Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-11-05
Tho brazilian Situation.


Within the last ten days interest in
the Brazilian situation has become very
acute in both this country and Europe,
but II cannot be said that the public
have really any clearer Idea OF what
will be the end Of the revolution than
they had when It commenced. Just at
present President Peixoto seems TO
have the ear OF the public and the
Powers, he having, through his Minister
of Foreign Affairs, made an official state
ment Of the situation which is most en-
couraging for his side. He represents
that the insurgent fleet is imprisoned
in the Bay OF Rio Janeiro; that its at
tacks upon the forts have been futile;
that several OF tho vessels have been
so disabled as TO render them useless;
that the finances of the government are
on q sound basis, and that as a rule the
masses are with the powers that be on
land. However, Peixoto could not have
been expected TO paint less roseate
picture. and 1t would be well to dis
count some OF its glowing colors until
Admiral De Mello has again been heard
from.
There IL no question that both gov
ernrnents-the Pefxoto government. at
Rio. and the provisional government es-
tablished by De Mello at Desterro-
have agents in this country and In Eu-
rope who are seeking TO elicit sympa-
thy for their respective causes. Nor does
there seem any doubt that the trouble
has assumed q magnitude and threatens
complications that have caused our own
as well as the European authorities,
serious consideration. Nearly all of the
Powers have seen 1T TO strengthen their
naval forces at Rio. and speculation Is
rife as to what each of them contem-
plates.
In this country not n few OF the papers
have been thrown into a spasm Of ex-
element over the rumor that De Mello's
object is to re-establish the monarchy.
and place on the throne the son Of the
Countess d'Eu and grandson OF Dom
Of wild talk about Uncle Sans en-
forcing the Monroe doctrine. But II re-
mains 10 be proved whether De Mello
has any such coup In view. Certainly
the history OF the revolt does not Justify
the assumption that he has. Peixoto,
who succeeded Da Fonseca In the presi-
Dental chair. had been guilty of fer
quent gross and high-handed viola
lions OF the Constitution, and his arbi-
trary acts eliminated In his vetoing q
bill passed by the Brazilian Congress
forbidding President to have a second
term This caused the disaffection to-
wards his administration which had ex-
listed in certain quarters for a long while
to burst into flame. and De Mello and
his brother naval officers seised the
feet at Rio, declared for the Constltu-
ton. and established a provisional gov
eminent In the State of Santa Cath
arina. one OF three large and rich States
OF the republic in which the people
are thoroughly in sympathy with the
insurgent movement. The officers and
men of all the Brazilian naval vessels
on foreign stations are also said to sym
pathize with Do Melio, q fact which.
taken in connection with the feeling to-
wards him In the three States referred
10. would seem 10 initiate against the
conclusion that the Powers win declare
him q pirate.
As to the policy OF the United States
In concentrating an unusually large
naval force In Brazilian waterA II does
not follow that the Monroe doctrine
has anything to do with It. The United
States has extensive commercial rela,
tons with Brazil, and many ciuxens Of
this country are residents Of Ria and
sshsr Brazilian sitie& The latter nas