New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-24
HOME RULE IN BRAZIL.

The processes of constitutional development
in Brazil are slow and labOrious, but substantial
progress is making in the direction OF home
rule The revolution was primarily move
ment against Capitalization. The leaders had
their own plans and theories but the force
which was greater than their dogmatic prefer
ence for republican form Of government was
the general public reaction against a highly
centralized system of administration when
they proclaimed Federal Republic OF free and
self governing States they put themselves IN d
powerful current which was certain to carry
them along without effort on their parts. The
republic was generally accepted by the Prov
inces at the hands Of few mutinous battalions
in Rio because it offered promise OF deliver
ance from the evils of centralization The
Provinces were weary of having their affairs
administered by carpet-baggers sent out from
Rio to squeeze out of them as much revenue as
possible for the National Treasury. They de-
sired first of all to be converted into self-gov-
erning States with their own Presidents and
Legislatures responsible to themselves. The
new Constitution guarantees complete autonomy
for each State. The Provinces are now grad
ually organizing on this basis, Governors or
Presidents elected in each State taking the
places Of the provisional rulers appointed by
the revolutionary Government.
The introduction Of home rule has been de-
ferred for eighteen months, but not without
reason. Time is required for the creation of
a new political order. The revolutionists be-
gan in November, 1889, by clearing the ground.
All the institutions of the monarchy and the
Provinces were swept away by their preliminary
DEGREES The only source of power was the
Provisional President and his self-appOinted
Ministers. in every Province a similar Gov
eminent was established with the aid of the
military garrsons and promptly recognized at
Rio as temporarily responsible for the admins
tration of the State The process of transform
ing these de factO Governments into conSttu-
tonal agencies Of democratic rule was neces-
Sarily retarded by the inherent difficulties OF
the work A Constitution was first framed for
the nation and sanctioned by new Congress.
Then it was possible to elect the first constitu-
tional President and to establish a Ministry in
accordance not with the will Of the battalions,
but with the law Of the land. What has been
done for the nation at large is repeated for the
benefit of each sovereign State. In each Prov
to secure for it the approval of Legislature
elected by the people. When this is done, the
Governor is elected and the official who has
been Npresening the revolutionary cabal of
November 1889, retires. In the chief Prov
nces this change has already been effected, and
by the end of the year every State will be re-
leased from the dominating influence of the
National Administration.
Ii is most remarkable that a transformation
so radical as this has been attended with little
excitement and without serious accident There
have been sharp contests in some Of the Prov
nces, and nearly all the official servants of the
monarchy have returned to public life and are
taking an active part in the politics of the
day. Parties have been formed in the i'm
portant and most progressive States, and the
Emperor's Liberal and Conservative advisers
and officials are again making their influence
felt. The temperance of these experienced
functionaries and political managers has given
direction to the forces of public opinion with
out opening the way for the restoration of the
monarchy. The frmost and most fanatical adj
vocate of the Empire recognizes the fact that
the republic is the only form of government
that is possible in Brazil. If there were any
doubt of the permanency Of the new institu-
tions, it has been removed By the organization
Of the Provinces under broad conditions Of home
rule. The States are reconcled to a system of
government which has emancipated them from
centralized power at Rio return to the
Empire is now impossible. The old-time I'M
perqsts are convinced that the monarchy is
doomed, and they are struggling successfully
to make their way back into politics. 1t was
their old trade, and they do not wish to aban-
don it,