The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-09-16
Our Brazilian Neighbor.


1t Is curious that the Portuguese. whose
colonies elsewhere have proved short
lived or insignificant, should have founded
on the American continent great and
hourishing empire. The anomalous result
was no doubt promoted by fortunate ac-
cidents, but the efficient cause WINS a
wealth of natural resources only comparn-
Bile with those OF the United States. The
development Of Brazil, however, has been
nut little furthered by Immigration, and
therefore view of its present condition
may help us 10 estimate what our own
progress might have been without thar
element Of growth.
III ID hard TO see why Brazil should have
received during the last half century such
| mconsldernble ncccssions TO her popula
| ION from foreign sources. She offers the
| immigrant every variety OF climate. and an
unlimited choice of soils under the easiest
conditions ofpurcbase. 1t is true that the
Catholic religion is established. bur nil
Sects enjoy the vigilant protection of the
law. The privileges OF citizenship nre
thrown open by Il system of naturaliza-
ION not less saeacious and generous than
our own. Those privileges moreover are Of
Ni'''s oifltt tue form OF gov
-rnment secured 10y the Constitution of
m Is one OF the most liberal In the world.
rue essential principles of free iustltu-
IONS are more distinctly recognized in the
brazilian empire than in the so-call.d ia.
P"pic OF 'hih. The executive head of
Inc STATE i irresponsible, but his authority
Is exercised through responsible Ministers.
me suffrage Is well nigh universal, there
pelng more than million OF voters i'm n
white population OF eight millions. Mem
bers of the Senate aud Chamber of Depu-
mes are not however. named directly by |
TIE people, but, like our President. bv |
electoral colleges which aggregate twenty
thousand electors. These also choose the |
provincial assemblies, which correspond 10
'ur STATE legislatures, controlling the pro-
vincial revenues and expenditures. The
whole empire is likewise subdIyided into
some seven hundred municipal districts.
whose anAis are regulated by councils
elected 10y the whole body Of voters.
No"hcre, IN short, except III the United
states. ls the right of local self-govern-
ment more thoroughly assured, or the en-
-roachments Of Capitalization more warily
prevented.
hb'A tiN btlIltluS Oh n constitutional |
'e*line' the energies Of the BRAZILIAN people
la' been quickened to a degree not par
ilieled by the Portuguese race since the
ia OF ITS creai discoveries. During the
hst decade, especially, the natural advan-
ages OF the country nave been recognized
ma turned TO account with n shrewd and
Jatient Industry which would not discredit
he English settlements in Australia. Thus
III the staple products Of Brazil, by the
uoption or modern processes ana ma
nneIy, have been signally augmented
nd improved. It's coffee, for instance. {
'hlch formerly was rated lowest i'm the
European markets, atpresent ranks among
ne best. The annual amount exported r
DIV approaches two hundred thousand 1 !
lhs and when we consider that the coffee | c
70 thrlVes from the Amazon to the prov a
ace OF san Paulo. and from the coast TO
ne extreme west Of Matte Crosse. there
onld seem 10 DO no limst to the produc-
on of this staple The yield of sugar has
iPre IMAM doubled in thrty years, the
vorage quantity exported in recent years
Needing one hundred and City thousand d
ms; and although the Brazilian artiel. Ia
'hhot yet compete in price with certain u
~ 'NlASs u ilulhtu DcllcfIntIt III uualI- |
2 Is Observable The tobacco consumed -
Brazil is almost wholly OF domestic ~,
owth, and Of late the exports have shown "a
mean value OF nearly four millions of dol al
RS. Since our civil war the culture of cot v
n has greatly expanded in Brazil, partic- he
trly IN the northern provinces Indeed.
g cotton crop has Occupied in value since III
~, and the amount now exported falls
lie short of twenty millions of dollars. Va
} equivalent or more remarkable in Ie
ease may be noted in all the important Il,
oducts. Thus the value OF hides export All
has quadrupled in the same period M
ale that Of rubber is fifty times greater 70
IN II was thirty years ago. On the other IN
mo- corn and breadstuifs are produced
~ IN limited quantities, scarcely more T.,
Ah adequate TO the home consumption. ,.r
hough maize yields an average orop of pa
6 hundred ana fifty for one and wheat ST.,
barley may DO very probably cult The
ted IN the southern region. Tr,
The mineral exports of Brazil. which un
ce constituted the main source Of wealth del
AT present not worth citing, the menu ca
nual value of the diamonds not renoh- -
n million ~ dollars, and that Of gold n
ing considerably less, But for domestic the