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Asuncion: Paraguay's Interesting Capital (Classic Reprint)

Buenos A ires. A suncion, somewhat like a far inland gateway to a still more remote and unknown region, was accessible by water and was frequently visited by daring explorers in quest of riches and adventure, and the place seems to have met the expectation of the wildest dreamers. History, romance, adventure, cruelty, oppression, and delight seem to have been liberally blended, so that many historians and scholars refer toP araguayas the most romantic of allS outh American countries. No land could hardly pass through more vicissitudes; but we must leave the story of the country, the wonderful work and the expulsion of the Jesuits, the wars and unrest, the gallant fight against the combined forces of three neighboring nations, and other phases of growth, to the readers of historical books. Passing rapidly onward, we note that the people of Paraguay declared their independence from Spain on August 14, 1811. The Spanish governor at that time, Velasco, being in sympathy with the movement, was chosen a member of the Junta or governing board. On October 1, 1813, a constitutional congress met in A suncion, adopted a national flag, and vested the administrative power in two consuls. In 1844 the form of government was changed and a President elected for a 10-year term, Carlos A. Lopez being the first official to occupy the Paraguayan presidential chair. He was succeeded after a second term by his son, who died in 1870. Shortly thereafter the Government was reorganized and a new constitution proclaimed, which provides for a republican form of government with legislative executive, and judicial departments. Asuncion being the political capital as well as the countrys chief commercial city, has witnessed stirring times in the gradual molding of a stable government. A suncion, lying about 1,000 miles from the mouth of the Plata, was founded in 1536; and the fact that thi
(Typographical errors above are due to OCR software and don't occur in the book.)