarcely show Of resistance, notwith-
standing the fact that Prefect Mas has nearly
Thousand men at lea, only thirty-threc miles dis
tant. A garrison of one hundred men and one gun
boat hold Psco. and tho Chilians collect good sum
in customs dues, as trains regularly to and from
lea.
The Editor of the Santiago Epoea has taken Pres
ident CaldcrOn sharri 10 task concerning his ru-
mored connection with the Peruvian Company and
its proposal to pay the debt in consideration of
certain concessions in Tarapaca, accusing him Of
corrupt and underhand practices, and with efforts
to enrich himself at the expensa of his countrys
honor Caderon has written in reply, that far
from being party to any such scheme he distinctly
refused to be connected with 1t IN any way, and dis
approved of the whole project; Furthermore that
General lIurbut in letter TO the state Department
at Washington, denounced the claims of COchet and
Iandreau aud urgcdthe Department not 10 press
it upon the attention Oh the PernSian Government.
lie adds however, that he Is able 10 give sastac-
tory guarantees for the payment OF Peru's war
debt protests that he is actuated only by
patriotic motives, and that he has no other
object in view than the conclusion of an
honorable peace and the recstabilshment of
a Constitutional Cover 1Inent. The Editor OF tho
EyOod in his TejOInder. expresses disbelief IN Cal
derons professions and Questions the possibility or
the indemnity being paid from any other source
han the one Indicated. ne asserts hat unl II can
be shown that there are other means OF meeting the
exDenSes of the war; the in .eTcncc must bO.d good
that The Provisional President Is engaged IN cor
rupt scheme with a New York syndicate with the
object OF obtaining control OF iaTapaca, and he con-
cluaes by saying hat unfortunately the history OK
Peru proves by too many examples that such con-
dnc would not be impossible, nor even unusual, on
the part Oi her hlg. est officials.
Mfssrs Prescott and Blame reached Callao on tho
odd and left the following Sunday on board tho
United states steam lackawanna Tor VALPARAISO.
Their arrival has done much to briug about better
cling on the part OF the ChlianS, and has caused
some ankle Y on me part of the Prmyllns though
they sll look To the United states for their poII-
cal salvation. The condition Oi tie country Is piti-
able in the eXtremc-tOm by internal dIs>ensl ns,
with bands ot thieyInE mnntaneroS raVaging the
interior her only armies under the coni1.nu OF
men lar more intent upon advancing Their fortunes
and u.rsonal ambition than serving their country,
nuI hpallv tle Whole coast in the hands ~ tho
r,I.I i3voder vino bas fastened his iangs upon
the vitals OF the land The country l. thoroughly
cvbaIsied amt the drain upon 1t, resources Is tell