The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-11-19
RrazIl,s Rerolution.

The revolution which has taken placs in
Brazil, by which that country las been
changed from an empire to a republic, has
thus far been a bloodless ons. Tbs ildi-
cations are that there viii be no vio.eacs Of
a serious character, as the ex-empsror, Dom
Pedro, has left the country, aad IS Eow On
his way 10 Europe, and only one OF the
provinces, 50 far as known. has REFUSED 70
accept the new order Of thi1g& The es-
tablishment Il the republic was no. waoly
a surprise. For several years it has bsel
apparent thai an effort would be made
TO change the form of government
within a very few years, though the
impression appeared to prevail quite gen
orally that No change would take place
before the death Of the emperor. Dom
Pedro, who was very popular with the
people. and WHO'S now 65 yelrs OF age. Inc
emperor did not attempt TO cheek the move
ment IN favor of republic. although he
was thoroughly acquainted with all the
phases OF it He is reported to have said
very recently that he was willing that his
rule should case as soon as the people
showed an uumistaksbls desire that it
should His son-iD-law. il a speech last
summer, said that the emperor was ready
TO obey the viii Of the people. Dom Pedro
is probably the one ruler in all the history
Of the world who has given up imperial
power without making q struggle TO retain
it. He is q very democratic sort Of person,
however, although the best blood Of the
royal families of Europe flows in his veins.
He is a man Of great learning and unques-
toned ability, and in his long
reign Of nearly half a century be
did great deal to advance
Brazil's prosperity He built railroads and
telegraph lines, and provided other means
by which the commerce Of the empire could
be handed more quickly and cheaply. In
desc, il is doubtful If, when the full reports
Of the revolution are received, it will be
found that there was any hostile feeling
against him.
Il is believed, however. that there is a
good deal Of hostility to the crown princess
and her husband She acted as regent a
year or 50 ago when the emperor was in
Europe. and, it is understood, made great
many enemies. She appears to be an ag-
greSsive, overbearing sort Of woman, and
was constantly med1ling in matters with
which she had no legitimate concern.
There was another cause Of diSsatis-
faction, and that was the emancipa-
ton Of the slaves However, Dom Pedro
was not responsible for that. TIE parlia-
meDt emsncipated the slaves and Dom
Pedro, although be favored the act,
simply enforced the law. The emancIpa-
ton act, however, was not unpopular
except with the people who owned slaves,
and not with all Of them. Indeed, it is
said that some OF the most earnest advocates
Of emancipation were shareholders. The
number of slaves was not far from 5000, 900,
and as parliament refused TO grant the
Shareholders compensation for their
slave property a great many Of that
class were reduced from positions Of
great wealth to comparative poverty
1t was only natural therefore, that there
should be a great deal Of discomfort among
them, and that they should take sides with
those whose object was to overturn the
existing condition of affairs. The agita-
ton in favor Of the abolition of slavery
began nearly thirty years ago. The i'm
mediate cause of it was the introduction of
yellow fever into the country by ship
load Of slaves. That disease had never been
known in Brazil before that time.
Brazil is an immense country. containing
over $1,000 square miles more than the
United States, exclusing Alaska. 1t is
thinly populated, however, the population
being estimated to be between 10000 900
and 100000. 1t has a splendid and grow
ing commerce, its exports to this country
alone amounting to 100000, 900 or more
annually. These exports are princi-
paly sugar. coffee, hides and rubber. The
revolution having been a peaceful one, it
is not probable that Brazirs trade with this
country will suffer seriously, if at all.
All the countries of Central and South
America are now republics. Brazil was the
last to throw off the yoke of hereditary
ruler. 1t is sincerely to be hoped that the
new government will be little more stable
than those Of some of the other South Amer
lean states have been.