No. 241.
Mr. Gibbs
to Mr. Fish.
Lima, Peru, October 13, 1876. (Received November 13.)
Sir: I have the honor to refer to my dispatches Nos. 90, 92, and 97, relative to political affairs. Since those dispatches were written, an apparently serious revolution has commenced in the southern part of the republic. It appears that the government has been aware a conspiracy was being carried on in favor of Don Nicolás Piérola.
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In my dispatch No. 97, September 21, I stated that a law had been passed by Congress granting amnesty to all political offenders, but I corrected the statement in another dispatch subsequently. The decree was passed unanimously by the deputies almost without discussion, but, when sent to the Senate, the government informed that body that, from information in their possession, it was not judicious to pass the law; the decree was returned to the deputies for reconsideration, and after a long debate was revoked. On the ‘4th instant the church party’s organ, La Soceidad, had in its editorial columns rather a remarkable article against the civilists, saying, among other things, “that there was only one person capable of carrying out the country to its true position; punishing those who belonged to that criminal ring (civilists), who were without scruple in doing evil; the only person capable of freeing the country of legislative and administrative despotisms, and facing the evils of civilism, and this person was Piérola.” This article caused quite a sensation, so I was not surprised when the news was telegraphed on the 6th that Piérola had landed at Moquegua, about 700 miles to the south of Callao (southeast), had taken the place, a small town, and declared or pronounced gainst the present government. Troops were hurried down to Callao, and that night 900 infantry, 200 cavalry or hussars, and some 50 artillerymen were embarked for Mollendo, some 40 miles to the northwest of Moquegua, and the terminus of the railroad that goes to Arequipa, 107 miles in the interior, the second city of importance in the republic.
On the 7th a proposition was made in the Chamber of Deputies to suspend the constitutional guarantees of rights of citizens; the debate was long and excited, but in a joint Congress they were suspended, 110 yeas to 12 noes. A decree was also passed empowering the government to increase the army and to raise 4,000,000 sols for extraordinary uses and purposes.
During these last few days some thirty or more half-pay officers have been arrested, and also some private citizens. The government is using energetic measures to crush this attempt.
Piérola has gone to a part of the country where he has many partisans, and is near Torato, in the Andes, 60 miles distant, and the scene of his former attempt. It is stated that the parish priest of Torato is at the head of some of the revolutionists; if Piérola can get to Arequipa, where he has great sympathy, I think it will cost blood and time to crush out this rising.
Telegrams from all other parts of the republic report everything quiet.
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The latest news this evening is that Moquegua has been occupied by the government troops and Piérola has retired into the interior.
I am, &c.,