New-York tribune., 1872-06-17
BRAZIL.
AN OBSEQUIOUS CUSTOM Acknowledgement
CONVENTIONS ABOUT gREEMASONRI - M
PORTANT MILITARY MOVEMENTS.

| CONVENTIONS ABOUT EREENASONRI - M
| PORTANT MILITARY MOVEMENTS.
| lFROh THB REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OP THH TRIBUNE ]
RIO DE JAERIRO, April 30,-The Emperor,
Don Pedro, I intimated Ia q previous com
municaton. greatly excited the Republican ele-
| ment here, because upon his return from
Europe, he Immediately assumed 70 their fullest
extent all Of his royal perogatves Among his princey
brethren, and in the presence Of soyereigns he had
made himself conspicuous by his painncs Of dress and
very ordinary style living. For this he gained much
credit in certain quarer3 and the Liberals and Repub
licans, who make up the Opposition TO the present Bra
lillian Ministry, especially pleased It natural,
then, that they should say hard things against the En-
perOr when they found him determined 70 exact the
homage before. Among his first directions after
landing to the Minister Of the Empire
that there should be general reception at
the City Palace, with the customary handkissing.
should here remark for the benefit OF those OF your
readers not acquainted with the Brazilian custom In
this regard that among tho large number OF holidays
that nearly take up the Brazilian calendar, there ID
good sprnkling of days which are known by the
of Be0a0 :" that is to say, they days when the
Emperor receives at court, and gracously allows his
hand be kissed. He receives other days. too, but
the andkssng regarded mark Of such high con-
descension and favor that it is permitted by His impe
rial Majesty only on special occasions There have
been wanting men among the statesmen or Brazil
to condemn, by their practice well their words.
this ridiculous custom. well remember that when
Otton the guished Liberal of Minas Geraes died
it remarked Of him that he had never kissed the
hand OF the Emperor and had instructed his family not
10 do it, claiming that could not yield to such Gus
tom without loss of personal dignity, without loss OF
his selfrespect And although it Is the custom in this
country children kiss the hands of their parents
and godparents when they meet still Ottonis dislike
OF the habit strong that he forbade 1t even to his
own children Svera da MOtta, another Senator, one
Of the leading Aboitonsts of Slavery in Brazil for
many years. also said to have fallen into imperial dis
favor account OF similar views and practices.
Up to few days since, them may say that the En-
perors popularity had suffered not little by his exact
ing from his people again. upon his return from Europe
a kind Of homage which, while there, he would never ac
cept and which he had declared, while in Portugal, to
be only admissible IN the Of persons Of wholly
equal condition, and custom TO which true citizen
could subject himself without humiliation" The En-
peror has however by abolshng the custom altogether
this Court. reganed his former popularity circular
issued by the Minister Of the Empire dated April q,
briefly explains that the custom of Portuguese origin
1t used during the reign of Don Pedro and con
tnued during the minority of Don Pedro H. although it
obligatory and there no law requiring it,
Observance. The circular adds "as this custom
(hand-k kissing has other foundation, the EN-
perOr orders that 1t be abolished and 1t will
be hereafter dispensed with at this Court"
To Americans this might seem too trivial and frivolous
for consideration but when one bears in mind
and tendencies, such change Of attitude and relations,
the part OF both ruler and people, may well be re-
arded with interest As coup d6td to win back popular
has been entirely successful and the opposition
Journals even, cannot withhold admring praise True
the Republiea snaps and snars when 1t says that the
circular insult since represents the Emperor as
refusing his hand the people they press forward to
kiss it; but the Reformd truly represents the
when praises the voluntary act OF the Emperor decla
ing 1t TO be conquest OF that public opinion which is
growing stronger and stronger everyday and which His
Majesty has too much good sense to wholly disregard
The act OF the Bishop OF Rio, in deprving certain
priest OF his prerogatves preacher and conessor be-
cause participated in Masonic celebration that took
place in this capital short time since, is still exciting
more or less attention. One morning, recently counted
no less than long articles in the Journal Of Com
nerce upon the subject, wherein it would seem that
every possible phase Of it had been presented But still
the wordy war goes The peculiar feature Of the
is this The celebration in honor OF Rio BrancO, the
present Prime Minister of the Empire who is also the
Grand Master OF the Masonic Order IN Brazil; and the
priest above referred suspended from his eccles
ca functions because he delivered the address 10 the
Grand Master on that occasion. It would certainly
that the Prime Minister OF the Empire ought 10 be
powerful and influential enough to protect the priest
and in fact grand meeting was held few even
ipes since AT which Rio Branco presided and It is ru
mored that with the opening Of the Chambers VIII begin
sharp attack all the religious orders and indeed the
whole ecclesiastical administration OF the country that
Of late has created much dissatisfaction everywhere by
the arbitrary in which it has exercised its au
thonty.
BY last steamer came that the Senate OF the
United States had also passed the resolution taking off
the duty on coffee OF the Brazilians feel very
grateful for this little gift-fOr such Il s-to the plant
declares that will practically have other effect than
TO add sOOOOOOO to their annual profits 1t is to be
hoped however, that the people Of the United States
will also derive benefit from this action OF the SEN
ate, as well as the BraZians. .
From Buenos Ayres we learn that there mas Deen an
other invasion OF the Indians entering that province on
the western side and OF the PataRonan tribes
are beginning 70 give trouble, Commissioner has been
sent by the Argentine Government 10 treat with them
The press still continue 20 censure the act OF Brazil in
separately negotiating treaties with Paraguay, though
IL seems 10 be generally understood and admitted that
the Plate Republics II united, would now be un
able 10 against the power OF Brazil so there ID
little fear at present private letter directed
from Benos Ayres TO commercial in Montevideo
states that 1000 Brazilian troops had reinforced the gar
son the island Of Cerrto, which Is being f0rned ana
armed with heavy artillery. This island Is situated at
the confluence Of the Paraguay ana Parana rivers ana
Of both IL Is said that the ArRen
tine Government Will shortly send Minister a. repre-
sentative TO this since the death OF Gen. Pauner
h has been unrepresented and just at time when II
ever II needed q representative. The yellow fever sl
continues TO claim It's victims at M0ntevldeO, notwitb
taken by the public authorities As the cold season
advances however lit believed that will disappear
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