New-York tribune., 1890-01-05
THE NEW REPUBLIC.
AN IMPERIAL COUP D'ETAT FRUSTRATED
BY REVOLUTION.
A MILITARY REVOLT PREVENTS THE SUCCESS
SION OF THE CROWN PRIYCEss-ARMY
OFFICERS LEADERS IN THE PRovIN:
GAL NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
IN MARANHAo-FUTURE
OF THE ARMY
OF THE ARMY.

tYRoM STAFF CORRESPONDENT THE TRIBUyEI
Maranhao, Dec. II.
An Imperial coup detat had been planned for
the I'd Of December. 1t anticipated and pre-
vented by the military coup d'etat of the 9Th OF
November. Those two sentences contain, if tia
Republicans to be believed, a summary of tho
secret history of a revolution, which was unln-
telligible to Americans when 1 left New-York three
weeks ago, and which may still be imperfectly
understood. The Emperor, enfeebed BY age,
disease and the cares of State, was anxious to
abdcate The Crown Princess, lusting for power
and taught by her Jesuit advisers that she ha a
great work TO do for the Church. desired reign.
The Prime Minister Count de Ouro Preto, a de-
voted adherent of the royal family, had agreed
that the transfer of authority should be made on
the I'd of December. To accomplish that end he
had subjected the electorate 10 extraordinary
pressure in August and secured the return OF an
overwhelming majority of Liberal Deputies. The
political conditions were favorable for the pro-
jected coup detat. There was only one source
Of apprehension the army DlsanectiCn had b en-
spreading among the officers for two or three
years. The Prime Minister knew that they were
not TO be depended upon in an emergency. lie
decided to get them out OF the way by scattering
them among the interior Provinces, and then u
abolish the army and to organize national guard
sent had been obtained to this plan for dislrning
the army and gradually disDanding 1t. lie had
easily been convinced that it would be hazardous
for him to attempt to transfer his sovereignty 10
his daughter while insubordinate officers were
staggering about the parlors of the Miitary Club
and several battalons Of infantry we're under
their control at Rio lie approved Of the action
of the War Office in assigning the officers TO duty
in remote Provinces and in stripping the capital
of its garrison. These were preca utions against
military revolt on the approaching I'd OF Decem-
Der, when the Princess should be proclaimed En-
press Of Brazil Orders were finally ISSUED lor
the transfer of the battallOns remaining at Rio
10 Matto Crosse, in the interior. Jhe 18th OF
November the date assigned for their
treat from the capital. With them would
have disappeared the last obstacle to tna
abdicatiOn of the Emperor and the proclamation
Of the Empress Isabel The 18th of November
found those battalions surrounding the Govern
ment buildings and proclaiming the Republic. The
military coup d'etat intervened, and there was
an immediate collapse Of the Prime Ministers
plans and of the ambitions Of the Imperial lbuse.
PRIMARY PHASE OF THE REVOLUTION.
The revolution in its primary phase was purely
military revolt The battalions had been
ordered to march out on a certain day. Their
would not 90. They determined TO overturn the
Government on the very day for which they had
received marching orders. When the time came
the rank and file supported their officers with
ardor and enthusiasm. The Ministers were ar.
rested and the Government offices placed under
guard. The Minister OF Marine, driving in
carriage 10 his office, offered resistance 10 the
soldiers who had called upon him to surrender.
and wounded in the encounter. This was the
only accident. The military revolt at was
converted into a popular uprising. The police
fratcrnized with the soldiers General Fonseca
who was confined to his house by illness. was
proclaimed Pro llAoral President. lie sougllr
counsel with Bocayuva and other Republican
leaders, and sent summons to the Emperor 10
abdicate, advising him TO initiate the patriotic
and prudent course of Dom Pedro | on April :.
1881. The Prime Minister telegraphed 10 the
Imperial Palace at Petropolis, advising the En-
peror 10 come at once to the city. In few
hours the aged sovereign, the Crown Princess
the Count d'Eu, their household officials and
several ladies of the court entered Rio without
military guard and met the members of the Pro-
vsional Government After prolonged negotiations
abdication was proposed and accepted with iinan-
cial compcnsations. The Imperial family, who
had planned abdication with the reyersOn Of
the throne to the Crown Princess on the 81
of December, we're thrust out, bag and baggage.
The battalions who had received marching orders
for the 9TH of November remained in Rio with
a President and a Government of their own crea.
tion. The republic, the French would have
said, was an accomplished fact.
TIE LAST CHANCE FOR DECISIVE ACTION.
The battalions revolted and brought on the
revolution because the officers perceived that II
was the last chance for decisive action. The
preparations for the organization OF national
guard in the Provinces had warned them that the
army was distrusted by the party in power and
was TO be dsbandcd as the force could he
broken up and scattered among the Provinces
The Ministry had not concealed their hostility TO
the leaders of the Military Club. One of tie
Ministers had publicly af7ronted army officer
in the Chamber of Deputies. lie had defended
his conduct in letter 10 the news
papers The Minister of War had then
cashi,red him for insubordnaton. General Fon-
SEGA had warmly cSpoused the officers cause, aud
maintained the right of a soldier TO defend him.
self against official insults and aspersions. This
was one among many incidents which had caused
irritation among the officers. The attempt 10 dis
cipline General FOnscca and TO Danish him 10 the
interior Of the country another ground for
military dissatisfaction. The highly centralized
powers of the Imperial Administration were per-
sistently employed means of intimidating and
cOercing insubordnate officers Those officers who
offered resistance 10 ne War Minister were or
dcred TO distant pos >, separated from congenlal
associates and employed in dstaStcful service.
The army was honeycombed with dissatisfaction
and dsafrcction 1t was easy TO understand why
the officers were banishcd from Rio. Tie Minis
try desired TO facilitate the process of dsbanding
the army. Nor was it difficult to perceive the
motives for the removal of the battalions from
Rio Rumors Of the Emperor's contemplated ab-
dcation were in the air. new reign, with
Jesuit intriguers behind the throne and with the
Count d. Eu, detested by army officers in supreme