New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1871-11-09
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1871.
Emancipation in Brazil.

slaves in Brazil as it came to US o short time
act had been foreshadowed for years; had
been in preparation for q long time, and
hopes and expectations had been aroused to
high point. Now, that the full text of the
emancipation bill is before US, its provisions
must needs produce a painful disappointment,
and many hearts which were beating with
glorious anticipations Of future happiness and
prosperity will be filled with sorrow and dis
may. The act, under the pretence of putting
an end to slavery, gives about as little OF lib
erty as it possibly could have done. 1t leaves
not only the whole present generation slaves
for life, but also all of their children born pre-
vious to the PRONUNCIATION of the emancipa
ton bill. Even those born since that date, and
consequently no@fnally free, are virtually con-
signed to slavery, since the act provides for a
system of apprenticeship, in which they are to
be kept until twenty.one years of age. Thus,
while ostensibly slavery is to>be abolished, good
care is taken to prolong its existence, though
to limited extent, for about seventy or eighty
years longer. Indeed, this kind of emanci-
patton is rather an excuse for slavery than q
grant of freedom.
If we look on this matter from a general
standpoint, we come to the conclusion that il
has always been the exclusive privilege of re-
publics to inaugurate and carry through the
great reformatory movements by which the
cause of liberty and progress is promoted.
Sometimes monarchical government is forced
by circumstances, perhaps to avert an impend
ing revolution, to make concessions and great
reforms stubbornly denied previously. Some
times, too, some individual monarch will take
the lead in the way of progressive measures.
either for the sake Of gaining popularity. or
because he may happen to be superior 10 heart
and intellect to the average Of his tribe.
In neither case, however, the reformatory
measures will be as radical and com
plete. as beneficial in their results, as where
they are the fruits of the spontaneous action of
sovereign people When rung from the gov
eminent by necessity, conceded as if it were,
under duress, they will naturally be as imrer-
feet, as much stripped of tn cir salutary power
as the opponents can venture to do, and when
the work of the supreme will Of individual
rulers, there eau never be any security that
they will not be undone by the caprice, the re-
dictionary tendencies of successor, or people
not vet up to the standard Of enlightenment
required to appreciate them. Experience has
amply shown this. In England, the most
needed reforms were seldom granted unless
delay would have positively imperilled the
peace Of the country and the existence of the
Government, and then they have hardly ever
h., bolf Irs%
as much, but not one jot more was granted than
the sxigencies of the moment imperiously de-
manded. Thus the State Church was discon-
tinued in ireland, but the reform, instead of
being made thorough and radical one by the
complete separation of Church and State, has
remained only partial, by being limited to Ire
land, aud everywhere else in Great Britain the
people of all creed and sects, as we'll as those
of none, are yet compelled to contribute to the
support of the Church of England. The odious
suffrage law which DISTINGUISHED the majority of
the people has been abrogated; yet how short
even the present system falls of true universal
suffrage without being for all that free from its
abuses, for election frauds are committed thereas
well as here. 1t is true slavery was abolished in
the British Colonies nearly generation earlier
than in our own Republic, but even that meas
ure, hailed as it was in those days as the first
ray of the light of freedom, was far from being
perfect, for there as in Brazil, years of sppren.
ticeship were made to precede real emancipa
ton, and exercised a most psrnicious influence
on the welfare Of the freedmen. Other coun-
tries show similar results. RIcHELIEU inaugu-
rated system Of religious federation, previous
~ unknown in France; yet all that had been
gained was lost afterwards by the revocation
of the edict of Nantes. In Austria the EN-
peror JosErH III. struggled most energetically
for freedom, progress, and enlightenment against
religious bgotry and the assumptions of
the Church, only to become the victim of
the revenge of the priests, who poisoned him,
and few years later the country was held
again as firmly as ever before, under the grasp
Of the jesuits and reactionists Of every descrip
ton.
Not much more cheering is the sight offered |
to-day in Italy. Victor ExANuEL, forced by |
circumstances, by bis people, and by all consid-
srations of selfinterest, to join the enemies of
the Church, was supposed an honest, enlight |
ened man by many good, credulous enthusiasts,
who really expected that be would inaugurate
great improvements, and establish q kind of
liberal and constitutional model monarchy. In
stead OF this, We hear of political prosecutions,
prosecutions Of the press, denunciations, es-
p,onaoe, and Encouragement 10 all directions.
The King has turned against the men who have
achieved the unity of Italy. to whom be OWES
his present exalted position, and is sndesvor-
ing TO reconcile his worst enemies by conces-
sione. Although successful and favored by
fortune as few men are, be 10 smarting and
wri;hing under the accommodation Of the
Pope. ready TO go on his knees before PJus to
have it removed, and seems not to have learned
yet that that lightning, formerly so terrible has
lost its power, and need no more disturb a
mans comfort, sleep, and appetite than ghosts
will trouble those who do not believe in them
Very differently do Republics achieve re
forms and promote progress. 1t is true Amer
lean slavery was long preserved, though the {
very auta gonism of republican institutions and I
. disgrace TO the nation yet when the urgency I
Of its abolition was recognized the work was |
done thoroughly. without reserve, and in good :
faith. The same had been done in Mexico and q