The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-12-21


his assent There was no authentic in
FORMATION about the condition of affairs in
Brazil. The confessed ruler of the move
ment against Dom Pedro was the head of
the army. aud the indications thus far
pointed to the fact that il had been q mili-
tary movement. He had seen, within the
last few days, q statement of an uprising
IN the province of Bahia. in which more
than five hundred men had been put to the
sword. That did not look very much Xix
the assumption of the constitutional pow
ers OF a free government with the consent
OF the governed. There was something
worse than a constitutional government
presided over by a liberal ruler. and that
based upon military ~nsurpation by
trampling on the rights of the
people. Therefore. until the Senate
pad an affirmative and voluntary
declaration. through the peaceably consti-
had met in convention by delegates elected
Tor that purpose, announcing their assnmp-
ton of government power u establishing
the TACT, by a popular vote. that the gov
had the support of the people. and
communicating to the Senate a copy of their
Constitution. with the names Of the rulers
whom they had elected. he was opposed to
any recognition Of that government. He.
therefore, hoped that the resolution would
be referred to the committee on foreign re-
~latiOns.
Mr.. Morgan expressed his regret that the
Senator from Kansas was opposing the ac-
tion of his W President in the matter.
Mr.. Mcpherson expressed the opinion
that the delay of a single hour i'm passing
the joint resolution. let alone the delay
that would follow its reference to the COM
mittee on foreign relations, would be dis
graceful to the governments, to the Senate
aud 90 the pe0Dle of the United States. To
wait now was simply TO court the restora-
tor of the empire in Brazil.
Mr.. Sherman made some further remarks
deprecating the introduction of politics and
religion into the discussion, and declaring
that the passage of the resolution, without
consideration by a committee, would be
an act OF folly and madneS without prece-
dent.
Mr.. Eustis said it was the peaceable feat
ure of the revolution in Brazil that was
most alarming to the monarchical. govern
ments of Europe. What surprised him was
that Senators on the Republican side had
forgotten the traditions of their party In
reference to the recognition of free govern
ment and republics. The resolution. he
said, should be passed without reference to
the committee.
Mr.. Hawley sustained the motion to
refer the resolution. He considered
it surprising and discreditable that
any one should attempt to make a
party question of the matter. If. saiu he.
gentlemen really meant TO make this a par
ty question. which | 40 sincerely and pro-
foundly regret. it is not necessary--it
would be ridiculously s~uperfluOus-for the
Republican party TO make al argument to
show that il was in favor of the most radI--
cal doctrines of personal liberty, and OF
governmental liberty. 1t points to the re-
construction of u country without a slave to
show what its doctrines are.
Mr.. Teller advocated the reference of the
resolution. He said: Whenever the peO-
pie of Brazil say they are for a republican
governments. then we are for Brazil. The
superstition that the powers OF Europe
would interfere to prevent the creation of
a republic in Brazil. 1T the people of Brazil
are for it, is ~unf0unded. The day has
passed when the nionarchs OF Europe dare
to say to the people of any country on the
western hemisphere that they shall not Sc
lect their own rulers and their own govern
ment In their W way. Speaking for my
self. only. j want to say-and would be
glad to have it said by every other Senator
that. il the people of Brazil are for a re-
publican government, and if all Europe
were against them, would put
every power, every energy and every
that the people of Brazil had a republican
government. would thrust every element
of greatness of this people to the front. and
would sacrifice 1t, If it must be, but | would
maintain on this continent the right. of
every people to declare for themselves what
kind of government they shall have. IL
that kind of n declaration be made by Con-
gress. there will be no interference on the
part of Germany, Austria. or any other gov
eminent with the attempt on the part of
the Brazilian people to maintain for them
selves a republican government. based on
the will of the governed-and that alone is
a republican government. There are no
politics in this question. IL the Senators
on the other side are afraid of foreign in
terveutiOn. or of priestly interference. In
Brazil. let them say, as l say. here, that
whenever the people of Brazil signify their
desire for a republic, they shall have it
against the combined power of the world"
Mr.. Edmunds did not think it right to de,
clare to-day that the Congress of the United
States recognized a republic which was
kept up at the point of the bayonet.
Mr.. Plumb referred to the Brazilian revo-
luton as a palace revolution. He had no
ticed, when the first accounts of 1T were re-
ceived. that among the prime causes al
legged Tor it was this: That the slave-hold-
ers objected to the emancipation of their
slaves, which had just been proclaimed by
the Emperor. In other words. that the re-
public was an association of persons who
objected TO the freedom of those whose
bodies and labor they had controlled. 1t
did not seem to him that that laid a proper
foundation for a republic. He hoped that
that was not the reason for the sympathy
of the Senate from Alabama lMr. Nor
ganl.
Mr.. Teller offered an amendment to the
re~solution, which he asked to have also re-
ferred to the committee on foreign rela-
tiOns. Ii was TO the erect that when the
people of Brazil shall signify their inten-
ton to establish a republican form of gov
eminent, il shall be the duty of the govern.
lncnt of the United States to furnish
material aid and encouragement to the
people of Brazil in the maintenance of such
form of government, If such government
be assailed by foreign governments on ac-
count of its republican character. That,
he said, looked like practical encourage.
ment to the people of Brazil. and it would
be saying to all the world that. so far as
Brazil was concerned, they must keep their
hands OIL.
The question was taken on the motion to
refer the resolution to the committee on
foreign relations. All the Republican:
voted yea, and all the Democrats, except
Mr.. Call. voted no. There was, however
no quorum voting years. 26, nays. 15), and
the whole matter went over without def.
mite action.
1rr