Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-03-09
SLAVERY IN BRAZIL.
Brutality or the Knst1tusiOm-The
Abolition Movement Dead.
Rio de Joneiro Correspondence Netc YoTl
Erenfnl Post

Rio de Jonefro Correspondence Net0 York
Evening Post.
There is one question which the recent
elections have Influenced in 8 manner
worthy Of general attention. In the last
Chamber of Deputies small, active, snd
able party Of abolitionists was organized
under the leadership OF Deputy joaquin
Nabuco, and was able not only to keep the
question siive and under discussion, but to
tnfuse q wholesome fear into the minds OF
shareholders themselves. The government,
hOwever-snd Liberal Government ST that
refused to take up the question, or even
to entertain IL, so the sbOlitionists were re-
strieted almost wholly to agitation. In the
recent elections every one OF this small
band of sbOlitionists wss defeated, snd so
overwhelmingly that there seems nothing
else for them 70 do than to begin work all
over again, and to educate s following which
viii some day make itself felt in other chan
nels than Parliamentary debates For The
present the movement is dead; It Is rarely
mentioned. Its leader has left the country,
its societies are losing enthusiasm or have
wholly disappeared, its organ, the AbOlici0R-
iS'd, is about to suspend, It's lukewaTm
friends have all deserted, aud its enemies
are everywhere triumphant. It was once
urged that the country was largely in favor
Of emancipation, and would so express it.
self were the opportunity once given: but
these elections have proved that belief delu-
sive. There are really very few genuine alb
olitionists in BrsZii-men who are opposed
to slavery from principle, and who will ad-
vocste its determination at any snd all cost.
There are great many Observation-Disclosures
who are accustomed to mouth fine phrases
and high-sounding principles, but they al
ways mean freedom for some other mans
slaves and a score Of onerous conditions
which viii secure remuneration for the mas
ter and state Of enforced semi-seTvitude
for the freedmen ever after. Free LABOR, as
we know it in the United States, is neither
known nor desired in Brazil.
This question Of Brazilian slavery Is one
about which the world is ignorant | have
read glowing accounts Of the humane treat
ment which the Brazilian slaves receive, and
of the happy, half-idle life which they lead,
but they are cruelty false. A more degraded
and brutal Institution never existed. No
stranger can possibly know how cruel 1t is.
In the country districts the master is not
only absolute on his own estates, but his
will is law. No man would dare befrieud q
slave, for his life would not be secure one
single moment. Even an avowal of practi-
cal abolition sentiments would render a
mans life insecure. Some time since | was
informed by Mr.. Nsbuco that for months
scarcely a day had passed without
his receiving insulting and threatening
letters, even to threats against his
life, IL he did not desist. In truth, Brazil
ian slavery is one Of the worst forms Of that
accused institution, and without the com
pulsiCn Of the outside world it would be
continued indefinitely. Even today the
children Of slave mothers, free under the
law Of 1871, are held In slavery, and are
sold in the open market-eVen advertised In
the daily journals of this city o. the ANA
ION Indian children are captured and sold
into slavery, aud are so held in the provin-
cial capitals of Manaos and Para. INSTANCES
sre continually coming to light of free
blacks reduced to slavery through treachery
or force. The slave trade was abolished in
1881, but native Africans from 40 TO so wears
Of age are openly advertised and sold,
though the law declares them free.
have in my possession little pamphlet
recently issued by the Chairman Of the
Board Of Directors Of e powerful mining
company in London, iustifylng the illegal
retention in slavery of between two hundred
and three hundred blacks on the grounds Of
humanity, because 1t was thought unwise
and impOlitic to free so many OF them at
once. These blacks were held In illegal
slavery by this English company for twenty
years, and yet British justice is blind to the
infamous crime. And this same company
owns other slaves, and another old company,
whose affairs are in an English Court of
Nuauc6Fyt OWLS bOmS TWO hundred more,
whose rental passes regularly through
the hands of English court officials.
Portugal also has made preten-
sions as an opponent to slavery; but Portu-
guese subjects own slaves in Brazil, which
are even sold In Portuguese Consulates In
the settlement of estates. And, l am
ashamed to say, there are even Americans
here-men from the North as well as from
the South-whO openly own slaves. 1 may not
charge foreigners with the cruel treatment
which slaves receive on the plantations, nor
will | say that every Brazilian planter is
guilty of cruelty. But l will say that the
foreign element here is largely obstructive
to emancipation, and that the native senti.
meut is almost unanimous against aboli-
ton. Badly clothed, worse sheltered, half
starved, overworked and brutallY treated,
these poor creatures are certainly entitled to
a little Of the enlightened sympathy and
help Of the world.