The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-11-25
Fonasca.s pIctatorship Ended.

FOn5eca'5 Dictatorship Enoed.
Gen. Fonseca does not seem TO have IN
derstood the temper Of the people Of Brazil.
He was chiefly instrumental in overthrow
ing the government of Dom Pedro, and,
having succeeded in making himself presi-
dent Of the republic that was established
upon the ruins Of the monarchy. he thought
he could make himself dictator. He was
not long in finding out that he had made
mistake. He had no sooner begun to play
the part of dictator than there were
signs of discomfort. Having the army aud
navy at his command, and believing they
were loyal TO him and would support him in
whatever course he might adopt, he re-
fused to be warned by the protests OF the
people.
1t was not long before he had a revolt Of
immense proportions to deal with. One of
the STRONGEST Of the states refused to
acknowledge his authority, and SCI up gov
eminent of its own. Soon it was joined by
several other states, and the revolutionists
quickly collected an army Of $1,000 men.
Still Dictator Fonseca thought he was mas
ter Of the situation. He did not, however,
understand how strong the feeling against
him in Rio Janeiro was, nor how indiffer-
emit to his interests the army and navy were.
But when he was informed by some Of
his officers that the people Of Rio
Janeiro were ready to rise in arms against
his government and that the sympathies of
the army and navy were with the revolu~
tionists he saw that the end of his public
career was close at hand. A very mild
10, F1os,
to make him resign the presidency. In his
proclamation, announcing his resignation,
he declared that his purpose was to save the
country from the horrors Of civil war. But
1t is more than probable that he would have
held on to his office had he believed he could
successfully resist the revolutionists. His
attempt to make himself dictator shows that
he cared very little for the welfare of the
country.
Had he been patriot. sincerely desirous
of establishing the republic upon firm and
lasting basis. he would have endeavored to
strengthen the new government by con-
stitutional methods. He would have striven
to make the republic acceptable to those
who were hostile to it. Instead of doing
that he assumed the powers Of a dictator.
He dissolved congress, postponed the time
for holding the general elections, changed
the constitution so as to enlarge his powers
and lessen those Of congress, reduced con-
gressional representation, suppressed news
papers and shut up printing offices.
The people wouldn't submit to having
their liberties taken from them in that way,
nor, in fact, in any way. They had got rid
of an emperor, and they didn't intend to
have dictator. They spoke forcibly to
Dictator Fonseca and told him that il he
did not retire from Office at once they would
make him do so. They intimated that they
had deposed Dom Pedro for the purpose of
having republic, and republic they in
sisted upon. 1t is probable that very little
more will be heard from Gen. Fonseca. He
has become back number.
II the men who are now at the head Of
affairs are true to the republic 1t Is proba-
BILE that there will be no more trouble at
the present time. The men who started
the revolution in Rio Grande do Sui say
that their only object in rising in revolt
was to save the republic. That being the
case the revolutionists, after having res
ceived assurances that those now at the
head of the government will respect the
constitution, will retire to their homes and
resume their respective occupations But
it is safe to predict that there will be a
great deal more friction and perhaps other
disturbances of greater or less proportions
before the new government will have passed
the danger line.