Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-29
Political Events In Brazil Preceding
Mello's Rebellion.
PElXOTO And TEE CONSTITUTION.
The Question of the Reelection OF
a President.
A BILL THAT WAS VETOED

on the 18th Of November, 1889; this was
brought about by the conjoined action of
the army, navy and people. and Marshal
Deodoro was acclaimed provisional presi-
dent, who at once set about establishing
firm government, greatly aided by Col.
benjamin Constant, to whom most Brazil
ians give the greater part of the credit for
the success of the revolution.
The provisional government at once COM
menced the task by ordering a general cleo
ton for deputies and senators to the first
congress. who were duly elected by all the
states, lately called provinces, under the
monarchy. In due time congress assembled
In number 2Go. fully representing all Brazil,
and after long debate, and minute con-
slderation of every article, adopted a fed
eral constitution on the oath Of February,
1871, with certain temporary articles at
tached; this constitution is modelled prn-
cipally on those of the United States Of
America, Switzerland and Chile and is
very liberal.
AS soon as the constitution was adopted,
in obedience to one of the temporary ar
ticles which declares that the first presi-
dent and vice president should be elected
by congress, an election was held and Deo-
ooro Forseca was chosen president, ana
Floriano Peixoto vice president, for the
vember, 1894.
FOnseca's Dictatorship.
After continued squabbles with congress
PRESIDENT Deodoro, by coup d etat, on the
I'D of November 1891. dissolved that body,
assumed the dictatorship and ordered a new
election for March of the following year.
On the I'D of the same month. after only
twenty days, the army and navy and a
large majority of the expelled congressman
combined and forced the abdication Of Pres
ident Deodoro, in order, as they declared,
to vtndicate the law and the constitution,
and Floriano PeiXoto. the vice president,
succeeded as matter of course and &C
cording to the constitution. Deodoro was
compelled to accede to the wishes of the
revolution, he was backed by neither
people, army or navy and was in a wretch
ed state OF health and died soon afterward.
During all this time the states each had
adopted their own constitutions and elected
their state governors or presidents as they
are severaliy called; and during the twenty
days OF the dictatorship almost all, if not
all. these elected Governors had sent in their
approval and adherence to the dictator: for
which cause. soon Floriano was firm
ly seated. by the aid. assistance and ad-
vice of his cabinet. the most active of which
was mis- minister of marine. Admiral Jose
Custodio de Mello. the present chief of the
naval revolt, cabals We're organized by
agents of the central government who in
cited the people of the states to depose their
tarv forces stationed in each state; and
will the aid of newly appointed local Of
ficers, they elected new governors, who ap-
pointed new officers, all supposed to be IA
vorable to Floriano's ideas. Now, one of
the principal charges against Floriano used
by Mello is the act of interfering in state
governments.
The Failure of the Geraes Company.
Floriano found the financial state of af-
fairs in a very low condition and took
among others the General Company of
Railways (Companhia GeraD had issued
an immense number of shares in excess
of the legal number. and its officers, so
says everybody, had falsitied more shares,
amounting to millions of money far be-
yond the illegal issue. Deodoro was about
to extend the protection of the government
to this gigantic swindle, but Floriano put
down his foot and refused to have any
thing to do with it, The company suffered
fraudulent bankruptcy, and every man,
woman and child counted by flundreds of
thousands), usual in Latin countries.
who suffered losses by the failure of the
Geraes Company. at once became a vim
dictive enemy of the government and
pecially of its president, F'loriano.
From this source commenced the oppo-
sition to Floriano, until q do not remember
the date thirteen of the highest army and
navy officers, backed by certain men of
politics and third-rate newspaper editors,
addressed and published a letter to Floriano,
asking or rather ordering the president to
call an election of the people to choose a
president, according to Art. ~ of the con-
stitution, which says: "In the case of the
presidential office becoming vacant from
any cause, If two years of the term in
which this takes place should not have
elapsed, then there must be held a new cleo
ton ito fill the vacancy" But the presi-
dent, Floriano. taking as his authority the
transitory provisions of the constitution,
made expressly for the first presidential
term, Art. !, Par. ., which reads The
president and vice president elected under
the form of this article QsD will occupy
the presidency and vice presidency of the
republic during the first presidential term"
refused to call an election.
1t was openly declared at the time that
the object of the ranstory provisions of
the constitution was to prevent a proper
election for president until after the first
presidential term or until Din other Words)
the people should be able, through eXper-
fence, to make fair choice. The president
ordered these generals and officers to be put
upon the retired list. On the 10th Of April
1892, some of these retired officers, assisted
by certain discontented elements of Bra
lillian political society, attempted a revolu-
ton in a most ridiculously absurd manner
which was stransled in it's birth, and the
chiefs eXied to the wilds of Amazonas on
the head waters of the river Amazon In
June of this same year congress met again.
and by large majority approved every act
OF Floriano'S government in respect to the
quasi-revolt, and then voted bill of am
loose to commence new intrigues.
1t should have been stated above that
congress confirmed Florlano's interpreta-
ton of the transitory provisions.
The Veto.
One of the articles of the constitution de-
clares that an elected president cannot be
reelected for the next term and that in
case a vice president has served as presi-
dent for the last two years of the term, he
cannot be candidate at the next election.
Though this is meant for the permanent or
ton took the question to congress, where
they succeeded in getting a law passed
which states that a vice president can I'M
der no circumstances be reelected although
the constitution declares that he is incom-
patible only in case he has served as presi-
dent for the last two years of the term
F'loriano vetoed this law as unconstitu-
tional and sent it back to congress which
knowing 1t could not get a two-thrd vote
in favor of the bill, by obstructional meas
ures succeeded in preventing the law with
the veto being brought up before congress-
This veto was the immediate pretext of
Mello to revolt, the whole idea being to OBJ
struct the approaching congressional and
presidential elections.
Like many of the Brazilian laws, the new
constitution is in places ambiguous, so 1
have tried above to give the understanding
of the better class at the time the laws
Were made and before personal or political
reasons had been raised in order to carry
en- opposition
Almost every principal law in Brazil has
been explained so many times by what are
called ''aYisoS" that they NAV mean any,