No. 74.
Mr. Partridge to Mr. Fish.
Rio de Janeiro, April 24, 1875. (Received May 21.)
Sir: In the general condition of affairs here there is little change to note.
The ministry is hurrying business through the chambers so as to close this extra session before the time of the regular meeting in May.
Even the most rigorous opposition yields to this necessity, when, as it seems, the deputies are paid by the session, and so feel interested in concluding this one in time to prevent its being confounded into one with the regular meeting.
On the 24th of March orders were issued for the reduction of the Brazilian garrison at Asuncion, Paraguay, to one brigade, thus diminishing it by one-half, which is still believed to be sufficient to secure and maintain order there.
I have conversed with several persons (not Brazilians) from Asuncion, and who are not likely to view things there from the Brazilian side in politics. From the best information, I must think it a fortunate thing for Paraguay that the so-called Brazilian protectorate is maintained. If it were not so, there would have to be a protectorate of some kind, and it would be Argentine then. This is even less desirable than a Brazilian protectorate, for this last, while it undoubtedly protects the political party in power, which is favorable, or, at least, not hostile, to Brazil, has no hope of setting up a party for annexation. Language, manners, history, Spanish descent, all traditions in Paraguay, are against that. But it might be far easier, if an Argentine garrison occupied the town, and sustained the “supreme government,” to make up and keep up an administration that might be in favor of joining the Argentine Confederation.
The best thing about this occupation is that just now it saves the Paraguayans from themselves, and that there, at this moment, as in some other communities, is really a great service to it. If there were no military occupation at all, there would be civil war, in all probability, even among that remnant which is left of Paraguayans. The Brazilian protectorate at least gives a breathing-time to that people almost annihilated by the scourge of civil and foreign war.
The yellow fever has not yet entirely disappeared from Rio, and business has not revived much, but the new coffee-crop is fair, and must soon, with large remnants of last year’s product, create activity in commerce.
I have, &c.,