Year: 1868

is still the prevailing feature, both in
Hayti and in the Dominican Republic,
without any hope for an early cure of
the chronic disease into which that
Island has fallen, which, by virtue of its
immense mineral wealth, should rank
foremost as supply depot to the Ameri-
can continent of copper, iron, and even
gold. The news from Cuba is favorable
in regard to crops, but the financial con-
dition of the Island resembles that of
Spain to fatal extent, and the pearl of
the Antilles, far from being wealth to
the mother country, as it should and GER
tainly would, if its agricultural resources
were properly developed and organized,
is evidently a burden to the home ad-
ministration. A large proportion of the
population of St. Thomas is dissatisfied
with the delay of our Congress in vot-
ing the necessary funds for accomplish
ing the annexation of that Island to the
United States. Santa Cruz, another
Danish Island, is now likewise anxious
to become American, and its Inhabitants
do not like to see their neighbors change
their nationality while they are them
selves left under Danish rule. As we
proceed further south on the Atlantic
side of the South American Continent,
we reach the Amazon river, with its
fertile banks for the colonization of
which the Brazilian Government has
taken energetic measures, by encourag-
ing emigration, giving heavy grants of
land to settlers and free transportation
within thousands of miles from the sea
shore. Brazil has been agitated for the
last four years by the war against Par
aguay, and although the latest otfciaL
news from the Rio Grande, only receiv-
ed yesterday, is full of accounts of vic
tories accomplished by the land army as
well by the Brazilian gunboats, the act


ual fact is evidently, that Lopez, the
Paraguagan President and leader of the
army, is by no means defeated, and if
driven from his Notifications along the
the river, he means to make a stand and
offer resistance in the interior, rather
than to abandon his cause. The pro-
iects are now in favor of Lopez ultimate
success. which he and his heroic army
fully deserved, for the perseverance and
bravery with which they have held out
against the overwhelming forces of the
allies. Your readers may remember
that the accession of Flores to the Pres
idency of Uruguay gave the first i'm
pulse of the war, which has now been
raging so long. That man has been as
sassinated in the streets of Montevideo
and Colonel Battle succeeded him in the
highest office. 1t is therefore pretty
generally believed that Uruguay as well
as the Argentine Republic will soon
withdraw from the unnatural alliance
with Brazil which, if kept up. could
only end in the ultimate swallowing
up of both republics by the Brazil
ian power. 1t may still be the destiny
of Paraguay, to take the lead among the
South American republics, so much dis
tracted by revolutions, wars and counter
revolutions and the dissatisfaction
which prevails in many parts of Brazil
on account of the protracted struggle,
may finally compel its Government to
conclude an honorable peace with its
antagonists. Cholera, exposure and pri-
vations of every description have deci-
mated the ranks at fearful rate, and it
is to be hoped that the voice of wisdom
and moderation will prevail and make
an early end to the carnage and the suf-
ferings of those directly or indirectly
engaged in the struggle. The mail
steamer from the Pacific States has just
brought the news that Colonel Balta,
the leader of the Northern army during
the late revolution in Peru, has every
prospect of being elected President of
that Republic. Whatever the issue may
be, it must be hoped that it will contrib
ute to the restoration of peace and Or
der, which that country is so much in
need of. Although the Republic of Chill
is evidently little agitated on account
of the rumors of Spain assuming a
threatening attitude towards that Re-
public, little faith is to be put in Spanish
rhodomontades, which amount to moth
ing, and if no more powerful enemy at
tacks the integrity of Chill than the
above power, the people of Chill may
quietly devote their attention to internal
improvements without fear from foreign
aggression. The new founded colony
along Magellan Straits has so far been
a complete success, and large number
of new settlers are reported to be on their
way to that region. The quality of coal
found at convenient distances from the
maratine route is said to be excellent,
and will largely contribute towards en-
couraging the steam navigation through
Magellan Straits, which has lately been
inaugurated by the establishment of a
direct line from Valparaiso to Liverpool.
The colonization of that country is the
only smiling and cheerful feature pre-
senting itselfto us from South America,
in the world of all reports of struggle
and strife by which that part of the
globe is generally distracted.


From the Mt. Vernon Banner.I


General Banning in the Sonfh--