Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-05-01

."NSi VIZ - oRPOAhOSN W 0hC III
perial government, composed Of the
emperor and the seven ministers
spoken Of above. The legislation
of every province is made by pro.
Vincial chamber of deputies, the
seat Of which is at the capital of
the respective province.
A country like Brazil, new aud
nearly equal to the whole of Europe,
and forming one-ffth of America,
is, naturally enough, thinly popu-
lated. Extending from five degrees
north of the equator to thirty-seven
south of it, and with coast 5000
miles, it is no surprise to find most
all cities along the littoral. With
numerous harbors Of great excel
lence everywhere, the maritime
cities have made rapid strides to-
ward development. The principal
city is the capital-Rio de Janeiro
of 100000 inhabitants; then
come Bahia, with 100000; Pernam-
buco, of 100000; besides these and
many other cities, we might men
ton Para, S. Luiz, Santos, S. Paulo,
Campinas, Porto Allegro, Rio
Grande, with an average of 10000
inhabitants. In all these cities all
the modern improvements are met
with; gas, water works, street cars,
ETC., are quite familiar everywhere
in Brazil.
The population is twelve millions;
Of these, one million Indians and
one million and half slaves; the
rest of the people are Europeans or
of European descent. OF the slaves,
it is well to mention the gradual
but steady abolition of human trade
in Brazil, brought about by exceed
ingly liberal laws of the Brazilian
parliament; laws which are a mon
ument in the history of mankind.
Although there is not the devel-
opment or culture of some European
countries, Bdzil has made rapid
progress, leading to higher stand
ard Of education. Schools or medi
cine, law, engineering, theology,
are largely frcquented by Brazilians.
There are schools of lower grades,
and, as to primary ones, all the
people enjoy the incalculable bene-
fits derived from them. In some
provinces compulsory education is
enforced.
The Catholic is the popular re-
ligion of Brazil, but ali other de-
nominations are allowed by the con-
stitution perfect liberty of worship.
In fact, religion does not in any
way interfere with the modes of
thinking of any one; even in the
schools the Bible is not at all al
lowed.
Agriculture is the base of the
wealth Of Brazil. There, in the
Italy of America, the soil is ex-
tremely rich and productive. Coffee,
cotton, sugar and almost any Euro
pean product is raised there. Of
these coffee is the main staple; in
deed, so good is the Brazilian coffee
that the sale of it as Java coffee is a
well known fact. A very new coun-
try, like that flowery land, main
tains a very active trade with all
countries, particularly European.
Of Europe, England has more than
fifty per cent. of the importations
and expectations Of Brazil. A sin
gle statement would tend to show
the immense commerce, and this is:
There are as many steamers from
Brazil to Europe as from the United
States to the same continent. As
to manufacturing, there is very lit
tie done; in this connection it is
proper to call the attention of
Americans to the splendid market
of Brazil for their manufactures.
Many writer's have asserted the ex-
istence of a very friendly feeling of
Brazilians towards Americans, and
there is much truth in the asser-
ton. Very strange, the American
people seem to slumber and leave
their shops idle, when some enter
prise characteristic of this great
country might give employment to
thousands Of laborers, The pro-
gressiye ideas of the age should be
the means of prosperity for the
whole world; and the sooner the
Americans see the advantages of
great intercourse with the beauti-
full countay in South America, the
sooner will they reap the most bene-
fetal results.