The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-02-19

(Copyrighted, 1899. by Frank G. Carpenter)
ASITNCION, Jan. 2.-Let me intro
duce you 10 the president of Paraguay.
I have had a talk with him in his
palace in the city of Asuncion. Ills
office is in a magnificent building above
the Paraguay river. 1t Is a palace
which would not be out of place among
the royal residences of Potsdam. near
Berlin 1t would be Tine pulldlnS III
Vienna London or washington II IS
an immense structure of two stories,
with walls so covered with Stucco that
they resemble white marble, and a
tower like that of q cathedral rising
from its center. 1t has wide galleries
or arcades about the greater part OF
if. and its porticoes are upheld by
Ionic pillars. It is in the heart or
South America. as far inland from the
sea in q straight line us New YORK IS
distant from Chicago, and by the route
Won must travel over the Rio de la
Plata the Parana and the Paraguay
river, as far from the Atlantic as Is
our own city of Omaha. The palace
was built by the tyrant Lopez, just be-
fore Paraguays war with the Argen-
tine republic, Uruguay and Brazil.
I,opez was living in it during the war
and his enemies almost battered II TO
pieces with their guns. Since then II
the offices of the president ana MS
government.
A CALL ON THE PRESIDENT.
The presidents name is Juan b.
Egusuuiza. He is one Of the practical
business men of Paraguay. If you saw
him on the streets of New York you
might take him for one of the mil
lionaires of the city. and you would
certainly think him a man OF impor-
lance. He is, 1 judge. about hfty
years of age and IN features anu sor ~
reminds me of President HARRISON
secretary of the treasury, Charles Eos
ter of Ohio. His eyes are as bright
as those of Calico Charlie, and ms
manners quite as cordial. He has the
same practical ideas which sparkle In
the conversation of Mr.. Foster. and the
same enthusiastic hope for the future
for all things about HIM.
It was in the reception room OF the
nalace that l met him. Our American
consul Mr.. John Ruffin, introduced
me. Mr.. Ruffin is a colored man from
Tennessee. He has a complexion as
light as that of the average Para-
euayan, and he has put In his time
So we'll on the study of the Spanish
since his apnointment that he was able
to act as interpreter in the talk WIN
the president. The president says tnaI
Paraguay is rapidly regaining LIS o!o
population. 1t has now almost as many
Deople as before its terrible war. ne
estimates that Paraguay has now wv
900 inhabitants. but says that IL couio
sunport seven million. He tells me
that Paraguay is anxious to nave I'M
migrants and that there is a good
chance here for those who have small
capital and wish to own good MONIES.
/ asked President Egusquiza as 10
titles and the security of property lie
replied that the titles were as soou
here as in the United States, ana tnat
foreign property is entirely secure. he
said there would be no tampering with
foreign estates by the government, and
that every foreigner would have equaI
rights with Paraguayans.
I asked him where would be the best
places for investments in Paraguay.
He replied that the country was an
Cndeveloped empire, and that 1t nad
large areas of natural pasture which
were especially fitted for cattle raising
These. he said could be bought at low
prices. He also referred to the chances
for making money in manufacturing,
and asked me to tell our people that
Il would pay them to come out and look
the ground over. He seemed glad OF
chance to have his country better
known in the United States, and asked
dictated letters for me to the heads
OF his government departments and
prominent business men. These letters
I have since used, and through them
have secured the best and latest data
upon the different matters of interest.
One Of my most intelligent inform
ants has been the secretary of state,
Senior Jose Decoud. Mr.. Decoud speaks
English German and Spanish He
has travelled over all parts of Para
quay. and has published a number of
books concerning it. He is largely in
terested in the United States, and his
library contains more North Americana
than you will find in the library of any
of our cabinet ministers at home. l
spent one afternoon with him at his
residence in the suburbs of Asuncion.
His house has only one story, but 1t
must cover about a quarter of an acre
of ground, and the ceilings of it are
about twenty feet high. Its gardens
are filed with tropical plants, and 1t
is, all told, one of the most comfort