Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-10-16
Told by a New Yorker About the
Brazilian Revolution.
PRESENT CONDITION OF THINGS.
Important Facts Which Have
Been Omitted Regarding the
Situation-The Real Causes
Leading to the Revolt Against
the Government-The Rich
Planters Were Alienated From
Dom Pedro and the Present Sit
uation Followed.

New YORK, October 15.-By a New
Yorker, long resident in Brazil, who
lately returned from Rio Janeiro, the
following statement was made yester-
day:
"Some of the most striking and i'm
portant facts, having direct and vital
relation to the present condition OF al
fairs 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 this may be under
stood, a brief reference to some OF the
inside facts connected with the position
Of Don Pedro is necessary.
"In January, 1899, l had an inter-
view with Manuel Deodoro da Fonseca
at the little village of Tsjuca, 10 the
mountains about eight miles back OF
Rio, and favorite resort Of the wealthy
residents Of the Capital during the yell
low fever season. He talked to me free
ly of the stirring scenes In which he
had acted 80 conspicuous part, and
stated that 1t was the saddest day OF his
life when he was forced to choose be-
tween his affection for his imperial mas
ter and his fidelity In the army.
Dom Pedro had raised him to the
rank OF general for his skillful conduct
during the Paraguayan war. Gratitude
for that distinction and respect for the
character Of the Emperor drew him In
one direction, while hearty sympathy
with the Republican view of his associ-
ates urged him in the opposite one.
This force Of circumstances and the In
evitabe drift Of events decided the is
sue for him. The empire fell and Fon-
SEGA assumed the direction OF affairs.
There were two main causes opera
ting to bring about the revolution. The
rich planters had become alienated
from the throne, Dom Pedro decree
aolishing slavery, aud, as the sons OF
mapy of these men were officers In the
army, that body only awaited a good
preteXt TO turn against him. Such
pretext was furnished when he Issued
his fatal order directing the troops to
retire into the interior. A council was
Immediately assembled, at which 1t was
resolved 10 disobey the order and from
that act OF disobedience 1t was an easy
and natural step to the disposition OF
the Emperor.
The other cause was the popular
hatred of the Jesuits. Donna Isabel,
Dom Pedro's daughter, had excited con-
tempt and Indignation by submitting
to a penalty imposed upon her by an
Italian priest to whom she had con-
fessed some venial sin. He required
ner to scrub the floor OF the church
known as the Campanhia. The prob
ability of her succession, II the empire
lasted, stimulated the spirit OF rebel
lion and was potent factor in precipi-
tating the final catastrophe.
THE republic, so called, which sue
ceeded, was republic iu name only. 1t
was established by men who not only
lacked any true conception OF what
constitutes a republican government,
but who were deficient in wisdom and
patriotism necessary to establish one.
1t brought into popular parlance the
maxim Everybody for himself, and
that has been the guiding principle OF
the leaders in Brazilian affairs ever
since the departure Of Dom Pedro. The
republic is in reality dictatorship,
since the most important laws and ordi-
nances have no higher sanction than
the decree Of the President"