Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1893-12-09
GREAT MAN In BRAZIL.
MEGAlHAES AND HIS UNSElFlSH
PATRIOTISM.

He was Virtually Responsible tor the
Establishment of the Republic, After
/ ward and Death.
while all this war news is coming
from Brazil there are perhaps but Il
very few people outside of Brazil who
know the name of the man who found
ed the republic in that country" re-
marked Charles A. Byrne, who is in
tcreStcd in Il large coffee firm ut Bal
timorr. Md, and who is on a pleasure
trip to the Fair. Baltimore is the cof-
fee centre of this country, and Mr..
Byrnc'S firm does an importing buSi-
ness from Brazil
AS to the war news" continued he,
mot much can be learned now ON
which to base any definite conclusions,
because | know how the PeiXoto Gov
crnmcnt will hold rigid censorship
over all cablcgramS that are sent out
and see to it that nothing will be said
favorable to the rebels, no matter
which side has the advantage. PeiX-
OTTO incurred great displeasure among
the people by attempting to assume
powers Ill some respects similar to
those of dictator, and it would not
surprise me to hear of his final over
throw But as to the founder of the
Brazilian republicans name was Ben
jamin Constant Botelbo de Megalhaes.
Americans know a great deal about old
Dom Pedro, the late Emperor, and
know about his downfall, but they
never heard of the man whose intlu-
cncc founded the republic ON the ruins
of the empire. Megalhaes was born
in 1888 on falm not Il great way
from Rio Janelro. His father was
Portuguese, his mother was Brazilian.
The parents were poor, but the son
was boy of talent. The father died
while the son was a mere boy, and
the latter entered the army in 1852.
Mcgalhaes was a brilliant scholar in
all the military schools he attended
In the early sixties he studied in the
astronomical observatory of Rio Jan
GIRO, but left there in 1868 to become
a captain in the war against Para
quay. Here he made a brilliant record
The war over, he returned to his sci
cntitic Studies for he loved science
better than war. He became profess
Sor of mathematics in the military col
lrge. In 1870, just after the third
French republic had been founded in
Europe, Brazil being in close touch
with that country, the spirit of free
dom soon found its way across the At
1antic and democratic sentiment be-
came rife in Dom Pedro's dominion.
1t was at this time that l first met
Mcgalhaes at Il fashionable club in
Rio Janiero We formed an intimate
acquaintance soon, for he was then
an advocate of rcpublicanism and he
enjoyed the society of a citizen of the
greatest republic on earth. Megal-
hacS'S convictions were well known,
for he was Outspoken and brave, and
as party feeling ran high an effort
was made by the conservatives. or
friends of the throne, to have him dis
charged from his chair in the military
school. But Megalhaes's abilities were
so great that Dom Pedro considered it
best to allow him to remain, becauls"
his dismissal might react against the
conservatives and increase the demo-
cratic forces. Megalhaes continued his
studies and finally became a recog-
nizcd authority on mathematics. He
was forcible public speaker, and he
never hesitated to say that all positive
philosophy pointed to a republic as the
social outcome of the country. He
founded the normal school of Rio and
presided over the institution until the
outbreak of the revolution
This was Megalhaes's chance to
help redeem his countrymen from. the
thralldom of an expensive throne and
he soon left the professors chair to
join Gen. da Fonseca at the head of
the troops which besieged the head
quarters of the monarchic Govern
mcnt. He had already placed himself
in touch with all the leaders of the re-
publican party, he had made friends
with the press, and he welded II great
influence over the masses. His dis
cerning mind told him that the time
was ripe for a republic. AT first the
people were somewhat timid in joining
Fonseca's forces, but they came over
in hundreds when Megalhaes. almost
within hearing of the Emperor's pal
ace, made speeches in favor of Il re-
public. By his efforts the revolution
was made an accomplished fact, Dom
Pedro was shipped off to Europe and
freedom was secured. The people
conferred upon Megalhaes the rank OF
brgader-general. At first he modest
ly declined the honor but later was
forced to accept it along with the port
folio of Minister of War lie spent
his last year of life in the reorganiza-
ton of the army, and died of heart
disease two and half years ago.
Mcgalhaes was brave and courageous.
and. withal, he was honest A man
with weak conscience could have
made himself wealthy in Megalhacs's
public position, but he died as he was
born-a poor man. His widow and
children were left to the care of the
republic which he had founded. Mcgnl-
hacss name deserves to stand along
side men of all nations who have un-
sclfishly fought for political freedom"
Chicago Herald