The Portland daily press., 1893-12-30
TYRANNY In EITHER CASE.
The Frying Pan or the Fire for the
People Of Brazil.
SIXTEEN PEOPLE RECENTLY SHOT
DOWN IN COLD BLOOD.

They Were Watching Insurgent Launches
When the Guns We're Suddenly Turned
on Them-De CANA Says He Is Fight
ing Military Tyranny-Onloosers
Opine That If the Insurgents Succeed,
1t VIII Simply Mean Another Set of
Tyrants.
Rio Janeiro, December 99.-A press
representative in this city has learned
from unimpeachable authority that Ad-
miral Saldanhada CANA, W no is in COM
mand of the insurgent feet in the Bay of
Rio Janeiro, during the absence of
Admiral de Mello, when asked on what
constitutional grounds the insurrection
had been started, replied: "We are not
fighting ON constitutional grounds. -
"Then on what grounds are you fight
ing?" he was asked "We are fighting
against military tyranny, will give
you an instance of this tyranny that we
are fighting to overthrow. At the cleo
tion in the Amazon district one Senator
Deputies were to be elected. The
L
in the election, throwing all it's influence
in favor of the four military candidates,
with the result that the civilian candi-
dates were badly defeated. A colonel
was elected Senator, and three army
captains were chosen to fill the seats for
the district in the Chamber of Deputies.
AS he made this statement he trembled
with Indignation. Continuing, the
Admiral said that il the movement he is
fighting in support of is successful the
question of restoring the monarchy or of
continuing the republic will be sub
mitted to the electors for final decision.
1t may be pointed out, however, that
some of the sympathizers with the insur-
gents cause admit that a plebiscite will
be farcical proceeding, as the mon
archist, supported by the military power
of Admiral de CANA, who is an open
supporter of monarchical institutions,
will carry the question by force of arms,
when another revolution would be GER
tain to follow.
This is also the belief of the American
officers here, who will discuss the ques-
tion of the probable outcome of the
present insurrection.
Cannonading between the goveur-
ment forts and the forts held by
the insurgents is of daily oc-
currence, and the civilians in the city
have become SO used to the booming of
the guns that fighting in the bay excites
little more than passing comment. This
may, perhaps, be due TO another cause,
that is, that it is not good policy to
openly discuss political questions.
Fort Villegaignon, held by the insur-
gents, has not replied to the fire directed
against it with it's usual spirit. 1t is sup
posed thai this is due to lack of ammu-
milton. AS a result of an hours hot
firing on the city last week by the in
surgents' forces in Fort Cobras, which
| lies a short distance north of the custom
house, one innocent person was killed
| and twelve others were wounded. The
| government forces replied briskly to the
firing. butswhat loss, if any, was in
hicted upon the Insurgents is not known.
| On December 81, several insurgent
| launches cruised along the shore of the
| Saude district and. directed hot fire
against the spectators who had gathered
/ there through curiosity.
| The latter scattered in every direction
| for shelter, but many were killed. The
launches cruised upland down the beach
! for an hour, infjcting all the damage
they possibly could. The exact mum ber
/ of persons killed cannot be ascertained,
but rumor has it that two carloads of
| bodies were carried off. 1t is pretty cer-
| tain that the government soldiers picked
| up sixteen dead.
Judging from the outlook it is safe to
say that another engagement between
| the government forces and the insurgent
vessels is imminent. So far as can be
learned no answer has been received from
the pl plotest sent to Lord Rosebery, the
British foreign secretary, by number of
British merchant captains against the
action of Captain Lang, senior British
naval officer here, and Mr.. G.. H.
Wyndham, the British minister, who,
the captains claim, refuse to protec t
them in discharging their cargoes. The
property representede by the signers of
the protest is estimated to be worth S15,-
10000.
An apparently open despatch in Por-
tuguese has been received by the insur-
gent sympathizers here. 1t conveys the
Information that the dynamite cruiser
Nictheroy has left Pernambuco, her
destination being the Island of Fernando
de Noronha, 1926 miles off the eastern
extremity of Brazil. Her object it is said
is to meet the torpedo boats expected
from Europe. 1t is asserted in some
quarters that Admiral de Mello, on
board the flagship Aquidaban, has gone
there, but from the best information it
is learned that he IS still far to the south
of Rio and most likely at Desterro,
capital of theSState of Santa Caetharinta,
which city fell into the hands of the in
surgents some time ago. The insurgent
troops who, it was promised, were to
come from Rio Grand do Sui to inyest
the capital have not appeared and, it
news from that state can be depended
upon, it is more than likely that. their
services will be required there as the
Peixoto forces are reported to be gaining
ground constantly. American naval
officers say that. Mello's ships are
poorly manned. De .Gama's demand for
recognition as belligerent has been re-
fused by the diplomatic corps here.
Pernambuco, December 29.-It has
transpired that the dynamite gun of the
government cruiser Nictheroy did not
work satisfactorily during the tests
made on the voyage from New York to
this port. Orders issued from the
ministry of marine to the government +
warship Parahyba have been changed.
President Peixoto is reported to Rave
commanded that she COME back to this
port.
| TO JOIN PEIxoTo's ARMv