Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 November 1891 — REDIVIVUS DOM PEDRO. [ARTICLE]

REDIVIVUS DOM PEDRO.

HISSTAR AGAIN ASCENDANT IN BRAZIL. The Hou«e of Orleans Conspiring for His Return—Sympathy In Knrojiean Monarchies—Will America Hava to Assert the Monroe Doctrine? , Tis a Startling: Change. The demise of the Brazilian Republic appears imminent. Its inception waa peaceful, though startling. Dom Pedro, Emperor, wa» deposed, or rather, quietly yielded to the course of events, was put aboard a government vessel and sent to Spain, and the republic immediately came into existence. All this was so recent as to be within the recollection of school children. 'J he career of the new government appears to have been successful until recently. Though internal dissensions •were constant, they were of no magnitude, and there had never’seen any serious apparent attempt to install the old monarchy. Prompt recognition from foreign powers was obtained, commercial treaties promulgated, and everything seemed to point to a speedy and firm inauguration of a purely republican form of government.

While the peaceful transition from a monarchical to a popular government is not usual in the affairs of the world, In the case of Brazil it excited no very great comment. Dom Pedro hgd for years been foremost among liberalminded potentates. His rule had been pacific, generous and benign. He was beloved by his subjects, profoundly conscious of their trust in him, alive to to their interests and active in their promotion, to a surprising degree unaffected by jealousy of his rights and privileges as emperor, and singularly fortunate in his choice of advisers. In fact, his rule of Brazil was monarchical more in tradition than in reality. Of all old governments on earth, not excepting England, his approached tho nearest to a popular form. Fostered by this very liberality the spirit of repub icanism grew until It could no longer remain subordinate. With a precipitation that seemed a little uncalled for, Dom Pedro was deposed and sent to Spain. De Fonseca was elected President, and the new republic launched. The form of government was very similar to our own. Turbulence marked the establishment of tho inovation, but, as said before, no serious outbreaks occurred. Of cour.-e, there are those, powerful in wealth and station, who regretted the departure of the Emperor, but they remained discreetly and ominously passive.

And now comes President Fonseca’s proclamation dissolving Congress and declaring himself Dictator. The news came with startiing abruptness, and great anxiety is felt as to the result. It is officially announced that the President has convened the nation to elect new representatives at a date to be determined upon later. Tho revolution had its origin in a row that broke out in the Legislative Chamber. Tho Senate passed a bill to establish the responsibility of ,the President for his different acts. This act met Fonseca’s violent disapprobation, and he refused to accept what he termed any such dictation as to his rights and duties from Congress He ordered the troops under arms throughout Rio Nov. 4, amd this led to intense excitement among the populace. Bands of opponents of the government, including old Republicans and Monarchists, assembled and shouted out their disapproval. Between them and this old cry many fights took place. Riots occurred in the streets all over the city. The troops were then given orders to fire upon the rioters, which they did. Many of the rioters were killed. Rio was now practically In a state of siege. It was not safe to stir out of doois Soldiers patrolled the streets. Martial law was proclaimed. As in previous cases a strict censorship of the press was established. All communication by telegraph was stopped. A spirit of revolt was manifested in the army. \W.ien Fonseca was informod of this fact he went at once to the troops and made them a stirring address, promising to guard their interests and to protect them in all their rights. His words had a good effect The unruly spirits were completely brought around to his side, and at the end of his address loudly cheeied him. The chiefs of the army then requested Fonseca to rt sume the functions of a dictator, saying that the emergency demanded it He appeared to demur for a time, but at length gave hi 9 consent. He then issued a decree relating the causeuf disagreement between him and Congress, and defending his position. At the same time he declared that Congress had gone so far in its attempts to interfere with his prerogatives that he thereby dissolved it. It had no longer any excuse for existing, he said, since it was passing laws that were contrary to the constitution.

The troops inarched to the palaoe, where President Fonseca was holding a conference with his military commanders A conference of the Ministers was also in progress. At ti a. m. Fonseca s decree was made public. He said the dictatorship was to last until the political revolutions were at an end and lawmakers learned to keep in progress with republican ideas. A dictatorship, he added, was the best thing for the distracted country. He disclaimed any intention of prolonging it after peace had been restored throughout the country. Telegrams received from Porto Alegro, in the State of Rio Grande de Sul. declare thart the authority of the dictator is not recognized there. Alegro has a population of some 30,000 inhabitants. Rio Gnnde de Sul is one of the most prosperous and independent of all the States. It has a population of nearly 500.000. The Republicans in it say that they will not tolerate a dictatorship and are demanding armed opposition to E onseca. They say that he wishes to restore Imperial rule, with himself as Emperor, and that he has grown tired of Republican Government The navy has pronounced in favor of Fonseca. Fonseca, in his manifesto, says that he will govern in accordance with his constitution. The National Guard has been mobilized in the Provint e of Rio Grande. The troops are in their quarters. An outbreak is feared owing to the influence of the opposition. Much concern is felt in Washington by the fr ends of the Brazilian republic Minister Conger in a cablegram to the State Department confirms the statement that Congress has been d ssolved and martial law has bee 1 proclain ed. Reading between the lines this means that the ceusp racy against the republic has come to a head and the death struggle is now entered upon between tho new commo ealth and Ihe old monarchy. Con merc'al riva’rles are also nvolved. The Un ted States makes no entangling alliances, but the attempt to re establ sh Dom Pedro cr. his throne cannot succeed without European help, and it would be difficult to keep this country from asset ting the Monroe doctrine, A military dictatorship is temporary, while a restoration of monarchy would be permanent Ever since the peaceful deposition and exile of Dom Pedro intrigues have been going on in Europe. Brazilian statesmen have known all this, and they have also felt the influence pf the Emperor’s partisans at home. Rut by a wise course it was thought they might forestall the actual move U> restore the Emperor. Dom Pedro found

little encouragement In Portugal. The house of Braganza had claims enough on the Portuguese monarchy by relationship and tradition, but the republican sentiment in Portugal is so strong that the monarchy has trouble enough to take care of itself. The same is true of Spain, where Castelar heralded the fail of the Biazilian monarchy with rejoicing. France had no asylum because an Orieanist Prince was the Emperor’s soa-in-law and his wife was to become Queen on Dom Pedro’s death Th* French Republic has had enough of Orleans conspiracies at homo without giv« ing help to them abroad. Bat in Germany there was a kindly feeling toward the deposed monarch. Germany was also anxious to extend her influence in South America. The Czar of Russia took the exile “of his brother” Dom Pedro as a personal affliction and for a jear refused to recognize that there was a Brazilian Republic. Queen Victoria was also shocked at the way a ruler by divine right had been shipped out of his own country. The English merchants did not care so much for the sentiment of the thing, but they saw its commercial bearing. So the weight of English influence was thrown against the new commonwealth. President Fonseca and his advisers knew they had nothing to hope for from Europe and tUy turned expectantly to tho United States. The? were not disappointed, for the administration simp.y reflected public sentiment in recognizing and upholding the republic. The reciprocity treaty followed. It was a good trade arrangement for both countries, but with tho Brazilian statesmen commerce was a secondary consideration. They wanted to be closer to the northern republic and to be assured of its moral support if tho struggle to reestablish the monarchy came to pass. The reciprocity treaty was made the point of attack by the enemies of the republic, and the British influence was directed against it. That tells tho whole story and shows where the interests of tho United States lie It has not much of a navy available, but it will manage to secure spare vessels enough to see that the Brazilians are not entirely at the mercy of European fleets. The belief in diplomatic circles is that the conspiracy to re-estab-lish the monarchy has been fomented by the Orieanist son-in-law rather than by Dom Pedro himself.