The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-10-19
BRAZILIAN REVOLUTION.
History of the Causes Which Brought About
the Unfortunate Affair.


the Unfortunate Affair.
NEW YORK, Oct. 15.-By a New
Yorker, long resident in Brazil lately
returned from Rio Janerio, the follow
ing statement was made yesterday:
"Some of the most striking and i'm
portant facts having direct and vital
relation to the present condition Of
affairs in Brazil have been strangely
omitted from every newspaper account
thus far published of the causes lead
ing up to the revolution against the
republic. In order that they may be.
better understood, brief reference to
some of the incidents connected with
the deposition of Dom Pedro are nec-
essary. In January, 1899, 1 had an
interview with Manuel Deodoro do
Fonseca at the little village of Tiiuca.
in the mountains about eight mi leg
back OF Rio, and a favorite resort of
wealthy residents of the capital during
he yellow fever season.
He talked freely of stirring scenes in
which he had acted so conspicuouslv
and said the saddest day of his life was
when forced to choose between his af-
lection for his imperial master and
fidelity to the army. Dom Pedro had
raised him to the rank of general for
his conduct in the Paraguayan war,
Gratitude for that distinction and re-
spect for the character of the emperor
drew him in one direction while hearty
sympathy with the republican views
of his associates urged him in the op-
poslte. This force of circumstances
and inevitable drift of events decided
the issue for him.
Fonseca assumed the direction Of
affairs. There were two main causes
operating to bring about the revolu-
ton. The planters were already
alienated from the throne by Dom.
Pedro's decree abolishing slavery. AS
the sons OF many of theae were officers
in the army, that party only waited a
good pretext to turn against him.
Such was furnished when he issued
the fatal orders directing the troops
to retire into the interior. A counsel,
assembled at which it was resolved tc,
disobey the order and by that act Of
disobedience it was necessary to de-
throne the emperor.
The other cause was hatred of Jesu-
its. Donna isabel, Dom Pedro's
daughter, had excited contempt and
indignity by submitting to the penalty
imposed upon her by the italian priest
to whom she had confessed some
venial sin. He required her to scrub
HnNr Of tho ohr1roI lyYon n.
campahania, The probability of her
accession, if the empire lasted, stimu-
lated a spirit of rebellion and
was a potent factor In precipitating
the final fatal stroke. The republic,
80 called, which succeeded was re-
public in name only. 1t was estab-
lished by men who not only lacked
perception of what constitutes re-
publican government, but who were
deficient in wisdom, patriotism and in"
tegrity necessary to establish oneo-
One of the first acts of Fonseea
as the head of the provisional gov
eminent had the effect of arous-
ing the animosity which in coDjunc-
ton with other causes at last cul.
minated in melodrama. He increased
the numerical strength of the army
and increased the pay of its officers.
The bond of sympathy between AID"
miral de Mello and the malcontents in
Rio had its origin in the following
circumstances: Dom Pedro had alien.
ated the navy by appointment Of
Admiral Ladaria, radical, as,
minister of marine. When De Mello'
visited Chile the year before in COM
mand of the wooden vessel Merante
Darosso, he invited Don Augustine,
grandson of the emperor, to accom-
pany him as guest. They were en-
tertained in great style by the Chile
ans, and Mello returned those civilis
ties by giving several balls and din.
ners aboardship. The expenses thus
incurred for the sake Of
his distinguished guest amount.
ture the minister of marine refused to
sanction and Mello was obliged to foot
the bill out of his own pocket. The
minister's action incensed the whole
navy. Quintino Poscuvay, editor Of
Obias, the leading paper in Rio, Bit
terly attacked Ledirio, declaring the
nation disgraced by the refusal to
honor bill incurred under such cir
cumstances. His criticisms had great
effect on the public mind
and Mello was reimbursed
6y means of popular subscription
Poscayuvay thus became the hero Of
the naval party in Rio, and whe
Pexoto deposed Fonseca, who bad
honored Poscayuvay by making BIZ
minister of foreign affairs, he theM
arrayed that party against his ADM.
istration.
Killed nv Drunkan Indiana