Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-12-26
Is ISADEiICATE TASK
President Harrison TO Settle
the Mission Boundaries.
IESulTS WORK IN PARAGUAY
A Nation that Laps-d From Civilization
TO berbarisn IN On. Gcn-gation.
Pan American Congress.

w A-ftiNNANNs AftN. s---0thO -RC0d-
lsion Is gong Oh in Official circles over
the whereabouts OF the commission
OF the Argentine Republic appointed
IL report that county IN the matte. of
settlement of the missions boundary
which is in controversy with Brazil.
Ine Brazilian commissioners have ar
rived IN New York and are awaiting
the appearance of the Argentine dele
CATION, which has been expected for
some time. News of their leaving
Beuonos Ayres reached the United
States some time ago. and II is supposed
they are spending the holidays in
Europe. When they come arrange
ments will be made for putting the
merits of the controversy 10 the pres-
dent of the United States, to whom the
TWO countries have referred II for de-
cision. This case Is the direct out
growth of sessions of the Pan-Ameri-
can congress of ls89-90. After that
bocy adopted the resolutions in favor
of compulsory arbitration rs an ex-
pedient for averting war. Brazil was
almost the first state to act upon tn
high moral policy which had been pro-
claimed. 1t not only exerted its IN
fiuence strongly IN favor of tho negoti-
alton of arbitration treaties, which
should have binding force upon Amer
lean states, but also IN its new conetitu
ton. it expressly prohibited wars OF
conquest.
Fell Into Barbarism.
or;es OF the Spanish conquest. For l50
years the Jesuits enjoyed undisputed
ascendeucy III Paraguay. There they
red duced the Indian language to q writ
ten idiom, taught the natives the rudi-
ments OF wood carving and European
agriculture, planted orange groves,
cultivated verba tea, built model viii
lagos and governed the country on
humane principles. No work more
wonderful Was ever done by christian
the upper Harana, and In the region
now known as the missions.
When the expulsion Of the Jesuits
was declared they.otfered no resistance,
| but quietly left the country which they
had governed for so long time. In the
course of single generation q popula.
bAOt "a lcO.NVV, Cu III NaiiOuS III
| dustries, abandoned the plantations
ana relapsed into barbarism.
Then followed the resignation of
Monster, and a war determination. In
a heartrendiug struggle against three
stronger states. q simple minded peo-
pie endured manifold sufferings for
the rake of a tyrant who had murdered
his mother. brothers, aud rivals and
allies. They fought for their oppressor
until he himself was slain in the for
ests. ana three-fourths OF their heroic
warriors were slain.
Disputing the boundary.
The victorious coalition, including
Brazil, the Argentine Republic and
Uruguay, returned from the old Jesuit
mission ground with an unsettled from
tier question which has continued to
excite suspicion and jealousy during
years of secret intrigue. The estab-
hshment of the Brazilian republic was
| followed bv an era Of good feeling.
President Feediras, minister If foreign
affairs of Bscscuva, went to Monte
video and Buenos Ayres on a mission
of peace; and while the suggestion ne
made was subsequently condemned by
| the Brazilian congress, the question
has finally been submitted TO the Presi-
| dent of the United States for qrbitra-
ton. A memorial of the former, exer.
else of similar Office. existed in the op-
posite quarter of Paraguay. where one
of the number OF cities is named Villa
Hayes. IN honor OF the American presi-
dent who acted as arbitrator in divid-
! ing the Gran Chaco between disputlpg
powers. His successor now has the re-
sponsible office of adiudicating na-
tional titles to the working field of the
heroic Jesuits ard the battle grounds
of one of the strsngest wars In history.