The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-11-22
BRAZILIAN

Whatever the outcome of the present
disturbances in the republic Of Brazil,
there is absolutely no hope whatever Of
the restoration Of the imperial dynasty.
That is a statement which may be made
with positive certainty, and it is one
which all who are acquainted with the
popular sentiment OF the country will
not fail to homologate. Dom Pedro
may express his willingness to forego
the charming ease of his Partisan home.
He may signify his readiness to forswear
the pleasures of propinquity to the
various learned European societies of
which he is an honored member. He
may be glad one more to take the
harness of laborious government upon
his shoulders and devote the rest of his
lifetime to the furtherance of the best
interests of the country he loves. In all
this there is no reason to doubt the ex-
emperor's sincerity. But he will never
be called upon to make the sacrifice.
The popular sentiment, which drove
Dom Pedro an exile to Europe, was not
directed against the man himself. The
Brazilians themselves were perfectly
willing to admit the singieness Of pur-
pose of their ruler, and his desire to give
them a just and wise administration.
But there was another and a greater
Bourbon than Dom Pedro, who long ago
expressed the sentiment Of Brazil.
"After mo the deluge," was the pro-
phetic exclamation of Louis XIV, when
near his end. After Dom Pedro, his
subjects anticipated, and with reason,
the deluge. The ex-emperor's family
surroundings were of the worst kind.
Cobourgs and Bourbons are a
bad mixture in a reigning house,
bad, at least, for the people it controls.
Take the quintessence Of Bourbon ras-
cality, the branch of Anjou and the
Sicilies, and there can be little wonder
that the high-spirited people of Brazil
could not look forward to the possibili-
ties of the future without distrust and
hatred. Devoted imperialists may hope
to the end, but the imperial dynasty in
Brazil is as dead as the turkeys that
were butchered a year ago to make an
American holiday.
Fonseca's position it is hard at pres
emit to define. On the one hand, we are
asked to look upon him as the military
dictator, eager to overthrow the estab-
lished form Of government for the sake
OF his W personal aggrandiziment and
ambition. From the directly antagon-
istic point of view, it would seem that
congress. yielding to the pressure Of
foreign influence, haD brought about a
in public affairs by refusing to
perform certain constitutional duties.
Fonseca, in that event, has simply dis
the congressional body for the
purpose of taking an appeal TO the peo-
pie, and in the interim is exercising
supreme authority. Foreign influence,
the influence of England, has undoubt-
eddy been at work. During the period
republican rule, English interests
have been steadily retrograding in
Brazil, and American influence has been
working to the front. In the great
cities OF the new republic, English in
tiuence is extremely strong IN social
circles, and the rapid growth of Ameri-
can prestige has peer looked upon with
marked disfavor. Salisbury has been
appealed to in support Of. the CONNER
cial interests of the English, but the
premier has shaken his head. If Brazil
had been Il political weakling, we might
even now have been witnessing a grand
of an English fleet in force in
Brazilian waters. AS it is, secret plot
ting seems to be attempting to perform
direct influence could not be pre-
vailed upon to attempt. Fonseca is to
be overthrow in the hope that the re-
public may topple along with him, and
thus the way of imperial restoration and
the renewal Of English predominance
may be thrown open. Americans will
be glad to believe that the attempt will
meet with the only success it deserves,
and that is disastrous failure.