Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1876-06-08

ROYAL LINE OF BRAzrL AND PoRTU.
oAL.-It is nearly four centuries since
Brazil was discovered, and although
now independent Of Portugal, it has al.
WAYS leen governed by the same roval
family. For period of its early his.
tory the occupation of some Of its sea-
port towns was disputed by the French;
but they were finall driven off, and the
country was ever afterward governed as
u viceroyality of Portugal, until in 1907
the two countries singularly changed
relations, Brazil becoming the seat Of
government.
Portugal temporizcd to no purpose
with NAPOLEON. having yielded 20 his
pretentions until warned of the futility
of such measures by the example Of
the unsuccessful scrviitv of SPAIN
Then the royal family of Braganza took
a step which astonisLed all Europe 1t
was regarded as cowardly, but in their
helpless condition it was certainly poll
tic.
It was in order to save bloodshed,
and with the hope that the invader
would spare his subjects in consequence
Of his own unqualified submission, that
Dom Joao, after counselling his afllic-
ted pcoplc-whO desired to detain him.
and would have maintained his rights
at all bazar,ls-to obey Napoleon i'm
plicitly, embarked in haste with his
family. He bade adieu to the thou
sands who had assembled to witness the
sad spectacle, and left his native shores
10 seek refuge in this distant colony.
Thus the loss TO Portugal proved gain
to Brazil. She assumed the first rank,
and after til. general peace of Europe
still maintained it, the sovereign prefer
ring To remain. and to govern the old
country with delegated power for some
years.
In 1927 King Jcao VI had become
disgustcd with the new world, and his
enemy, Napoleon, having no longer pos
session of Portugal, he returned TO his
home, leaving his son Pedro to govern
Brazil rs viceroy. But the EraZilians,
having once assumed the first rank.
were naturally unwilling to he super
seeded again 10y Portugal. Accordingly
in the following year they declared
their Independence. installing the vice.
roy AS Emperor with the title of Pedro
!. The Portuguese made show of re-
sistance, but the whole affair was ac-
eorcplished without bloodshed, to the
general satisfaction of all parties.
To sum up the subsequent history of
the Blazillian throne, it is sufficient to
say that the first Emperor, on account
oil bis unwillingness to grant the peo-
pie liberal Constitution, was obliged to
abdicate in 1881. Like his father, be
took refuge in the home Of his ancestors.
At this time the present Emperor was a
child. The empire was accordingly
governed by regency until the year
1870. when Dom Pedro ii, although
only fifteen years of age, assumed the
supreme power.
Upon the abdication Of Dom Pedro
], the constitution was altered to a
more Republican form. The power Of
the Emperor was limited, for although
he holds u higher title, and receives a
salary fifteen times larger than that of
the President of the United States, vet
his prerogative is less in many respects
The veto power amounts to very little,
II an enactment passes both Houses, he
has right to withhold his sanction at
first. 1t is then sent back to them,
and If they pass it again, even by no
greater majority than before, it becomes
law.-The Galary for jane.