Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-09-26
COMPLAINTS FROM BRAZIL,
Strange Results Reported from
the Abolition Of Slavery.

Strange Results Reported from
the Abolition OF Slavery.
Washington correspondence OF Chi
cago Inter Ocean: Henry Clay Arm
strong, consul general at Rio de janet
TO, in his last report to the Department
OF State, makes some observations on
effects Of abolishing slavery in Brazil.
Mr.. Armstrong; residence in Georgia
may have given a darker hue to the
picture than the facts warrant. He
says: ION the 18th of last May slav-
cry was abolished in this empire. To
obtain a correct idea OF this measure
IL wonld DO necessary TO travel in the
interior OF the country, examine care
fully the state OF affairs in different To-
calities and have full and frank inter-
course with the people. Not having
had an opportunity TO make so thor
ough an Investigation. | can only say
that the chief results at present appar-
ent are the loss OF q considerable part
of the last coffee crop ESTIMATED at
about one-third OF the whole), the de-
Perforated quality Of the coffee sent to
the market, the scarcity and high
price of provisions, the lack of ade-
quate labor on the plantations for the
proper culture and gathering of the
next crop of coffee and other prod
ucts, the uncertainty of obtaining la
Dor in the future, and in consequence
OF all this great increase of the dis
content that previously existed to some
degree among the people. When the
abolition OF slavery was declared the
planters had begun to gather their
coffee. and the freedmen. with some
exceptions, seem to have continued in
this labor either on the plantations of
their former masters or on those of
other planters. 1t is generally ad-
mitted, however, that their work was
much less efficient, so that notwith-
standing the additional labor of largo
number OF newly arrived immigrants
u great deal OF coffee was lost. and the
greater part OF that sent to market
was so improperly handled as to be OF
inferior quality. OF the present crop
the highest grade of coffee (unwashed)
which has come TO market in sufficient
quantities to be mentioned in the quo
tations of prices. is that known as
medium first, which is usually quoted
at 80 TO 40per cent less than that known
rs superior and fine.
Some efforts were made by the gov
eminent and Parliament for the relief
of the persons who lost most heavily
by the abolition OF slavery to allay the
discomfort thereby occasioned. A bill
was passed by the Chamber OF Deputies
authorizing the government TO charter
banks for lending money on planta-
tons. These banks were to have n
total capital not exceeding SIG, 800, 600,
and were to be allowed TO issue negoti-
able mortgage bonds with per cent
interest guaranteed by the government
TO the amount OF SIG, 800, 900. This bill
was passed by the Chamber of Depu-
ties too late in the session for TIE SEN
ate TO take any action thereon. A bill
for the repressisn OF idleness was also
introduced in the Chamber of Deputies,
but its discussion was not concluded.
A bill for compensating the owners Of
the emancipated slaves was rejected by
the Senate, but tho friends OF the meas
ure do not consider the rejection as
final.
After some months delay the gov
eminent made an agreement with one
of the banks OF this city by which the
latter was TO lend tho planters OF the
provinces OF Rio de Janeiro. Sac Paulo,
Minas Geraes and Espirito Santo the
maximum sum OF So, 600,0 900 at six per
cent interest. Half OF the money re-
Iquired for this purpose was to be lent
without interest by the government TO
the bank. Similar contracts were made
for lending money to planters in the
northern provinces Of the empire.