Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1890-11-07
FURTHER FROM BRAZIL.
THE ELECTION AND OTHER RECENT
EVENTS IN THE NEW REPUBLIC.

BAHIA, sept. ~, lS3U.
What do you think of the election?
| asked of prominent Brazilian some
four days since. Election, said he,
eectioni why, it was little less than a
farce and fraud. This is the senti-
ment of large number. But at all
events, whether it was farce ana n
fraud in less or greater degree,
whether both the one and the other took
the place of seriousness and honesty, it
is over. and every one who is interested
in the result is waiting for the returns
to come in. The interested unfortunate
ly are chiefly those who are candidates.
Had it been otherwise perhaps there
would have been no occasion for the
Brazilian to remark us above. The in
difference. apathy and sulkiness of the
large numbers that kept away from the
polls was clearly discernible from the
almost painful quiet that reigned
/ throughout this city on the 10Th inst
election day. Any Sunday or holiday
is noisy day, day of hustle and fur
ry, when compared with the day ap-
pointed for the people of Brazil to de-
eide whether the republican form of
government so peculiarly inaugurated
ten months ago shall continue or wheth-
er the monarchy shall be restored and
the throne of empire. No disorder, no
disturbance of any kind or character
throughout the day or the night in this
city. No enthusiasm, no demonstra-
ton by any party or by any individu-
al. Banks and business houses were all
closed. The post office doors were not
opened till one o'clock p. m. The gov
ernment employees must have an OPP
portunity to vote. The doors of the
custom house remained unopened the
whole day. The employees of the gov
eminent therein must be given an oppOr-
tunity to cast their government vote.
The officials in the palace of the COVER
nor as well as those in the municipal
council must vote also. SO the doors
of these public offices must not turn on
their hinges during the entire day.
Where the method of voting is known
it will be sure that if those employees
would vote at all the doors of all public
offices, banks, commercial houses, mills,
factories, etc., ETC., must be closed, at
least for the first half of the day in or
der that the employees therein have an
opportunity of voting if they so desire,
provided they had been registered. This
city, for instance, is from five to six
miles in length. 1t is divided into IS
voting districts. Each of these districts
is divided into sections. There are 40
sections. The public offices are about
midway between the city limits. Many
of the empregddOs or employees of these
Offices live in the suburbs. They must
of course vote in the section and dis
trct in which they registered some two
months before election. Whoever is
not registered can not vote; that goes
without saying. If, as with us, quail
fled voter could 20 10 the polls amy
time between sunrise and sunset and
cast his ballot, then the public offices
here need not be closed on election day.
The laws here, however, prescribe a
different mode; and this is how it is
done: Registration of those able to
read and write and wishing to vote is
the first step. The books for registra-
ton are, however, closed some two
months preceding election day. The
book of registration for each section is
taken, on election day, to the election
room and is placed in charge of the
secretary of the electoral table. which,
this years was appointed by the mum
icipal council acting for the govern
ment. At 10 Il. m. the polls are opened
The secretary of the electoral table be-
gins call of the names of the register
ed voters in the section, the call pro-
ceeding according to the number or
each house in that section, beginning
) with the lowest number. If there is
more than one street in the section
when the numbers in one street are fin
, ished the numbers in another street are
taken up and so on. If the voter i.
present who lives in No. 20, say, il
; Victoria ST., when his name is called
he goes to the electoral table with, il
, this case. two ballots, one for the three
. senatorial candidates, the other will
, the names of - candidates for the
, chamber of deputies. lie must alsC
have his certificate of registration which
, must be delivered to the board for in.
spection. If his certificate is found tC
, be correct and he is not challenged, he
deposits his ballots, after which he i,
| required to write his name in a boob
, procured for this purpose. while the
, secretary of the electoral table check;
) his name in the registration book. Ii
this way the names of all the registered
voters in each section are called. If any
r voter is not present when his name il
called, but is present at the moment
the call is completed, he may inform thu
> secretary of the electoral board. wht
= will accord him the privilege of voting
, But in case none of those who failed t,
are present when the roll-call of reg
l istered voters is completed, the polls
j are Immediately closed and the absen
y voters are deprived OF the privilege o
casting their votes. Three calls of thu
t list were made under the empire. Blu
: one was made in the late election. Tn,
t precautions used in this method of vo
: ting would seem to be sufficient to pre-
| vent the slightest dishonesty being prac
1 ticed. And yet if persons or politician
r either, desire to move in crooked patti
| to obtain certain measures or to secur
t Office, they will invariably endeavor t.
= make the straight and even way crooke,
( and uneven and then declare themselve
t innocent of any wrongdoing whei
l charged with it.
D In this city the greatest number o
t registered voters in any section wa
l specified as $50, the least number l0l
/ The registered number of voters in tn
!, entire city was in this election abou