the hispanic nations of the new world-第15章
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d Uruguay； as well as out of the inevitable injury to its nationals inflicted by the commotions in the latter country； whereas Argentina cherished grievances against Lopez for the audacity with which his troops roamed through her provinces and the impudence with which his vessels； plying on the lower Parana； ignored the customs regulations。 Thus it happened that obscure civil discords in one little republic exploded into a terrific international struggle which shook South America to its foundations。
In 1864； scorning the arts of diplomacy which he did not apparently understand； Lopez sent down an order for the two big states to leave the matter of Uruguayan politics to his impartial adjustment。 At both Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires a roar of laughter went up from the press at this notion of an obscure chieftain of a band of Indians in the tropical backwoods daring to poise the equilibrium of much more than half a continent on his insolent hand。 But the merriment soon subsided； as Brazilians and Argentinos came to realize what their peril might be from a huge army of skilled and valiant soldiers； a veritable horde of fighting fanatics； drawn up in a compact little land； centrally located and affording in other respects every kind of strategic advantage。
When Brazil invaded Uruguay and restored the Colorados to power； Lopez demanded permission from Argentina to cross its frontier； for the purpose of assailing his enemy from another quarter。 When the permission was denied； Lopez declared war on Argentina also。 It was in every respect a daring step； but Lopez knew that Argentina was not so well prepared as his own state for a war of endurance。 Uruguay then entered into an alliance in 1865 with its two big 〃protectors。〃 In accordance with its terms； the allies agreed not to conclude peace until Lopez had been overthrown； heavy indemnities had been exacted of Paraguay； its fortifications demolished； its army disbanded； and the country forced to accept any boundaries that the victors might see fit to impose。
Into the details of the campaigns in the frightful conflict that ensued it is not necessary to enter。 Although； in 1866； the allies had assembled an army of some fifty thousand men； Lopez continued taking the offensive until； as the number and determination of his adversaries increased； he was compelled to retreat into his own country。 Here he and his Indian legions levied terrific toll upon the lives of their enemies who pressed onward； up or down the rivers and through tropical swamps and forests。 Inch by inch he contested their entry upon Paraguayan soil。 When the able…bodied men gave out； old men； boys； women； and girls fought on with stubborn fury； and died before they would surrender。 The wounded escaped if they could； or； cursing their captors； tore off their bandages and bled to death。 Disease wrought awful havoc in all the armies engaged； yet the struggle continued until flesh and blood could endure no more。 Flying before his pursuers into the wilds of the north and frantically dragging along with him masses of fugitive men； women； and children； whom he remorselessly shot； or starved to death； or left to perish of exhaustion； Lopez turned finally at bay； and； on March 1； 1870； was felled by the lance of a cavalryman。 He had sworn to die for his country and he did； though his country might perish with him。
No land in modern times has ever reached a point so near annihilation as Paraguay。 Added to the utter ruin of its industries and the devastation of its fields； dwellings； and towns； hundreds of thousands of men； women； and children had perished。 Indeed； the horrors that had befallen it might well have led the allies to ask themselves whether it was worth while to destroy a country in order to change its rulers。 Five years before Lopez came into power the population of Paraguay had been reckoned at something between 800；000 and 1；400；000so unreliable were census returns in those days。 In 1878 it was estimated at about 230；000； of whom women over fifteen years of age outnumbered the men nearly four to one。 Loose polygamy was the inevitable consequence； and women became the breadwinners。 Even today in this country the excess of females over males is very great。 All in all； it is not strange that Paraguay should be called the 〃Niobe among nations。〃
Unlike many nations of Spanish America in which a more or less anticlerical regime was in the ascendant； Ecuador fell under a sort of theocracy。 Here appeared one of the strangest characters in a story already full of extraordinary personagesGabriel Garcia Moreno； who became President of that republic in 1861。 In some respects the counterpart of Francia of Paraguay； in others both a medieval mystic and an enlightened ruler of modern type； he was a man of remarkable intellect； constructive ability； earnest patriotism； and disinterested zeal for orderliness and progress。 On his presidential sash were inscribed the words： 〃My Power in the Constitution〃； but is real power lay in himself and in the system which he implanted。
Garcia Moreno had a varied career。 He had been a student of chemistry and other natural sciences。 He had spent his youth in exile in Europe； where he prepared himself for his subsequent career as a journalist and a university professor。 Through it all he had been an active participant in public affairs。 Grim of countenance； austere in bearing； violent of temper； relentless in severity； he was a devoted believer in the Roman Catholic faith and in this Church as the sole effective basis upon which a state could be founded or social and political regeneration could be assured。 In order to render effective his concept of what a nation ought to be； Garcia Moreno introduced and upheld in all rigidity an administration the like of which had been known hardly anywhere since the Middle Ages。 He recalled the Jesuits； established schools of the 〃Brothers of the Christian Doctrine；〃 and made education a matter wholly under ecclesiastical control。 He forbade heretical worship； called the country the 〃Republic of the Sacred Heart；〃 and entered into a concordat with the Pope under which the Church in Ecuador became more subject to the will of the supreme pontiff than western Europe had been in the days of Innocent III。
Liberals in and outside of Ecuador tried feebly to shake off this masterful theocracy； for the friendship which Garcia Moreno displayed toward the diplomatic representatives of the Catholic powers of Europe； notably those of Spain and France； excited the neighboring republics。 Colombia； indeed； sent an army to liberate the 〃brother democrats of Ecuador from the rule of Professor Garcia Moreno；〃 but the mass of the people stood loyally by their President。 For this astounding obedience to an administration apparently so unrelated to modern ideas； the ecclesiastical domination was not solely or even chiefly responsible。 In more ways than one Garcia Moreno； the professor President； was a statesman of vision and deed。 He put down brigandage and lawlessness； reformed the finances； erected hospitals； promoted education； and encouraged the study of natural science。 Even his salary he gave over to public improvements。 His successors in the presidential office found it impossible to govern the country without Garcia Moreno。 Elected for a third term to carry on his curious policy of conservatism and reaction blended with modern advancement； he fell by the hand of an assassin in 1875。 But the system which he had done so much to establish in Ecuador survived him for many years。
Although Brazil did not escape the evils of insurrection which retarded the growth of nearly all of its neighbors； none of its numerous commotions shook the stability of the nation to a perilous degree。 By 1850 all danger of revolution had vanished。 The country began to enter upon a career of peace and progress under a regime which combined broadly the federal organization of the United States with the form of a constitutional monarchy。 Brazil enjoyed one of the few enlightened despotisms in South America。 Adopting at the outset the parliamentary system； the Emperor Pedro II chose his ministers from among the liberals or conservatives； as one party or the other might possess a majority
