Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-10-18
THE REVOLT IN BRAZIL.
A Complete Account of Its Origin and
Progress.
President PeixotO and Rear Admiral
MelIo-What They stand for and
Who Are Standing by Them.

IN BRAZIL, the army ana navy nave been
important factors in politics. The two
| branches of service. however. made COM
mon cause against the last imperial min
| istrv. under ''Ouro Preto," and Joined
hands to overthrow 1t. 1t may be safely
stated that their object was the overthrow
of the ministry instead Of the empire, and
the proclaiming Of the republic was an
afterthought. In the new republic the
navy was represented in the provisional
government by Admiral Edwardo Wanden-
kolk and the army by Field Marshal Deo-
doro Fonseca, as president. The republic
was declared in the name Of the army and
navy for the people. The people had not,
however, been consulted. The old jealousy
very soon showed itself again, and things
did not go very smoothly between Wanden-
kolk and his colleagues of the provisional
government He withdrew, however with
out an open rupture. He was elected to the
| senate. and has been In the opposition ever
since. He was connected with the "Seabra"
conspiracy and was deported with the
others.
Your readers are all familiar with the
coup d'etat' Of President Fonseca and his
secretary, Lucena, supported by the army,
d1ssolving congress and proclaiming him
SELF temporary dictator. in November, 1891
AT this period the two rival leaders in the
present trouble came into prominence. Rear
admiral Mello obtained possession Of the
war vessels in Rio harbor, deposed Fpn-
SEGA and placed the vice president, Fiori-
ano Peixoto at the head of affairs Mello
was called by Peixoto to the portfolio Of
the navy, and was temporarily secretary
of foreign affairs. He was supposed to be
the ruling spirit in the cabinet, and was
credited with having caused the deporta-
ton of Wandenkolk, whom he now defends
Again the army and navy were united
After awhile Mello withdrew from the cab
met and published letter in which he
severely criticised Peixoto's financial policy
and his interference In the affairs of Rio
Grande do Sui. This manifesto was sup
posed to be political maneuver, and really
bid for the presidency Of the republic.
PeixOtO and Mello.
Now, 1t would be well to remember that
neither President Peixoto nor Rear Admiral
Mello was a republican at the fall of the
monarchy; on the contrary. both were high
In the confidence Of the emperor and held
important offices Of trust, Peixoto being ad-
1utant general. in charge of the troops upon
whom the prime minister depended to
sQueicn the rebels under Fonseca. After
the republic they both adhered" BY a
strange combination of circums instances Peix-
oto, VINO was never a republican, represents
the ultra -historical republicans. while Mello,
VINO, though monarchist, was always of
liberal turn Of mind. represents all Of the
reactionary monarchical elements.
A Few months ago Admiral Wandenkolk
made trip to the river Plate and Rio
Grande do Sui. ostensibly to report in the
senate upon the real condition of affairs in
that state. but really to join the rebels and
Cooperate with the Taavares-Martinsf fac
ton to overthrow Castillo. He seized the
merchant steamer Jupiter and attempted to
capture Rio Grande. evidently expecting
support from the rebel forces on land. The
whole affair was nl-timed. badly planned
and proved a complete 'fasco." The Jupiter
came out Of Rio Grande and steamed north
toward Santa Catherine, where it was cap
tured by the government cruiser Republica.
sent out Ry Peixoto for the purpose, and
taken to Rio, where Admiral Wandenkolk
was shut up In the fortress Of Santa Cruz
President Peixoto claimed that having been
taken in hagrante." Wandenkolk should be
tried by court-martial. The senate, inter-
fered In his behalf and succeeded. by a
small majority, in carrying the matter into
the civil courts. Wandenkolk had been
chosen president Of the Naval Club after
do Sui was well known, thus widening the
breach between the government supported
by the army and the navy. In the habeas
corpus proceedings in the Wandenkolk case
the navy was exasperated at what 1t con-
sidered an indigntty put upon Wandenkolk
by President Peixoto. who treated him with
less consideration than his rank in the navy
and MS character as senator demanded.
Just at his juncture the president vetoed
Dill which provided that a vice president
who had acted as president could not be
elected president. 1t was also publicly stat
ed that he had inundated the supreme
court in Wandenkolk's case and prevented
his release on bail The opposition was evil
IDENTIFY growing, and party tension was so
great that every one felt there must be a
break soon. A considerable number Of the
so-called historic republicans, embracing
some members of the old provisional gov
eminent, are opposed to the presidents
policy Of interfering with the internal affairs
or the states. They consider that in the
states where there is strife, disorder and
civil war the government Is the real revolu-
ttonary party. The church party are, natur-
any, IN the opposition Monarchists are In
dsfatigabIe in their schemes to embarrass
and overthrow the government, and dis
gruntied politicians generally, without dis
JUNCTION OF party, are in the opposition. The
SAFETY OF the government has been in the
ract that these heterogeneous elements
could not combine. In the present trouble,
however. all these elements make common
cause with the insurgent fleet
President PeiXoto is supported by a large
majority of both houses Of Congress by the
leaders and strong men Of the old republic
can party, and many Of the old conserva-
ives; The great central and southern states
winch correspond to our middle and north
ern states, majority Of the army, a part
Of the navy. and the friends of order OF ali
parties support him in his present attempt
to restore order. Many prominent politi-
Clans who do not approve Of Peixoto's mol
icy and fear his despotic tendencies feel
bound to support him in the present emer-
gency.
Open Revolt.
1t can readily be seen that the political
atmosphere was overcharged early in Sep
TENDER, that the navy was exasperated and
only needed leader to revolt. On the night
of September Rear Admiral Mello, with
friend or two, left the opera and went on
board the iron-clad Aquidaban, and thence
to the different war vessels in port. whose
commanders were all on shore. Everything
was done in pursuance Of a plan previously
concocted in the Navy Club. The performs
ance was an exact reproduction of that by
which the Fonseca-Lucena dictatorship had
been overthrown. Rear Admiral Mello was.
at daybreak on September G, in charge OF
every government war vessel in port. He
hoisted his flag on the Aquidaban and sent
word to President Peixoto to leave the gov
eminent in six hours.
Up to this point the revolt had been a
perfect success But Peixoto refused to be
deposed, and took energetic measures for
the defense of the city. Rear Admiral
Meilo issued his manifesto to the natio in
which he accused President Peixoto with
/ having violated the constitution and with
squandering public money, disclaiming any
desire TO govern himself, claiming only to
act from patriotic motives and in the in