Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1891-11-12
rhe Brarlllan sensation.


deposed, or rather, quietly yielded to
the course OF events, was put aboard
government vessel and sent to Spain, and
the republic Immediately came into ex-
istence.
All this was so recent as TO be within
the recollection OF school children.
The. career of the new government
appears to have been successful until
recently. Though internal dissensions
were constant, they were Of no magnitude,
and there had never been any serious APP
parent attempt to install the old mon
archy. Prompt recognition from foreign
powers was obtained, commercial treat.
les promulgated, and everything seem
ed to point to speedy and firm inau-
guration Of purely republican form OF
| government
While the peaceful transition from
monarchical TO popular government Is
not usual In the affairs Of the world, In
the case OF Brazil it excited no very
great comment Dom Pedro had for
years been foremost among liberal
inded potentates. His rule had been
acific, generous and benign. He was
Jeloved by his subjects, profoundly con-
scious Of their trust In him, alive to
to their interests and active Ia
their promotion, TO surprising
degree unaffected by jealousy of his
rights and privileges as emperor, and
singularly fortunate In his choice OF ad-
visers. In fact, his rule of Brazil was
| monarchical more I'm tradition than In
reality. OF all old governments on
earth. not excepting England, his ap-
preached the nearest to popular form
Fostered by this very liberality the
spirit of repub icanism grew until 1t
could no longer ~emain subordinate.
With precipitation that seemed a 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
ment was very similar TO our
own. Turbulence marked the es
tablishment of the Innovation, but,
as said before, no serious outbreaks oc-
Cured. or cour e, there are those, power
! full in wealth and station, who regretted
the departure Of the Emperor, but they
remained discreetly and ominorsly pas
sive,
And now comes President Fonseca's
proclamation dissolyinR Congress and
declaring himself Dictator. The news
came with startling abruptness, and
great anxiety is felt as TO the result 1t
| is o1ic1ally announced that the fre sident
has convened the nation to elect new rep.
resentatives at date to be determined
upon later. The revolution had its origin
| in row that broke out in the Legislative
Chamber. The Senate passed bill to
establish the responsibility OF the Pres
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.
4, and this led TO intense excitement
among the populace. Bands OF oppo-
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 streets 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 practically In a state Of
1.I~e,~--It SAFE 10 stir cut Of
doo"s Soldiers patrolicd the streets.
Martial law was proclaimed. AS In pre-
vious cases q strict censorship of the
press was established. All communica-
tion by telegraph was stopped A spirit
of revolt was manifested In the army.
he went at once to the troops and made
them a stirring address, promising to
guard their interests and to protect them
in all their rights. His words had a
good effect Tie unruly spirits were
completely brought around to his side,
and at the end of his address loudly
| cheered him.
The chiefs of the army then requested
Fonseca to r sumo the functions of a
dictator. saying that the emergency de-
manded IT, He appeared to demur for n
time, but at length gave his consent.
He then issued a 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 prerogatives that he
thereby dissolved It, 1t had no longer
any excuse for existing, he said, since IL
was passing laws that were contrary to
the constitution
The troops marched to the palace.
where President Fonseca was holding a
conference with his military command
ers A conference OF the Ministers was
also in progress. At a. m. Fonseca
decree 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 It after peace had
been restored throughout the country.
Telegra ms received from Porto Allegro,
In the State of Rio Grande de Sui, de.
clare that the authority of the dictator
is not recognized there. Allegro has a
population Of some 3O,O inhabitants
RiD CIR ande de Sui Is one of the most
prosperous and independent of all the
States. IL has population of nearly
100000. The Republicans in it say that
they will not tolerate dictatorship and
are demanding armed opposition to on
SEGA. They say that he wishes to re.
store Imperial rule, with himself as EN-
| peror, and that he has grown tired of
Republican Government The "a y has
pronounced in favor of Fonseca.
Fonseca. In his manifesto, says that
he will govern In accordance with his con-
stitution. The National Guard has been
modified In the Province of Rio Grandc
1he troops are In their quarters. An
outbreak is feared owing TO the infiu-
ence of the opposition
Much concern IS felt in Washington by
the fr ends of the IRA .ilian republic.
Minlste Conger In a cablegram 10 the
State Departn ent confirms the state
me II thai Congress has been ssolved
and martial law has beel proclaimed.
Reading betSecn the lines this means
that the colsp racy against the republic
has come TO a Lead and the death
, struggle is now entered upon between