Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1890-08-08


northern section being inclined more to
monarchy, the southern cinging to
what they now have with the hope of
establishing it more firmly. There are
some leading men who are advocating
absolute independence of the States. |
But that is a wild idea to agitate in this |
country with its sparse population in |
some of the States. After the election
the idea of the independence of the
States will no doubt be laid on the shelf. |
So far as this State is concerned the
struggle in the election will be between
the two old parties, the liberal and the
They are already in the
field working in each case TO obtain
What they will do, after
election, in Congress is an unknown
quantity. That there will be but a very
few of the real republicans elected in this
State is certain; perhaps not any, AS
the election machinery is controlled by
the two other parties. They who shall
be elected may be republicans, but they
are known as eX-mOnarchists and are
nominated as the liberal and conserva-
tive candidates. Had there not been
change in the governorship of this State
two months ago, the republican element
would be much stronger today than it
last November by the provisional gov
eminent was a thorough republican in
principal, in push and in his efforts to
strengthen the republican feeling
throughout the State.
But the eX-monarchists, the defeated
politicians and the disappointed Office
seekers being left out in the cold, where
they ought to be, began under General
Hermes da Fonseca, commander of the
troops of this State, and brother of the
provisional president of the republic, to
Intrigue to force the then Governor Pc
ruia to resign. On the Goth of April
last they succeeded in forcing him to
tender his resignation, through a mill
tary sedition of which it is sad General
Hermes da Fonseca was the head and
front. When it was accomplished this
man. General Hermes, was nominated by
his brother, Gen. Deodoro, governor of
this State of Bahia. This is the same
man who was arrested and locked up
for the night by orders of Gen. Deodoro,
on November 10Th last. because he de-
clared his continued adhesion to the
empire. His appointment as governor
is great setback to the republican
cause in this State. 1t is openly stated
that he has surrounded himself by an
hostile to the establishing OF a republic.
1t is stated further that many of we'll
known republican tendencies were not
allowed to register their names as voters,
though legally qualified, when they APP
peared before the commissioners of reg
istration for that purpose. The election
machinery as at present constituted is
fitted up, it is said, only for turning out
conservatives and liberals for discussing
the constitution, which is uecreed. for
accepting or rejecting it.
There is a fourth party being organ
lied called the "CathOlic party The
basis of this party is chiefly its opposi-
ton to two DEGREES of the present pro-
visional government, viz: civil mar
riage" and "The separation of church
and state" The former of these is par
ticularly obnoxious to good Catholics
and for the same reason it might be OBJ
noXious to good Protestants. In my
last letter | was under the impression,
and so wrote, that the "civil marriage
decree left it optional with the parties
desiring to be married to present them
selves before clergymen, or the legally
appointed civil authority. But | find
such is not the case. There is no choice
in the matter. If parties are not now
married by the civil authority FIRST, the
marriage is null and void and the Off
spring of the union are, in plain words,
bastards, in the eyes of the law. OF
course the same parties can be married
by as many different clergymen as they
wish after the civil marriage act is per-
formed. But the civil marriage must be
first. 1t must precede. Because the
law is so framed, it is looked upon by
good Catholics in general as arbitrary,
unjust and Ubiquitous. If it were left OPP
tional and registration in the town, dis
trict or city books were compulsory or
a license granted before marriage TO the
parties - making the application COM
pulsOry-then it is more than probable
no Catholic party would be in existence
today. But irreligious reformers are
usually tyrannous, it is said. And GER
tainly for those who regard the mar
riage as divine Institution, sacrament
instituted by Christ himself and, in fact,
held sacred almost from time immemo-
rial, for such persons it is regarded as
tyrannous and infamous for Il half doz-
Ell men. not only to declare against this
divine institution, but to supersede it by
a decree of their own making, virtually
affirming that the marriage celebrated
in accordance with this divine law is a
crime. The feeling against this decree
is running high. 1t may subsde before
election, but doubt it. As a proof of
/ its unpopularity | need only state that
for the three days before the civil mar
| riage decree took effect the 24th of last
month, upwards of 1870 marriages were
/ performed in this city, there being on
the BIRD 96 reported; while through
out the State, since the PRONUNCIATION
of the decree, it is reported there were
upward of 1000 weddings. To avoid
marriage under the decree, it is said,
that in some cases girls thirteen, four
teen and fifteen years of age were taken
| from school to be married and sent back
to school again, after the ceremony was
performed.
Another unpopular measure is the de-
cree collecting 20% of the duties at every
custom house in the country, in gold.
This, in effect, raises the already high
duties about 10, as gold is at premium.
And it is English gold thar must be pur-
chased by the importers, as there is lit
tie or no Brazilian gold. Nor is there
much American gold, and if there were
]