The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-11-15
Brazil.

For two reasons 1t is still difficult to OBJ
tain . definite idea Of the causes and conse-
quanoes Of the revolution which has taken
place at Rio Janeiro. In the first place. all
kilograms are subjected to O rigorous cen.
sorship by order Of Marshal FoNsEcA. who
= now virtually dictator. In the second
place. such news as will leak out In
spite Of all precautions. comes to us
mainly through English or Gillian chan
malls. and must, therefore, be viewed with
some distrust because the disposition Of the
present Brazilian executive to cultivate the
friendship Of the United States has given
offence alike In London and In Valparaiso.
Thers has been In this respect q striking
change In the attitude Of the Rio Janeiro
Government since the overthrow Of the en-.
pire. Under Dom Pedro II. the commerce
Of Brazil was as completely monopolized by
England as Is the foreign trade Of Chill, and
t not unnaturally follows that the foreign
policy Of the country was largely swayed
~ British influence. President FoNsEcA.
IN the other hand. has from the outset
shown q desire to open the markets
Brazil to Americans, and In other
intern stional concerns to lean upon our
republic rather than upon Great Brit
ain. Thus he has assented to o treaty
Il partial reciprocity: he has favored
ihe arbitration scheme put forth by the
.an-American Congress-: he has taken
measures to secure large appropriation
Or the purpose OF exhibiting Brazilian
,roducts at the Columbus Worlds Fair. and
has also spared no pains to increase the
leans Of steam communication between
10 country and our own. Such proceed
'rgs are by no means calculated to gain the
GOD will OF Englishmen. who would I'M
oubtedly view with satisfaction FoNsEoAs
tmovA from power.
While. however. the recognition Of the
razilian Presidents endesvors to acquire
70 friendship of Americans would incline
to regard him with sympathy. it must be
knowledged that his acts In the recent
isis have been Of an arbitrary character.
here now seems to be no doubt that In dis
living the Brazilian Congress he assumed
% exercise . power with which no was not
vested by the Constitution. He is. in
her words. chargeable with q coup detat
laloGous to that which CROMWELL exc
tied In ejecting the Rump Parliament.
nd ofwhich other examples were given by
70 Arst NAPOLEON on tho 18th Brumaire,
nd by his nephew ON the cd OF December.
VI. OF those three revolutionary acts
.lstorians have been generally disposed to
ondone the first two and to condemn
he Last. We need much ampler light than
We possess on the events preceding the
dissolution Of the Brazilian Congress In
order to decide in which class OF state
strokes President FoNsEcA's performance
should be placed. It Ia alleged that the
Congress had shown itself US inefficient,
obstructive. and factlous as was tho Rump
Parliament. and that experience had proved
the maintenance Of harmonious and fruitful
relations between IL and the Executive to
DO impossible. That Is the plea made on
behalf OF President FONsEcA. but we have
yet to hear the other side. That the Exec
utive does not shrink from invoking tho
judgment OF the electors seems evident
from the announcement that a new Con-
gress win speedily be convoked. and that
this body. besides dlscharging the func-
lions Of ordinary legislation. will receive
the powers OF constitutional revision.
! There have been rumors Of open opposl-
ton In several provinces to President
FoHsEoA's assertion Of dictatorial authority.
but these reports have not yet been con-
flrmed except In the case OF Rio Grande do
Sui. This province has long been thorn
In the side of tho Rio Janeiro Government.
In the early part Of this century many Of
its Inhabitants eviD0od sympathy with tho
rebellion OF the BDpda Oriental, which WAS
subsequently transformed in conjunction
with the Spanish colony Of Monteyideo into
the republic OF Uruguay. Then again. dur
tPg tRs liaQEty q l0@ HsRgo u. Bio