Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-02
Amusing Attempt to Change the Elec-
ton Results at Para.
TWO HUNDRED MEN CONSPIRED,
Hypnotized the Police, Paraded With Band
and Then Fled.
SOME SHOOTING OUT In A JUNGLE

investigation the more fully convinced h'
will become that the masses Of the people
have no proper conception Of the import
ance to each citizen of the change from ar
Empire to Republican form of Govern.
ment. The usual comment Of strangers IL
that the native population are habituallJ
indifferent" to all such matters. My per
sonal observation leads me to the opinion
that it Is not so much q question OF ID
difference" as 1t is of arrant stupidity.
1t is remarkable truth that although 6
Catholic country but few of the voters (who
admit their Catholicism) are friendly to the
Church party. That part of the Republican
Constitution which separates the Church and
State is the most popular with the people.
It would be safe to say that the party at
present in power are altogether Catholics,
and those Of the opposition are Of the same
creed. Therefore, there being no question
of tariff, civil service reform, ETC., 1t re-
solves itself to the single issue Of ''Ins'
and "Outs." The party cry of the "Outs'
is that the "Ins" are robbers, and they
want to get in that they may have the same
chance
1t is well known that the revolution"
which overthrow Dom Pedro II. did not
come from or through the people, but was
conceived and executed by the army, the
populaee fully giving its adherence to the
new order Of things This placed General
Deodora Fonseca, Of the Brazilian Army, at
the head of the new Government as Mill
tary Dictator, for probationary period of
one year, during which time elections were
ordered, and all the preliminary formulas
promulgated, constitutions adopted and
other necessary steps taken to put the new
Republic on q solid basis. General Fonseca
was elected President, not by the people,
but by the newly organized Congress at
Para. The Governors Of the different States
were likewise chosen by the various State
Pile. 1t will be seen that their constitution
Is not modelled after our own, as has been
generally represented. It Is claimed, how
ever, that subsequent elections for the ex-
ecutive officials will be by the vote of the
people.
VICTORY FOE THE NS AT PARA
The election which was held in the State
of Para in April resulted in the choice of all
the candidates Of the "Ins." The "outs''
loudly charged that the election was wholly
fraudulent, and at the time there was con-
siderable excitement in and about the city
OF Para. It Is conceded by the "Ins," or
practically gave them the power to "con-
troll" the vote.
An ominous quiet prevailed during the
few weeks subsequent to the election, but it
appears that an extensive and widespread
conspiracy had been secretly
organized by tho opposition party, the OBJ
ject of which was to prevent by violence
the seating OF the so-called "fraudulently-
elected" delegates, and seat instead the de-
feated candidates. The avowed purpose
was to thus organize the first Republican
Legislature Of the State Of Para, which
would Immediately elect their leader-Mi-
cognition by the general Government at
Rio. In expecting the Rio Governments to
recognize" and thus encourage revolution,
they confirm my opinion, that they do not
canism. We are taught that every mans
liberty ends at that point where it begins to
conf1ict t"TfhNthe liberty or rights of his fel-
proper CONCEPTION Of fair play.
SURRENDER OF THE POLICE BARRACKS.
The new State Assembly was to be organ
lied at the Government palace June IL On
the night preceding, about O'Clock in the
q body of some 200 men moved
silently through the narrow, dark and
,rooked streets of Para toward the police
argely on their police force. They were
lnder the leadership of o hot-headed young
man, whom, 1t appears by the subsequent
precipitated, and probably by his
,ess. Instead of boldly assaultfng the bar
'aoks. the leader alone approached the
'entry who was on guard at the gates. He
vas evidently an expected visitor, and he
vas cordially received by the sergeant Of
he police guard.
After q short conference between these
wo worthless, the leader signaled for his eco
nen to advance and while the sergeant took
he sentry Off his guard, the 200 men rushed
nto the barracks, disarmed the remaining
yards and seized all the arms and ammu-
lition that had been 80 carefully housed
here to be used against just such an ex-
,ected attack. The dtsgrace1ul feature Of
he affair is that nearly all these loyal police
oldiers Immediately Joined the rebels, ener-
aiding the enemy in their seizure
f the garrison. The officers of the police
attalion behaved in most cowardly man
er, ooncealing themselves under their bed
lothing in their rooms on the corridors
bove, from which they safely witnessed the
ntire proceeding without offering any re-
lstance.
A BRASS BAND FOE A CONSPIRACY,
Thus strongly reinforced by the uni
ormed and drilled police, the revolutionary
rmy. well equipped for dangerous rioting,
larched out, after first pressing into
heir service the brass band that is attached
, this battalion. This was only one of the
lany silly mistakes made in consequence of |
ne want OF proper leadership. Instead of |
Ding quietly about to add to their strength |
le recruits that are always ready for such |
reefs OF the city, accompanying the music |
the band by shouting and threatening |
nguage, and thereby created feeling Of |
orror toward them instead of enlisting en-
The home Of their leader and Intended |
overnor was visited; the band serenaded, |
hfle the expectant crowd waited to well |
,me their new Governor; but the "Gov-
nor" was not equal to the emergency, or
Sc disapproved Of the movement, for he
eclined to make an appearance. The mob
as being largely increased by the half
ldian and negro populace that had been
'oused by the confusion in the streets, but
asl they had no leader, and, as is usual in
Ich cases, they Withdrew in some confusion
Id disorder from the city streets, and en-
red thicket or Jungle in a swampy
lburb, from which they were subsequently
lnted down by the military, after quite a
'irited resistance, during which five Of the |
gular soldiers we're wounded. Though
mewhat exaggerated stories are related
to the large casualties of the rebels, it is
IT officially known what number were
lied or njured.
THE REBELS IN THE WOODS.
From their well covered retreat it is prob
lie the fatalities were less than that OF the
ldiers, who occupied more exposed places,
ought at q very safe distance. No attempts
ere made at q charge or rout OF the rebels.
the meantime, while this idle skirmish-
g was being kept up in the outskirts, the
Gently elected Republican Assemblymen
r as they torn themselves here Congress-
sn) were brought together at the palace,
d at o'clock of that day, in silence, and
tn many of their bronzed faces blanched |
tn terror they assembled in their hall and
,re hurriedly sworn in. This was the first
,publican Congress of Para organized |
der the protection of numerous cannon
at had been placed in the largo, or square, |
the Government buildings.
)ne of the most popular as we'll as brilliant ,
ntleman of this place is Colonel Thesdosio