The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1892-07-21

within the border of the Empire, and the
next day Government decree was issued
appointing a three day festival in celebra-
ton of the event. During those day all
Brazil gave itself up to rejoicing The
public offices and private establishments
were closed. The festival was begun with
grand mass in the open ar, celebrated
with immense pomp in the presence of
the Imperial family, the ministers of
down through every, rank and strata of
society Then there was grand naval
and military parade and professions of
schools and guilds and corporations and
societies, and day after day they were
marched through the principal streets
with bands playing and banners flying
and orators spouting the usual nonsense.
Every house was decorated with flags by
day and illuminated 10y night. The thea
ters were opened gratutously to the pub
lie. and two of the public squares were
those who wanted to dance. The public
generally being invited to this part of the
celebration, the new made citizens and
citizenesses universally awaited themselves
of it, till it looked as if a black cloud had
settled down on the Capital city, sparingly
enlivened by a few white faces
iIlt e.1, ,f ;,; ~,
people We're no so we'll pleased as they
pretended to be. Some of the orators who
shouted loudest about equal rights and
universal brotherhood, like many an alb
olutionist Of the North. who would abol-
lsh the black man off the face of the
earth rather than fraternize with him,
revenge themselves on the Imperial family
by ousting them from the country and re-
storing their favorite institution. The
great problem now before Brazil is that of
labor In this hot climate white men can
not do the work of Negroes, and the labor
system of the country is in state of total
Generalization. The majority of enamel
pated slaves will not work if they can help
it, are not capable of taking care of them
selves
Notable exceptions are found among the
Minas Negroes, (natives of a territory on
the west coast of Africa, who differ from
all other blacks and as slaves We're valued
Iot ,1a la =
Negroes. They are of immense frame,
capable of great endurance, display a re-
markable degree of intelligence and as
freedmen make useful Industrious and
thrifty citizens. They are extremely
clannish speaking language among
themselves unintelligibe to- others and
practlcing religious rites similar to those
OF Mahometism from which they can
never be allured by missionaries, Romish
OF Protestant. They are as ingenious and
intelligent and make excellent mechanics
as well as laborers. and they are about the
only blacks i'll Brazil, if not elsewhere,
who have any idea of economizing their
resources and laying by fund for rainy
days. During slavery times a number of
them purchased their freedom and went
back to Mlnas. in Africa but every one
of them came back to Brazil and several
chartered vessels for the purpose, brought
over their friends and linsmcn and settled
here as colonists and planters
The wisest thinkers OF the day arc now
advocating the organization of immegra-
ton companies for the purpose of bring
ING over calgoes OF these people from the
clark continent hot, as formerly. for
slaves but to supply the demand forlabor.
The climate of Brazil is not unlike that of
their own country, and as neighbors and
prospective citizens they are in every way
p preferable to the Chinese and coolies
FANNIE b. WARD.