Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-10-27
A Parallel Cause of Trouble.

A Press News representative, in look
ing through the historical archives to
find an incident which would serve as
probable precedent in the present difficulty,
succeeded in finding a case which is almost
exactly similar to the one under considera-
ton. This diplomatic story not only presents
a parallel cause of trouble, but furnishes
an illustration of what action will likely
follow in the present instance. The govern
ment of Paraguay had. upon frivolous and
even insulting preteXts, refused to ratlfy
the treaty of friendship, commerce and
navigation concluded with it March +, 1853,
as amended by the United States senate,
though the latter was mere matter OF form.
1t had seized and appropriated the property
of American citizens, residing in Paraguay in
violent and arbitrary manner, and finally,
on February l, 1855 by order of President
Lopez. it had fired upon the United States
ship Water Witch, under Commander
Thomas J. Page, and killed the sailor at
the helm, while she was peacefully engaged
in surveying the Parana river to ascertain
its fitness for steam navigation.
The honor, as well as the interest, of the
country, demanded satisfaction. The presi-
dent brought the subject to the notice of
congress in his annual message, December S,
1851 In this he informed them that he
would make a demand for redress on the
government of Paraguay in firm but con-
ciliatory manner, but at the same time OBJ
served LlaU IL will more PROBABLY
granted if the executive shall have author
ity to use other means in the event of re-
fusal This is accordingly recommended
Congress responded favorably to this
recommendation. On the I'd of June, 1858,
they passed joint resolution authorizing
MIR. Buchanan to ''adopt such measures
and use such force as in his judgment may
be necessary and advisable in the event of
a refusal of just satisfaction by the govern
ment of Paraguay, in connection with the
attack upon the United States ship Water
Witch, and with some matters referred to
in the annual mes age" Congress also
made an appropriation to defray the ex-
pense of a commissioner to Paraguay,
should he deem it proper to appoint one
for the adjustment of difficulties"
Paraguay is situated far in the interior of
South America, and its capital, the city of
Asuncion, on the left bank of the river
Paraguay, is more than one thousand miles
from the mouth of the La Plata. Protected
by his remote and secluded position, Presi-
dent Lopez but little unprecedented that a
navy from a far distant country could as
cend the La Plata, the Parana and the
Paraguay and reach the capital. This was
doubtless the reason why he had ventured
to place the United States at defiance.
Under these circumstances, President
Buchanan deemed it advisable to send with
James B. Bowlin, our commissioner to
L
justice should negotiation fail. This con-
sisted of nineteen armed vessels, great and
small, carrying 200 guns and $500 sailors and
mariners, all under the command of the
veteran Shubrick. Soon after the arrival
of the expedition at Montevideo, Commits
sioner Bowlin and Commodore Shubrick
proceeded on December 80, 1865, to ascend
the rivers to Asuncion in the United States
ship Fulton. accompanied by the Water
Witch. Meanwhile the remaining vessels
rendezvoused in the Parana. near Rosario,
a position from which they could act
promptly in case of need. The
commissioner rived at Asuncion January
25, 1859, and left it February 10.
Within this brief period he had ably and
successfully accomplished all the objects of
his mission. In addition to ample apollo
gies, he obtained from President Lopez the
payment of 900 for the family of the
seaman who had been killed in the attack
upon the Water Witch, and also concluded
satisfactory treaties of indemnity and of
navigation and commerce with the Para
guayan government. Thus the president
was enabled to announce 10 congress IN his
message December 3, 1859. that AL our
difficulties with Paraguay had been salts
factorily adjusted" He also observed,
"that the presence of so large force, fitted
out in such a prompt manner, on the far
distant waters of the La Plata, and the ad
mirable conduct of the officers and men en-
ployed in it, have had happy effect in
favor of our country throughout all the re-
mote portion of the world"