The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-04
b r A z I L.
Condition Of the Imperialist Relations Towards
the Argentine Confederation.
Active Preparations for War-cabinet Relations
10 the Catholic Church-The Special Mission
TO Rome and Correspondence with the
Vatican Impending Prosecution
ofthe Bishop Of Pernambrco.

RIO JANEIRo, FEB. :, 1874
The cloud is still darkenIng in the south, and the
brazilian government has resolved 10 take imme-
aiate measures in preparation for war judged
almost inevitable but winch the President OF the
Council has declared 10 his friends WILL under no
circumstances be commenced by Brazil. which
win await an open act OF hostility IRON the Argen
fine Confederation before drawing the sword.
Measures for preparation, which have already
been taken are the sending OF more troops to
Paraguay the REIMBURSEMENT OF the suppressed
River Platte naval station and an active recruit
ing ana impressment for the army and navy, for
the latter OF which foreign seamcn are invited TO
serve one year. Admiral the Baron da Laguna left
Rio on the 3lst nit. TO take command OF the River
Platte squadron, now consisting OF two corvettes
ana several gunboats, but which Is to be
very soon strengthened by the iron-clads and
monitors Brazil, Marie Barros and Bahia and
the corvette Mage, now getting ready in all haste
at RIO and by other vessels recalled from their
specttye stations or comm ssons AS for arms and
munitions they are now in abundance The maya
zine in the harbor OF Rio has about 600 tons OF
powder In store, and the mills are at full WORK.
The Combain Belgianl breech-loader has been
finally adopted for the army and introduced IN
large numbers, the Spencer being used in the
navy. Armstrong and Wnitworth cannon are
ready for heavy work and q considerable number
OF bronze field cannon have been constructed in
the Rio arsenals, whose chimneys have been yomit
ing smoke night and day for months past. In adj
dtion German ronmen have been brought out 10
work the iron boundaries at Ypanema, in st. Pau!o,
whose fine iron will serve TO render Brazil indie
pendent Of oregn supplies In case OF Interruptions
nom abroad.
THE MOTIVES
actuatng the Brazilian government To take imme-
dlatc measures Tor increasing ner land and naval
forces in the River Platte and its afluents seem TO
he chiefly the fear that the Argentine government
is medtatlng coup de main on Paraguay or
more probably to seize the island OF Atajo, on
which is the Brazilian naval depot at the mouth of
the Paraguay, and which, though formerly dc Jdcto
Paraguayan territory is claimed by the Argentine
government as Argentine territory. GanZa, the
Argentine Minister OF War, stl remains in Entire
Rios, on the Parana, with the Argentine army. OF
some 900 men, although the Entire Rian civil war
Is Entirely over, and although the large cannon
In the John Patten, from Boston, are still rusting
In the hold OF that vessel from the iDcapacity OF
the Argentine engineers TO handle them. Three
steamers arrived from Europe last week al Buenos
Ayres with large remittances OF cannon and rifles
Tor the Argentine government. IL is also said that
some American military engineers are now at
work there upon plans for the iortl1cation of
motive for apprehension lies in the probability OF
the election, February L. OF Alsipa as President OF
the Confederation. Alsnas canvass has been
carried on with the war cries OF "Death TO
the gringos tforeignersl and to the traitors who
have sold US to Brazil" and bloody scenes were
expected TO occur at Buenos Ayres as wen as
other places. II, as Is probable, Alsina be elected,
Gaucho fanatcism and hatred OF foreigners will
be in the ascendant and in combination wi tn that
lust oil territory which ratters the national pride
and makes the difficulty OF the situation with
Brazil Brazil cannot, at present, abandon the
Tree navigation OF the La Plata rivers, so neces
sary TO the safety and commerce OF one-fourth Of
the Empire, and she considers the independence
OF Paraguay indispensable requisite to
insure that freedom. And Paraguay, IN her
view, cannot be independent, II the Ar
gentines, establishing themselves opposite
Asuncon, merely divided rom it by the River
Paraguay, enabled to foster revolutions at the
unhappy Republics very door. Hence the deter
mination OF the Brazilian government not TO per-
nit the Confederation TO extort the whole western
side OF the Paraguay from the Republic, which IN
tention 10 extort the Argentine Congress has
openly countenanced by refusing to ratify the
treaty of boundaries made by Mire with the Par
agusyan government. which lett the latter the
Chaco to the north Of the Pilcomayo The cause
Of Paraguay is, therefore. in Brazilian eyes the
cause OF Brazil, and thus, for the sake OF few
square leagues OF territory which viii inialhbly,
before ten years, become Argentine territory by
the natural course of Paraguayan entry into the
confederation the too Gag er cupidiiy OF the Con-
federation Is provoking a war which may have re-
markaoie consequences, and Is sure TO be deeply
ruinous TO the River Platte commerce, and possibly
10 that OF BrazB. However believe that the Bra
zillan government was sincerely anxious to avert
np VS. rha ma he ~.
present the atmosphere is heavily charged.
TIE RELIGIOUS QUESTION.
February the imperial government publish ed,
IN relation the PeneGo miss ion to Rome the fo-
lowing
The imperial government resolved TO send the
Envoy extraordinary and Minister Plenipoten-
tlary OF Brazil in London special mission 70
Rome 10 avert the most grave consequences OF
The conflict aroused by the reverend prelates the
diocesaDs OF Pernampuco and Para. The nature
anu the range OF the conflict were shown by these
documents The advice Of June II OF last year,
addressed by the Minister OF the Empire 10 the
former of those prelates, IN consequence OF the
Iurtnerance gwen 10 the appeal TO the Crown; the
consult OF the section OF Affairs or the Empire
oil tne council Of state, and the reply
and subsequent acts OF d. Vital. Inc
emergency was the more serious because
the bishops considered themselves authorized and
encouraged IN their procedure BIZ the visible Chier
oi the Catholic Church. Referring to those docu-
ments the Minister OF Foreign Affairs epitomized
the intent and ends of the diplomatic mission TO
The Holy zee in the following words, textualiy
tahsh iicui TUG i1St9 ucttphH % baron de PcnedO-
"Explain To the CARDINAL Secretary. ana very par-
ticulafly TO His Holiness, all tnat has occurred
here, point out the evils winch must result rom
tne continuance Of such irregular and Illegal acts
ana try 10 induce the Pope 70 AVOID encouraging
tue bishops IN tneir d1sOpedlence ana, instead 10
recommend TO tiem full conformity with the Ure.
cepts Of the constitution and laws and with The
rules which nave always been followed in the rela-
tons o. the Church with the State nom The re-
motest times
must warn you that the government has or.
dered the prosecution ~ ne BsnOp ~ Pernambuco,
and u necessary. vii employ other legal means i
its DISPOSAL, even more energetic ones. without
waiting Tor the result Of the mission con hded 20
your zeal and Glscernmsnt. When charging YOU
win tins MISSION it does not think OF suspenaIng
the action Ol the laws. II Is its duty make them
tie carried out. what tne government wants Is 20
prevent the occurrence o. sin grayer proceedings
The order for the prosecution ~ the Bishop vii, be
published, perhaps before sending OF this note 20
you.
Enth In any nriorennns anl xnrr nnn rnnnLnn.