The morning call., 1890-07-07
THE EVOLUTION OF BRAZIL.

All rumors to the contrary notwithstand-
ing, the republic of Brazil appears to be
working out its destiny TRANQUILITY and sat
isfaetorily. A constitution, framed on the
basis of the Constitution of the United
States, will be submitted to the popular
vote on September 14th. and it seems to be
certain of adoption. Brazil is one Of the
second-rate powers of the world, having
only population of some fourteen millions,
of whom about one-third are white. But
its area is as large as that of the United
States, and the fertility of its soil would
enable it to support as large population
as this country. Its legislation has gener-
ally been directed to develop its resources
and to raise the standard Of intelligence
among its people. Education is in secular
hands, and in some provinces is compul-
sorry. Slavery has been abolished without
friction. Considerable immigration, mainly
from Spain and Portugal, has set In of late
years; nearly 10000 immigrants now ar
rive annually at Rio. Absolute freedom of
religion exists, but the Government pays
the salaries of the Roman Catholic clergy.
The total expenditures of the Government
are about SO, 000,000 year. The revenue,
which about offsets the expenditure, is de-
rived from import aud export duties, stamp
taxes and taxes on railroad tickets
The present population of Brazil is
masSed on the Eastern sea-board and on the
mouths of the Iivers which empty into the
Atlantic. But the finest lands in the new
republic are inland, on the banks OF the
enormous rivers OF South America-the
Amazon, the MADEIRA, the Bio Negro, the
Janari, the San Francisco, in the north,
with scores Of aflluents, and the Parana,.
the Yermeja, the PilcOmayo and any num-
Der Of others in the southern provinces.
The country stretches from the Atlantic to
the eastern foothills of the Andes-thirty
degrees of longitude. In places it ap-
rroaehes so nearly the Pacific that its west
ern neighbor merely occupies a strip of
land. Ii covers twenty degrees OF latitude
south from the equator. This vast tropical
region contains every known mineral from
diamonds to bituminous coal; every spe-
cieS of useful or ornamental wood, and al
most every vegetable product from sugar
and coffee to wheat and corn. But the pOpu
latiOn is so disproportiOnate to the cultivable
area that even on the bottom lands not one
acre in two hundred is under cultivation,
and the aborigneS, who are still numerous.
appear to be incapable of acquiring
knowledge of agriculture. The bounty of
nature exempts them from the necessity Of
toll; the climate enables them to dispense
with clothing, and the rivers and forests
supply them with neVer-failing supply of
food.
Philosophers. contemplating the resources
of this vast paradise. have INDUCED specu-
lation touching the destinies of Brazil and
have seen visions in which it was the most
populous region of the world. The practi-
cal man will devote little attention to such
remote contingencies, but he will note with
pleasure that the anomaly of imperial in
Stitutions in Brazil has made way for a SEN
Sble system OF self-gOyernment under
which the people can WORK out their des-
tiny without hindrance from their Govern
ment His pleasure win be heightened if
at the coming election the BrazilianS should,
as they probably will. choose as the first
President of the now republic the veteran
soldier and patriot, Deodoro da Fonseca.