Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1889-12-20
BRAZIES NEW PRESIDENT.
HOW GENERAL FOSsECA OBTAINED
Ills HOLD UFoS TIE ARMY.

General DeodOric da Fonscca,
who. rs leoder Of the Brazilian revo.
luton and head OF the ner govern.
ment at Rio, is at present the sub.
ject Of widespread curiosity, is a
native Of Brazil, fifty-five years Of
age and n military man by prOfes-
sion. His father, who came from q
wealthy family Of Portugal, emf
grated TO Brazil early in this CEN
fury and settled in Rio Gnnde do
Sui. where he had some concessions
Of land from the government. He
soon afterward married a Brazilian
lady and had three sons, OF whom
the revolutionary leader was the
eldest. The three brothers were
educated together at the Polytech-
mic schOOl at Rio and all went into
the army They took a conspiCu-
Gus position in the waragainst Para
quay fifteen years ago, all rising 10
the rank of general. The second
brother, Hermvs, died four months
ago when ccmmandant OF the
army In Rio the Janeiro, and the
younger Brother, SeveIiano, is at
present commandment OF the army in
the province Of Bahia, which posi-
ton he has occupied for some six
years. uenefal Funseca, the
head Of the new government,
fist attracted public notice at
the battle OF slOssOro In the war
with Paraguay, when he was pro-
NOTED on the field from the rank Of
lieutenant 20 n major. His bravery
claimed for him the name among
the soldiers OF The Lion Of MossO-
TO-" and upon returning to Rio,
Dom Pedro, whom he has just de-
posed, publicly decorated him with
the Order Of the Rose, He was then
sent as cOmmaniant Of the army In
MattO Crosse, where he remained
for two years. Returning 20 Rio,
he was given control Of the govern
ment magazine and cartridge factO-
~ there, being raised TO the rank Of
general.
In lSs3, while in Rio, General
Fonseca created an organization
that had much significance in view
of the developments Of last week.
This was a military club, embracing
nearly every officer in the Brazilian
army, OF which he himself was
elected president, and within a year
or two his popularity among his
fellow-OfiiceTs has led Fonseca TO be
called the Boulanger On Brazil.
Republican idens were spread ia the
army throughout the length and
breadth Of the country by the Club
Militaire 4 Rio, and on several Occa-
siOns the government endeavOred
TO suppress II. So influential
had this organization grown
to be, however, that the gov
eminent only desisted from these
efforts when convinced that II the
club was suppressed a military revO-
luton would ensue. IL was thought
matters had come 10 q crisis in the
spring Of 1857, when a controversy
arose between General FOnSeca and
FroncO de Sa, the minister Of war,
in course Of which Fonseca claimed
10 have been insulted, and was or
dered Off TO 4 remote province. He
had no sooner left than deep indig-
nation manifested itself in the Club
Militlire, and the members FORM
ally notified Dom Pedro that
unless Fronco de Sa resigned
his portfolio there would be a
revolution. A cabinet meeting at
the emperor's palace followed the
receipt of this message. De Sa re-
tired from the ministry and the
victorious FOnseca was recalled. He
was the lion Of the hour in Rio, and
so great was his popularity that
Dom Pedro again sent him away to
avoid trouble, this time to Minas, as
civil and military governor Of the
province, which position he occu-
pied at the time Of the recent up
rising. General Fonseca is married
and the father Of three children.
He is handsome, imposing man,
some six feet in height. and makes
a fine figure on horseback.