The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-10-16
CAUSE OF THE REVOLT.
PeixOto Refused to Pay a Small Bill
Incurred by NfeIlO.

NEW YORK, Oct. 15.-By New Yorker,
long a resident in Brazil. who lately re-
turned from Rio de Janeiro, the following
statement was made yesterday:
Some Of the most striking and impor-
tant facts. having direct relation to the
condition of affairs in Brazil, have been
strangely omitted from every newspaper
account thus far published of the causes
leading to the revolt against the republic
In order that they may be understood,
brief reference to some Of the incidents
connected with the despotisIn of Dom Pc
dro is necessary. In January, 1892,
I had an interview with Manuel
Deodora de Fonseca at the little
village of Tijuca, in the mountains
about eight miles back of Rio, and ia
vorite resort Of the wealthy residents of
the capital during the yellow fever season
He talked to me freely of the stirring
scenes in which he had acted so conspicu-
GUS a part, and declared that 1t the
saddest day OF his life when he was forced
to choose between his affection for his i'm
perial master and bis fidelity to the army.
Dom Pedro had raised him to the rank OF
general for his skillful conduct and superb
daring in the Paraguayan war. Gratitude
that distinction and respect for the char
acter OF the Emperor drew him in one di-
rection, while a hearty sympathy with the
republican view of his associates urged
him In the opposite one: This force of cir
events decided the issue for him. The en-
pire fell and Fonseca assumed the direc-
ton OF affairs.
There were two main causes operating
to bring about the revolution The rich
planters had become alienated from the
throne by Dom Pedro's decree abolishing
slavery, and, as the sons Of many of these
men were officers in the army. that body
only awaited a good pretext to turn
against hH a. Such b P9sts oT
the troops to retire into the interior. a
council was Immediately assembled. at
Sar Il a act Of it
deposition Of the emperor. The other
Jesuits Donna Isabel, Dom Pedro's daugh-
ter had excited contempt and indignation
by submitting to a penalty imposed upon
confessed some venial sin. He required her
to scrub the floor of the church known
the Campanhia. The probability Of her sue
the spirit of rebellion, and was a potent
factor in precipitating the final catastro-
phe.
was republic in name only. 1t was eStab
lished by men who not only lacked any
true conception of what constitutes re-
publican government, but who were def
cient in the wisdom, patriotism and integ
rity necessary TO establish one. 1t brought
into popular the HldXlIn every
body for himself and that maxim has
been the guiding principle of the leaders in
Brazilian affairs ever since the departure
Of Dom Pedro. The republic is. in reality,
a dictatorship, since the most important
laws and ordinances have no higher sane
ton than the decree of the President One
of the first acts of Fonseca, as head Of the
provisional government. had the effect OF
arousing animosity, which, In conjunction
with other causes, at last eliminated in
the Mello rebellion, He doubtt the nu-
merical strength OF the. army. and in
creased the pay Of it's officers.
The bond Of sympathy between Adj
miral Mello and the malcontents
I'm Rio had it's origin in the following cir
cumstances. Dom Pedro had alienated the
dario. Radical as his Minister of Marine.
When Custodo di Mello visited Chill the
year before in command of the wooden YES
sci Almirante Dorosso he invited Dom Au-
gustino the grandson of the Emperor, to ac-
company him as his guest. They were en-
tertained in great style by the Chilians. and
Mallo returned those civilitieS by giving
several balls and dinners aboard his ship.
The expenses thus incurred for the sake of
his distinguished guests amounted to $500.
fused to sanction, and Mello was Obliged to
foot the bill out of his own pocket. The
Minister'S action incensed the whole navy.
Quintino Boscayuva, editor of o Pals. the
Laderio, declaring that the nation was dis
graced by his refusal TO honor a bill in
CURED under such circumstances. His crit
icisms had great effect on the public mind.
and Mello was reimbursed by means of a
popular subscription. Boscayuva thus be-
came the hero of the naval party in Rio.
and when Peixoto deposed Fonseca, who
had honored Boscayuva by making him
Minister of Foreign Affairs, he thereby ar
rayed that party against his administra-