Year: 1870

Tho Pnrnsuayan War-rrcsidcnt Lopoz's Son


In Washington.


So varied and conflicting have beon the &C
count, from time to time regarding the pro-
gress Of the war in Paraguay that it Is next to
an impossibility to form any correct es-
{ OF the real state of affairs.
So.le time since we had occasion to
inquire into the progress of the war, and
we were not q little surprised to find
that, Notwithstanding an enormous expendi-
ture Of mon, money and time by the allies,
the only result accomplished was tho over
running Of Paraguay by hostile armies in
the fruitless attempt to subjugate its
people and capture the acknowledged
head Of Its government. Driven from
the capital, routed from the principal cities,
forced to retreat from his strongholds and
compelled to take refuge in the mountains,
President Lopez has proven himself soldier
Of great genius and one Of the most remarka-
BILE men Of modern times. The army opposed
to him has always been far superior in num-
bers, equipments and supplies. He has saf-
fered from every disadvantage, and his only
reliance was thorough knowledge of the
country, the belief in the final triumph Of his
cause, and conviction that the Paraguayan
people were with him. AS moral support this
was oil very WE'LL but in the trying hour of
battle or when disaster after disaster had over
taken him something more was needed, and
this was supplied in his remarkable skill as .
soldier and his ability to triumph even in
defeat.


When the war first broke out In Paraguay
the United States had its accredited represen-
tative in the republic, but during the struggle
the minister was withdrawn, and from that
time 10 the present we have had no means Of
ascer.aning correctly the real state of affairs
within the Paraguayan republic. This is not
as it should be. The United States should
have its representative ut Asuncion, where
Sefor Paraubos, q Brazilian lawyer, runs the
provisional government, ostensibly under the
supervision Of the allies, bu. In reality in the
interest Of the Brazilian empire. 1t is time,
therefore, that the American government
should know the real condition Of things in
furaEuay, anu We arc pied5eu w HcaT tuut
Senior Emeleano Lopez, q son of the indomi-
table South American hero, has arrived in
Washington. He comes here prepared to
make such representations to the American
government as may tend to alter the opinions
Of many who were led away by Brazilian an
nouncements. Senior Lopez laughs at the idea
of the annihilation Of his father, aud he says
significantly that events will soon prove who is
the master of the situation. Possibly the latest
reports from Rio were then not SO very far out
Of the way. The Paraguayan war is ended
and tho allied army is to return home, we are
told; but the very vague statement that the
whereabouts Of Lopez was unknown looks
strange enough, and may be interpreted differ
emily from what the enemies Of Lopez desire
A little time will tell. In the interim We
trust that from Washington we may learn
something that will sustain the belief that,
Notwithstanding immense odds and serious
disadvantages, South American republican
President fighting ut the head Of his people
was more than match for powerful empire,
supported by able and willing allies.