The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-11-13
BRAZIL AND CHILE.

Brazil and Chile are going through the
throes which usually follow revolutions
In both countries adventurers, soldiers OF
fortune, spectators, vagabonds and rob-
hers are striving might and main to prevent
the restoration of peace and order, because
it is only in strife and disorder that they can
hope to find their prey. Strange to say, these
fomenters of disturbance seem 10 WELD
power enough to shape a large proportion OF
the dispatches which reach foreign ports
from Brazil; and thus the world is half per-
suaded that anarchy prevails, when in fact
probably nothing more serious is occurring
than the stamping ont of embers OF con-
tention by the de factR authorities.
In Chile reconstruction is proceeding in
orderly shape and is evidently controlled by
strong hands and patriotic minds. When
the suicide of Balmaceda left the country
without an Executive supreme power was
assumed by a triumvirate consisting OF Adj
miral Montt, Ramon Luca and Waldo Silva
all three men of character and standing.
They were known as the Junta. Their first
business after disarming the soldiers who
were not needed was TO elect President. Ad
miral Mont was the only candidate, and was
elected by acClamatiOn-to take office next
week. The Junta then convened Congress
and proceeded to place its resignation in the
hands of that body. stating that its mission
was now accomplished. This was the an
swer of the Admiral and his friends to the
charge that the triumvirate proposed to re-
tain supreme power for private purposes.
The resignation was accepted. and after
eiccting Senior Luca Speaker of the House,
and Senior Silva President of the Senate,
both houses adjourned to meet next Weines-
q. 10 ,ysr ,t,F,o s h,,-f
All this is 50 conformable TO the correct
conduct of public affairs in weIl-ordered
republic that it warrants high hopes of the
future of the reorganized commonwealth.
and justifes the belief that when the present
confusion subsidies Chile will do the right
thing in the matter of the sailors of the
Baltimore,
Turning now to Brazil. the dispatches an
nCuuce with much exuberance of language
the outbreak of a counter revolution against
the authority of General Fonseca, who is
President, with powers of general COM
| manding under martial law. THE CALL
! had occasion not many days ago to explain
the friction which had arisen between the
President and the Congress of Brazil, which
arose in all probability from the inexperi-
| ence of both parties in the practical BUSH
ness of selt-goyernment FGnseca, being a
mere soldier, could not brook the control of
| a Congress comprised mainly of planters and
/ lawyers; and the Congress resented what
| they regarded as his encroachmentS on their
| powers. Matters had reached the stage in
! which French affairs stood before the coup
| d'etat of December; either the Executive or
Congress had TO give way neither had had
| the lessons of f0rbearance and compromise
/ which long experience in self-g0vernment
! has taught the people OF this country. Like
! Louis Napoleon, F0nseca resolved to be be-
forehaud with his Congress; he declared
martial law i'll the province in which they
sat, which rendered them ami their actions
nuiity.
Some of the members have now been busy
In trying TO get up counter revolutions. One
such demonstration has been made in the
southern province of san Juan do Sui. Thi;
is a province of a million people, who arc
chiefly coal-mineIs, gold-mner aud dia.
| mond- hunters, They comprise among them
! a large proportion OF foreigners WHO have
flocked to the diamond fields and the gold
mines in search of fortune. The turbulent
class is large. To the adventures who are
looking for big nuggets and two or thTet
carat stones instruction aud war mean
license to plumber and opportunity for out
| rage. 1t cannot have been difficult to rouse
party of such men to arms. They are al
ways ready to fight for or against any gov
ernment Fonseca seems to have acted witt
judgment and YigoT. He dispatched at ono
four guuboatS, three monitors and tvs
transports fun of troops to the scene of &C
ton. Ii the men from the mines are thirst
ing for carnage they will probably get al
they want, after which the survivors vii
probably resume their search for fine stones
Few rulers in this century have had {
more difficult task to perform than the on
which has falieA to the lot Of General Fin
SEGA. The sudden emancipation of million
slaves, the terror Of their late owners les
the change in their condition should destroy
the value of the plantations, the jmpoyerish b.
meut of a large proportion of the mercantil
class through the wildcat banking syste Il
introduced under Dom Pedro-these ar
elements of disturbance which might we
appall timid Executive. II is, perhaps
fortunate for Brazil that in this crisis sh
should have at the head of affairs a ma
who. though he may be hasty and inez
perienced, is at any rate not afraid to strik
down the foes of order and stable govern
ment.