The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-17
SLAVERY AND TRADE IN BRAZIL.
A Talk with Ex-Minister Osborn-The Need
of Increased Mail Facilities.
New York Tribune.

| new York Tribune.
Among the arrivals from South America yes
| terday were Thomas A. Osborn, of Leavenworth
| and g. G. Andrews, of St. Paul Mr.. Osborn is
| eX- minister to Brazil, and Mr.. Andrews ex-
| consul general at Rio Janeiro. Mr.. Osborn was
| appointed by President Garfield, and has been
abroad for years. He said to reporter: THE
| two great political questions of supreme i'm
| portance in Brazil are finance and slavery.
| Brazil is passing through financial crisis SINH
| lar to that affecting many other countries at the
| present time. There is much financial depres-
| sion, and the public credit is on trial. In my
| Judgment, the government will be able to keep
| faith with its creditors and meet all its ob2a-
| tlons. The currency is deprecated about 33 per
cent, owing to the condition of affairs. 1t has
! also, In combination with other causes, brought
about cessation of railroad building, which was
| being pushed in several directions. The genera.
disposition on the part of the controlling influences
| IN the government is favorable to q maintenance
OF the public credit"
what is the slavery issue?'
1T is the main political question of the coun-
| try. Brazil is the only civilized nation where
slavery exists to-day as an institution of the
| country. Cuba has slavery, but In a modified
| form, in which it is going out of existence.
Brazil recognizes slavery by law as national
institution. There are about 900 slaves.
In 1871, q movement was started for gradual
emancipation, and a law was passe providing
that after given date all children born of slave
parents should be free. This was an opening
creased steadily until there s now strong party
arrayed against the planters. insisting on I'M
mediate emancipation. The situation Is
similar to that in this country just
ment has instituted a measure TO abolish
slavery in eight years. regard it certain to be-
come a law. Meanwhile the abolition agitation
goes on and abolition may be brought about at
an earlier day. In three of the twenty provinces
of Brazil corresponding to our States, abolition
has already been made Voluntarily"
us there any tendency with this anti slavery
movement toward a republican form of govern
ment?"
There is some sentiment in that direction,
and slight republican tendency constantly
manifesting itself. In the majority of the pres
| ent House of Deputies there are counted several
Republican members"
us the country advancngW
There is disposition on the part of the
Emperor and those around him to advance the
civilization Of the country by every means In
their power. Dom Pedre is recognized as one
of the most emil ghtened men on any throne In
the world. This in itself has wide influence
over the country. He is quite friendly to Amer
ica l have heard him speak often highest
praise of the United States. He came here to
study it's Institutions Before | left he gave
me special audience, and for an hour he re-
called the public men he met here and the Incl
dents of his tour. The number of Americans in
Brazil is small and growing less There are
fewer Americans there than when l went down
four years ago They find their own country
preferable, as 1 DO The climate and people are
so different that one never becomes accustomed
to them"
How about our commercial relations9'
''They are all right, except that we do most Of
the buying Coffee is the principal purchase.
&C. 900 bags came up on the steamer with u.s."
Cannot this condition Of trade be remedied2'
1--WE sent out commission to answer that
question, and possibly ougb. not to. l believe,
however, that it can be changed. If l should
say that the principal obstacle in the way of in
creasipg the commercial relations between the
countries for our benefit is the lack of mail
facilities. presume that the New York Herald
and the New York Times would say that 1 am
| talking for John Roach. But Roach is bank.
rupt, and that is the fact. [ do not mean that
if we had two mails month where we have one
our trade would be doubled, because we would
yet have to fight to get the trade from England.
France, Germany and Portugal who have been
building it up for centuries; but would have
a gradual increase. This is the great need
increased mail facilities. Our business men
must also 90 down there themselves. The gov
eminent cannot do it all. 1t only furnish
the facilities England has three or four lines
of steamers carrying mails to Brazil three or
four times a month The other countries named
have equal service. Then manufacturers
should study the wants and tastes of Brazillans.
the habits of centuries, and meet their wishes.
1t is not to be expected that we rush surplus
stocks down there and sell goods manufactured
for United States consumption The people are
entirely different and have different tastes