The true northerner., 1891-11-11
The Brazilian Sensation.


appears imminent
It's inception was pea eful, though
startling Dom Pedro, Emperor, was
deposcd, or rather, quietly yielded to
the course OF events, was put aboard q
government vessel and sent 10 Spain, and
the republic Immediately came into ex-
istence.
All this was so recent as TO be within
the recollection of school children.
i he career of the Iew government
appears 10 have been successful until
recently Though internal dissensions
were constant, they were OF no magnitude,
and there had never been any serious ap-
parent attempt TO install the old mon
archy. Prompt recognition from foreign
powers was obtained, commercial treat
ies promulgated, and everything SEEM
cd 10 point to speedy and firm inau-
guration of a purely republican form OF
government
While the peaceful transition from
| monarchical TO popular government is
not usual in the affairs ofsthe world, m
the case of Brazil it excited no very
great comment Dom Pedro had for
years been foremost among LIBERAL
| minded potentates. His rule had been
| pacific, generous and benign He was
be owed by his sub ects, profoundly con-
scious OF their trust in him, alive to
their promotion, to a surprising
rights and privileges as emperor, and
singularly fortunate in his choice of ad-
visers. In fact, his rule Of Brazil was
monarchical more In tradition than In
reality. OF all old governments on
earth, not excepting England, his ap
preached the nearest to a popular form.
Fost trred by this very liberality the
spirit of repub icanism grew until 1t
could no longer remain subordinate.
With a precipitation that seemed little
| uncalled for Dom Pedro was depOsed
and sent TO Spain. De Fonseca was
elected President, and the new republic
launched. The form of govern
nent was very similar to our
own. Turbulence marked the es'
tabliShment of the Innovation, but,
as said before, no serious outbreaks oc-
Cured. CT cour c, there are those, power
full in wealth and station, who regretted
the departure of the Emperor, but they
remained discreetly and ominouSy pas
| sive,
And now comes President Fonseca's
proclamation dissolving Congress and
declaring himself Dictator. The news
came with startling abruptness, and
| great anxiety is felt as 10 the result. 1t
| is officially announced that the Pre- ideut
| has convened the natiol TO elect new rep
| resentaives at a date to be determined
upon later The revolution had its origin
| in a row that broke out in the Legislative
| Chamber. The Senate passed bill to
establish the responsibility OF the Ires-
| ident for his different acts. This act
met Fonseca's violent disapprobation,
and he refused to accept what he termed
any such dictation as TO his rights and
duties from Congress He ordered the
troops under arms throughout Rio Nov.
(, and this led to intense excitement
am ,ng the popuace. Bands of cppo-
| nentS of the government, intending old
| Republicans and Monarchists, assembled
and shouted out their disapprovaL Be
tween them and this old cry many fights
| took place. Riots occurred in the stree s
all over the city. The troops were then
given orders to fire upon the rioters,
which they did. Many of the rioters
were killed.
Rio was now pra, tically in a state OF
siege 1t was not safe to stir out of
COO Soldiers patrolled the streets.
Martial law was proclaimed. AS in pre-
vious cases strict censorship of the
press was established All communica-
| tion by telegraph was stopped. A spirit
of revolt was manifested In the army.
When Fonseca was informed of this fact
he went at once TO the troops and made
them stirring address, promising to
| guard their interests and to protect them
| in all their rights. His words had q
good effect Tie unruly spirits were
completely brought around to his side,
and at the end of his address loudly
cheeled him.
The chiefs Of the army tEen requested
Fonseca TO r sumo the functions of q
DICTATOR saying that the emergency de-
mandcd it. He appeared to demur for a
time, but at length gave his consent.
He the isSueI decree relating the
cause of disagreement between him and
Congress, and defending his position.
| At the same time he declared that Con-
gress had gone so far in its attempts to
interfere with his prarogatives that he
| thereby dissolved It, 1t hal no longer
any cx use for existing, he said, since it
was passing laws that were contrary to
| the constitution
The troops marched to the palace,
where President Fonseca was holding a
| COulcItHCO WiJH IlS NOmhdhu-
erS A conference Of tho Ministers was
| also in progress. At 8 a. m. Fonseca s
d cree was made public. He said the
dictatorship was to last until the polit-
ical revolutions were at an end and law
makers learned to keep in progress with
republican ideas. A dictatorship, he
added, was the best thing for the dis
tracted country. He disclaimed any in
tention of prolonging 1t after peace had
| been restored throughout the country.
Tclegra MS received from Porto Allegro,
i1 the State of Rio Grande de Sui, de-
clare that the authority of the dictator
is not recognized there Allegro has a
| po pulation OF some 10000 inhabitants.
ri CIR lnde de Sui is one OF the most
prosperous and INDEPENDENT of all the
States 1t has population Of nearly
5OO.OJc. The Republicans in IL say that
they will not tolerate dictatorship and
are demanding armed opposition TO Fon-
SEGA. They say that he wishes to re-
sto Imperial rule, with himself as En-
Il