New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-22
THE BRAZILIAN SIBERIA.
POLITICAL PRISONERS on THE WAY TO THE
ANDES

4 GROUP OF PROMINENT MEN FROM RIO JANEIRO
WHOM PRESIDENT PEIXoTTo WISHED TO
siLENCE-HoPING TO BE RELIEVED
AFTER THE NATIONAL ELECTION.
TO the Editor Of The Tribune.
sir: 1t may appear Ike stretching OF the imae
nation TO attempt comparison OF the Gar OF Russia
whose subjects live nearest to tho North Pole. With
the acting President OF the new Brazilian Republic.
whose warm-booded citizens swelter In the tropics,
great number Of whom exist under the equator In
Amazonia. yet It is difference Of latitude and ong-
uIde rather than degrees DEGREES OF dcspotsm
The Gar OF all the Russias. by simple Imperial de-
cree. banshes to the frozen wilds OF Siberia those OF
his subjects who may by the faeful OF evolu
ton become far advanced In their education ms to
be thorns I'm his Imperial Crown The Acting VICE
President Of the Republic OF Brazil Flohanna Pcxoto
IN Army officer who abettcd his predecessor, Deodon
Fonseca, In the military and naval conspiracy which
overthrow the latc Emperor Dom Pedro II. and who
In turn subsequently seated himself In the chair his
late leader had scarcely warmed, has recently BIZ
simple manifesto banlshcd to the Upper Amazon
under the equator Inhospltabe and desolate from
tier as distant from Rio de Janero is 81. Peters
burg from Siberia, twenty-five Of the most cultivated
ms well the most prominent pcrsonages OF Brazil
simply and only for political Offences or because they
vcniurcd 10 express publicly opinions differing from
official acts OF usurpaton. All OF the banished men are
Republicans. and prominent In their early ad
hcson TO Fonseca. Among them are distinguished
field marshals and generals q the Brazilian Army.
admiral OF the Navy. the depos-d Governors Of
the States Of Ccara Amazonas. who were elected
by their states and who did not approve OF she
usurpaon Of Vice PRECEDENT @ho seated himself. a
Senator and three members elected to the National
Congress. editors OF daily papers. professors OF col
lcccs. n doctor and dentist. capitalist. who Is re-
pucd TO be the woalthics man in Brazil banker
manager OF a large corporation. and others.
There came to anchor at Pam. which Is near the
mouth Of the Amazon. yesterday en- route To me hch
waters the large steamship Pernambuco. OF the Lloyd
Brazllero Line which had been seized pressed Into
service rs n Government transport 10 convey these
political prisoner and their families over the 5000
miles OF ocean voyngc and 1000 miles more Of river
transportation to their destination on the frontiers OF
Peru and Venezuela the sunris" side OF me AhueS
which are far west IN Ammonia rs are the s'erf"
Nevadas Of own land.
Through the Kind Offices OF couple Of Brazilian
official friends was. special favor. permitted to
60 aboard the transport. and availcd mSN'h oi 'n'
opportunity to interview the exilcs. The vessel had
anchored some distance from the city. almost nndcr
the guns Of the old fort and clos" nv brazilian
warship Fortified with an official permit from th'
courteous chief OF the harbor. Senior >aihpho anu
accompanied by Seniors Chermont. LAWYER ana
popular gentleman Of influence brother II the lat"
Governor and secretary Of state. and senior Wa'nn.
who IS a member Of the Assembly and supporter OF
the present Government We brib@l n Portuguese
bootman with n small Zee who. scmmlng the rushing
tide Of the Amazon for an hour under blnzng sun.
nIoced rs alongside the ladders. We were received
by the military officer Of the guard The diplomatic
Chermont talked 50 gllbv In Portuguese TO the guard
causing him to laugh good naiuredly. that We "'c
hshcrrd on board without question
The Pcrnambuco is n large ClydchuIlt modern ship.
well arranged with elegant saloons. comfortable rooms
extensive prpmenad" decks. etc. Whatever else mas ne
laid tending 10 create contrary opinion. 1t must b"
conceded that the first impression made upon III"
visitor was that the passengers were jolly party
bound on a select excursion rather than a cargo OF
exllcs en- rouie 20 distant points Of ban'hm"nt Inc
ship In charge Of BRAZILIAN navnl o'ic"r though
the regular captain and sailed her rs usual.
In addition 20 this ships complement Of men there
was an armed military guard numbering 40. composer
Of youngser, In gorgeous uniforms. and older cadets
from the Flo Military school the number OF twenty
three II is said there were fifteen officers for the
twenty three cadets. some ~ them used cancS AMI
all wore immense cuffs and oollnr'.
There was nothing IN the bcanng 81 the cadets that
would M all indicate the presence Of any prisoners on
hoard Prisoners ard soldiers mingled prom-cuously.
The boys I'm their BRIGHT uniforms, sitng the guard
rails like college boys on a fence chartered ~ only
seemed 10 be amused and laughed mcrrily over the
chniling about their being 10 n place where ants
were a. numerous rrnns Of sand. molnccns on
every blade Of grass, mosquitoes In clouds and fevers
always In the air.
There were scattered about IN the cabins or longing
about on deck old men and old ladies, pretty Hrl
q sixteen and that were not pretty. motiicrs
and children. and In two instances nursing babies.
Many wives Of the cxllcs had. like the oibertans.
foIt.s tboI, br9i.. In. ham nm
There colored servant girls Waiting on their
masters and mstrcsscs. distinguished toling men
silently promenadng alone on the upper dock who
preferred 70 be separated from tLcr families rather
than permit them 10 risk the privaons OF exile The
table wa we'll supplied with good food. around which
officers. prvates and prisoners gathered In social
way and drank warm beer together talked for II
long time with most Interesting brazilian. a veteran
Of years and OF distinguished service in all the wars
Of Brazil who was tremulUu, with age and I'm any
country would have been retired with honor for the
good he had already done his country, rather than
exiled because patriot he would not DC witness
10 the usurpaons 81 the President without raising his
voice In respectful protest. This was Field Marshal
Earreto. who is senator elect To the Congress
which IS 10 rcissemblc at RIO on Nav .. without
regard 10 the exemptions accorded 70 law makers. h.
was Ioi,ed from bed before daylight, sent ali ard
snip and Is now route 10 exile. Probably among
The lot there none who appear TO suffer TO fee!
kecny the degradation than this OLD hero but
Ike soldier TO bears 1t silently and uncOmpainingly.
The protest that he seemed TO emphasize most
his disgust with the President for putting him and
his fellow officers Of high rank under the guard OF
second lieutenant and a lot OF cadets.
II Is generally conceded among Brazans. and even
the prisoners that If the offence charged against them
military oilicer,. g., OF having formed "A con
spI'icy-wec just they deserved punishment. and they
think that military execution would be preferable to
this Punishment TO a living graveyard. But they all
assert positively that there no attempt at n rcvo-
luton; that they had simply. as citizens given ex-
preston to their respectful protests against usurpa-
lion. This IS question OF veracy or a fact that will
not now be settled. the President, by his summary
cjcciment Of the cuprits, has put them leyonI the
possibility Of making any legal defence by an open
trial, by court martial otherwise and their story Is
first told TO The world in these lines through an Amer