The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1889-11-29

railroad were built; 4, 500 miles of telegraph
completed; 100 postoffices opened; free
public schools established and other re-
forms instituted. One of the most notable
acts was the manumission of the slaves.
For many generations negroes have formed
large proportion of the population OF
Brazil, outnumbering even the creoles, the
Mamlucos and the Tupi Guvani, or aborig-
inal Indian stock of coppery-skinned ma
tives who inhabit the forests and plains Of
the interior. In 1871 the government passed
an act declaring that all children born to
slaves after that date should be free, and at
the same time gave freedom to the slaves in
the household of the emperor, and pro-
vided an emancipation fund for the ulti-
mate liberation of the slaves owned by
private persons. Emancipation progressed
rapidly. The Importation of slaves had
been stopped since 1853, and since that time
up to the signing of the act of last year by
Princess Isabella as regent, one million
had been manumitted. Prior to the reign
of the ministry headed by Senior Cotegipe,
in March, 1885, the abolitionists were badly
prosecuted by the Conservatives and slave
holders. Seniors de Patrocinio and
Nabuco, and Senators Dantar and Prado
were undismayed by these hostilities and
persevered in urging abolition. Prado
pushed the measure with such success that
it passed both houses in May. 1888, and was
at once promulgated by the princess-regent.
1t was while Dom Pedro was absent in
Europe visiting London, Paris, Florence,
Brussels and Rome, that the emancipation
for which he had labored half lifetime
took place. Immediately tumult of joy
seized the nation, the planters alone re-
naming sullen. They had reason to re-
greet the act, for their crops suffered, the
coffee brought to market was inferior and
their plantations became improbable. 1t
was some time before the native product
again took the lead, but up to the present
day the planters never forgave the govern
ment for depriving them OF their negro
labor.
The emperor's European tour and his
visit to this country are still remembered.
He impressed Americans as man of broad
intelligence and progressive ideas, and one
who had the full support of his people at
that time. Cultured, fine inguist, giant
in stature (being six feet four inches in
height, his sixty-three years did not seem
to weigh very heavily upon him. The
recent troubles, however, have shaken him
severely.
In remarkable contrast to her venerable
and mild-loOking sire is the Princess Isa-
bella, the one picturesque figure in this ma
tional drama. She is a woman who, in
almost any sphere of action, would make
her influence felt. Strong, self-reliant, with
her mind trained to matters of state and to
dealings with diplomats, she has been the
foremost advocate of all the progressive
movements in Brazil for the last ten years
or more. She is not beautiful woman,
but her face shows intellectual strength and
force of character. She is now forty-three
years of age, thorough politician, bit
Bluestocking, an enthusiast on the SUBJ
ject of human freedom. strict Roman
Catholic and partisan Of the church, a lib
eral in principle and practice, and as posi-
tive in her temperament as her father is the
reverse. Knowing these traits of the heir
presumptive, the Brazilians felt that with
Isabella on the throne there would be a
stronger hand at the helm of state than that
Of the old emperor, and a mind that could
not be coerced as he had been at times into
consenting to measures that strengthened
the Republicans. Isabella was married in
864 to Prince CASTOR Of Orleans, the Comte
D'Eu, who, had his wife become empress,
would have occupied the position of prince
consort merely, and would in any event
have had little share in the responsibilities
of government, which would have been
solely in the hands of his energetic spouse.
OF the men who compose the new govern
ment comparatively little is known. Senior
Bocayura, the minister of foreign affairs, is
a journalist who has been foremost in his
advocacy of the republic, and is the ablest
member of his party, but does not believe
in violent measures. Senior Barboza, who