The New York herald., 1872-10-19
b r A z I l..
Semi Centennial Of Brazilian Na~
tiOnal Independence.
Tne celebration dwelling Of Statue ofsyose
ponifacio Andrsda Silva, First Prhnss Vim
istsr Of Brasil-1he Emperor and the
Imperial Family PrsssRt-vast
Crowds Goggseus Festivities nr.a
y and Brilliant Illumination.
RIO yaNEfRo, BrazIl, Sept. 1. 1872.

RIO JAHEfRo, Brazil, Sept. I, 1872.
Fifry years ago to-day, ON the plains OF Ypranga,
In the province OF San Paulo Dom Pedro l., father
OF tue present Emperor of BraziI, proclaimed the
independence OF Brazil nom tho sovereignty Of the
crown Of Portugal peacefay revolution, indeed,
compared with the issues at stake, was thus
erected. Lack OF political harmony between the
:limited kingdom or Portugal and its giant colony
IN the New World arising partly from the fact that
Dom John Nv. had in earlier years. during the
Napoleonic wars, not only found an asylum
In his immense colony, but there had
established the seat and capital OF his Empire OF
Portugal Aivares and Brazil Thus Brazil had be-
come accustomed to being the location OF the
political metropolis, and unwillingy gave up the
privilege and honor. Dissension and dissatisfac.
ton also increasing from the favoritism shown
In placing Portuguese in governmental and political
positions to the exclusion OF Brazilians, and an
evident disposition to dominate unwarrantably
over the Brazilian portion Of the Empire by the
governing powers in Portugal. All these and many
other reasons conspired to increase the spirit OF
independence.
THE OUTBREAK.
Dom Pedro l., then as Prince Regent and Governor
OF Brazil under his father, Dom John w. regning In
Portugal, was travelling In the province Of San
Pauso, attended by the members Of his court, when
couricrs bearing dispatches and news OF exceeding
condtron Of affairs in Portugal overlook him, and
hastily reading the matter, his mind quick to con-
csye, was made up, , and drawing his sword he
and there received the allegiance Of his attendants
as Dom Pedro l., Emperor OF Brazil.
Among the men most conspicuous at that time
and whose remarkable talents had caused material
progress in Brazil were the three brothers OF the
Andrada family, and perhaps without their ale-
glance and support the new empire would have
struggled hard to maintain an existence but by
their efforts 1t may be assured that the indepen-
/ dence of Brazil soon became Jaft acconapM and
acknowledged by foreign Powers, SO that only
Snowledged the Independence and soyereignty of Of
her late province. "
the eldestof these three brothers, became Brazil
first Prime Minister, and undoubtedly to him is due
most Of the merit for the immediate strides Brazil
took in her national growth To-day, on this semi
centennial anniversary of Brazlls independence,
was unveiled, IN one Of the public squares, bronze
Brazil.
), The day was somewhat muggy and close in
the i Tinsng Of ' bells sS and 1sns'sd the N nring ring
Of guns the city was gay with bunting and
the Plaza the Largo Largo San ann Francisco ii PaSs
where, within an enclosure In the centre OF the
the 81 " e
The board screen around the ground was now
taken down, and the statue was simply enve0ped
in a covering OF green and yellow, the national
col0rs OF Brazil. r
was Me kaleidoscope, In the proiuslon Of stand
The Polytechnic and Military school, standing on
statue was erected, was very gaily and richly
dressed, and over the main entrance pavilion OF
4 briuiant-colored material was erected. The bal
comics OF the building were reserved for the diplo
matte corps, where they assembled in oil their
brilliant attire Of coart ana Official dress and
represented by Colonel Richard Coutts Shan
non, at present Charge dAffaires, during the tenn
Minister Hon. James R. Partridge The Ministry, try.
the national and city officials the students OF the
POlytechnic-all joined in the ceremony OF unveil-
At halfpast two O'Clock the Emperor and his i'm
pertal son-in-law, the Conde d'Eu, in all the glitter
and insignia and accompanied by the. the Ministry,
passed from the Academy building to the
statIe me-, in % the centre r, o. the the SQUARE took
the veil, and, pulling together AT signal, the en-
yelope fell and revealed to the waiting throng the
bronze figure OF Jose Bonifacio Andrada Silva,
the first Prime Minister OF Brazil. The bands OF
music Immediately struck up the Brazilian ma
fional hymn the crowds nlled the air with shout
minated by profuse and beautiful lluminations
especially In the Plaza OF San Francisco di Paula
where by the aid OF magnesium lights the bronze
statue was made as conspicuous at MONDAY, and
assuming silver hue most fascinating to the eye.
is little above life sze and represents the Minis
ter IN the plain dress that OF the custom here half
acentury ago. 1t rests upon the left foot, with the
upon pile OF books, across the top Of which is an
unrolled scroll or sheet representing the Declara-
the words, "kantssso as nacss.n The LETT hand is.
slightly extended, and, the lace has thoughtful
and determined expression. At the four corners
ngures, representing .Justicia," "Intesridade,
0 i"Rresan and 'Scicncia" On the face of the
pedestal is the inscription, 'Jose Bonifaco Andrada
sva.n On the reverse Of the pedestal is '.Sete de
SetemOr-0, 1s22.o q
y, y As work Of art it can by no means take high
I. rank, yet 1t Will take place among the memorials
( and monuments which are slowly accumulating
here and Illustrating interesting epochs and periods