The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-10-08
8razil and its Prospects.

The Erangelist gives the following interest
ing article on the Great South American En-
p,re. The recent publication of large work
.dlc,ion Of the Rev. DR.. Kiader and Rev. Mr..
Fletcher, both Of whom have spent several
years Of missionary labor among the people
whom they describe, is drawing public atten-
dion to the condition aud prospects OF nation
'in whose future the citizens OF this country
,innstnecessariiy take a deep interest. Brazil
ii. to South America, in respect to position
and ternitsry, much what the United States
are to the Northern part Of the Continent
Vast ss is our own territorial domain, that Of
Brazil exceeds il by several thousand square
miles. II we boast ct our Mississippi, she
car speak Of her Amazon. One-third of the
southern continent, equal to two-.hirds Of
Europe, is drained by this mighty river aud its
tributaries. The undeveloped resources Of
this vast region are immense. 1t is covered
by luxMiant trd1cal vegetation. Intermin-
able forests, upon which the labor Of the pio-
nssr emigrant have made no visible impress
son, extend over the almost unbroken solitudes
that stretch from the shores of the ocean to
The base OF the Andes while the Southern
provinces, by far the most parulous, can only
be said to be dotted with settlements along the
coast. And yet this vast domain, with its
sparcely settled population, boasts more than
100000 inhabitants; while its institutions,
Notwithstanding the Imperial Presidency Of
Pedro II are, with the exception Of our own,
the most favorable to freedom and progress on
this side u the Ansatic. Its form Of govern
ment bears strong resemblance to ours. !,
is representative, composed Of two Chamber
while the title OF nobility is only of life tenure
and in no case hereditary. No legal restric.
'tion prevents the humblest member OF the com.
mnnity from aspiring TO the most elevated po.
sition. The policy Of the government istoler.
ant and humane. The emperor himself is ,
man Of marked ability, Of enlarged observation
~snd highly cultivated mind. The Roman Cath.
ollie church Is by law established, but al
crseds are tolerated, and DR.. Kidder and Mr.
Fletcher both testify to the perfect freedom
with which they were permitted to circulat,
the Bible. In scarce single instance did the,
meet with opposition and molestatlon. II
many cases they received hearty welcome
or found these who were cheerfully disposet
to co-operate with them in their efforts. Tn,
policy Of the government invites immigration
and large numbers Of Germans, many Of theg
'Protestants, have found homes in this inviting
portion oe the New World. Mr.. Fletche
very appropriately suggests that the Lutheral
church Of this country should adopt a .. mis-
sionary field the region colonized BY the Ger
mans. He declares II ~ his conviction tia
few countries upon the globe afford frser scop
:. to the philanthropist and the Christian in Of
forts for doing good, than the empire Of Brazil
The Protestantlm may avow his belle
aud labor to extend it, without fear of perss
cution or intolerance. The Roman Catholi
Z priesthood 10 comparatively powerless.
many cases utterly and grossly immoral, thei
hold upon the popular mind is weak indeed
With some avble exceptions, they are ignorsn