Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1890-08-08
AFFAIRS IN BRAZIL.
THE NEW coNsTITuTioN-oHARA OF
THE BRAZiLlANS, ETC.
BAHIA, BRAZIL, June ", 1890.

The constitution of the United States
of Brazil was decreed by the provisional
government on Sunday, the 22nd inst.
and another national holiday is added
to the list of holidays of this country.
For it was proclaimed by Generalissim0
Deodoro that hereafter forever June y
shall be a national holiday to commemo-
rate the day upon which Brazil's first
republican constitution was given to
the world. So this part of the agony
is over, as far as the provisional govern
ment is concerned.
1t has long been a burning question
with the government what course would
be best to pursue, viz: to decree the
constitution, submit it to the constituent
assembly to be elected in September or
submit it to the people and let them vote
for or against it. But it was thought
if submitted to the people it would be
defeated. 1t was thought if submitted
to delegates for discussion there would
be a prolonged wrangle ending in disa-
greement and the rejection of the con
stitution. SO it is decreed. Now the
government believes itself in a better
position to cut short any protracted de-
bate, when the project will be discussed
in the first session of Congress. which
will convene on November 10 next.
Election for representatives to be held
September 10. The constitution is
good copy of the constitution of the
United States. 1t retains the general
feature of that able. wise and liberal in
strument throughout and in some minor
respects it is an improvement on our
constitution. For instance, the presi-
dental term is six years ard a second
consecutive term is prohibited. He shall
be elected by electors. as with us, the
number of electors being double the
number of the respective representation
in both branches of Congress. The gen.
eral election for President and Vice
President will be held on March | of the
last year of the presidential term, which
is decreed TO end on November Il, the
first term ending November 10, 1896.
On the first of May following the cleo
toral college will meet and cast their
votes for President and Vice-President.
In case of the death, removal. etc. of the
President and Vice-President, the order
of succession is, the vice-president of the
senate, the president of the Chamber of
Deputies or representatives, the presi-
dent of the supreme court. If the Vice
President shall hold the office for the
last three years of the Presidential term,
he is not eligible for the presidency for
the next term succeeding. The Presi-
dent to be eligible must be native of
Brazil and 80 years of age and in the
full exercise of his political rights.
Senators are elected for nine years by
the different State legislatures; elected
by thirds. Three also from each State,
Representatives, are to be elected for
three years, one representative for
every 10000 of the population. The
md Of ha W hp
named by the President. There will be
fifteen as provided, and for the whole
country as many federal Judges ae Con-
gress may deem best TO create. The
different States shall have their respec-
tive constitutions ready by 1892. y
strong effort is being made to elect mill
tary members to Congress in order to
elect General DeodorO President for
the next six years, or rather the first
six. 1t is probable the decreed consti-
tuition will not be discussed at all. What
change may take place before election
or afterwards can not be told. But
whatever may happen, the majority of
the people will be likely to do just as
they have done since the revolution,
just nod their head, shrug their should
ers and say nothing unless their lives
or their property are endangered 1t is
said that a ma jority of the voters in this
State, if free to vote according to their
feelings and their sympathes, for re-
public or for restoration, would vote for
the latter. They would do this, as say,
not from principle nor from conviction
that it would be done because it is right,
but merely from habit and from synpa-
thy. While, on the other hand, if they
believed that to vote for restoration
would bring about trouble. breed dis
content and produce bloodshed. they
would vote for a republic, not because
they would love the republic more, but
because they desire peace. And theil
desire for peace is not based particularly
on principle, but they merely desire il
because it carries with it a condition OF
inactivity. The people in general may
be said to be Indifferent as to what Oc
ours and will accept any form of govern
ment that may prevail, provided they
can remain in the undisturbed possession
of that Indifference. The longer one
lives among them, the more he notes
their character, the better he realize,
. this sad fact. And what is true of then
in this State is virtually true of then
throughout the whole country. 1t is al
, unfortunate thing for them, but it i;
3 nevertheless too true, that they are lack
lllA III lllil dlll lbulc VI llliu lldlult
that attribute which really sizes up tn,
man in all other respects-patrotism
\ man whose soul is not filled with pat
riotic ardor, whose heart has never
}. throbbed with the warm blood of pat
= riotic resolves, needs to be watched close
ly by the police. So nation without
patriotism Is cold and selfish. Says
Brazilian paper called "The Novidades,
"The people have, in general, no politi
cal opinion, and today will applaud al
idea which they will equally hiss tomor
). row." "But neither today nor tomor
+ row will they die for it save when theil
: vital interests are attacked" "They
, never fought for an idea" They are
: made rather for noisy street demonstra
. tons than to build barricades.' "They
desire only to laugh and be left il
= peace" "From the people there is NJ
need to apprehend the explosion of {
revolt" sin Brazil there will never bC
revolution without the army These
are a few of the extracts taken from
A Brazilian paper, by Brazilian and by
Al Il, a