Oxce more the revolutionary spirit seems rampant' in South America, and from Columbia in the north, Brazil on the east, Argentina on the south-east, and Peru on the west, alarming accounts have come to hand of plots and counter-plots, The causes of this unrest are not easy to understand, for the ways of South American politics are proverbially peculiar, and to judge on which side the right may be said to be is almost an impossibility, It is a matter of regret to those people who still retain a shred of confidence in some of the warring States, to see that Brazil, which until the last few years had enjoyed comparative quietude, is plunging into anarchy. The state of affairs there should also have some interest for China, because, as we recently stated, the overtures which the emissaries of that country have been making to Li Hung-chang with the view of obtaining approval to an extensive emigration of Chinese labourers to Brazil, met with a rather friendly reception. When Brazil enacted a bloodless revolution and deposed the late Emperor Dom Pedro the peaceful mode in which it was carried through was almost universally extolled, and was regarded as a good omen for the future wise government of the country. Now, however, it looks as if she were falling into the bad ways of her neighbours, and the news of civil war should induce China to consider what the effect of similar events would be upon her people who might accept the invitation of the employers of labour and go to Brazil, The abolition of slavery, which was a contributory influence in the dethronement of the late high-minded Emperor, has undoubtedly rendere labour less plentiful and dearer, and under good government the Chinese would doubtless make excellent citizens, developing the great resources of the country and obtaining wealth for themselves. 'I'he new Minister to the United States has been directed, we believe, to enquire into the invited immigration of Chinese into Brazil, and it is to be hoped he will let his Government know as soon as possible what the prospects are.
As for the revolution in Argentina—which the telegram we publish this morning happily represents as nearly quelled—it seems to have broken out in the State of Corriente, close to Rosario, the town in the adjoining State captured by the insurgents. The cause is said to have been the suppression by the Governor of the newspaper Ami del Pueblo, which severely criticised his actions, The provocation may appear small, but with such inflammable materials on haud-it has frequently been enough to bring about a bloody conflict. It was so in this instance, and Governor Ruiz had to fly to Paraguay to escape from the victorious revolutionists. When one contemplates them calmly fromthe outside, itis really pitiable to think of the ruin these squabbles—petty in their origin—must bring to many. No other South American country has made such widespread and rapid improvement as this, and yet it allows an army numbering less than 10,000 men, and a navy which consists of about three ironclads, six gunboats, a few torpedo boats and some small steamers, to engage in sanguinary strife and impede the industrial progress of the country. The foreign population is a considerable one, and out of the total, according to the ast census, of 2,942,000, about 339,000 are of Italian birth, 161,000 Spanish, 153,000 French, 51,000 English, and 54,000 German and Swiss. Outside countries—bearing in mind the large amount of foreign capital sunk in enterprises—may therefore claim a very direct interest in the state of affairs there.
'Lhe troubles in Peru are threatened by General Pierola, who is reported to be in Iquique, Chile, enlisting his followers and preparing for an invasion, Managers of three banks in' Peru were asked by the Government for a loan of 500,000 so/es, in order to make preparation for defence, but the bankers replied that it was impossible to make the loan and recommended that application be made by the Government to commercial houses. If this course should be adopted a correspondent thinks it is doubtful whether more than one hundred thousand soles will be obtained. The Miuister of Finance offered to pledge the Customs duties collected in Callao for the payment of the loan, but these are already partially mortgaged to the Peruvian Foreign Bondholders' Corporation.
The information regarding the United States of Columbia foreshadows rather than records hostilities. It is said that an ex-President has been invited to) return and aid in the overthrow of his successor, Zelaya, who still bears the title of Provisional President, having won that office by putting himself at} the head of the uprising against the Government established after General Sacaza's downfall, Zelaya's feelings were aroused by the refusal to allow him to share in the spoils of patriotism. Ihe temporarily acting chief was overthrown and Zelaya, making himself the leader of the revolutionists, now deals out the patronage, for only a portion of which he asked a few months ago.
Each slays a slayer, and himself is j slain," a living poet has said, and his words can aptly be applied to the pup-/ pets of South America. Assassination 1s their common end, unless they happen to have the good fortune to outstrip! their companions in flight on the day of defeat. It is truly saddening to! see countries with undoubtedly great natural resources behaving in this manner, but there seems to be no remedy, genuine patriotism being remarkably scarce and the tyranny of one dictator giving place to that of another with tragic continuity.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.