New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-03
THE BEIzILIIN ELECTION

The Presidential election In Brazil i the first
that has been held 10y The people. The Con
stitutlon provides that 1t shall take place on
rh. 1T day OF March in TN" last year Of the
Presidential term. and that The counting 81 The
VOTES east at the various precincts snail De
made al once IN thc rospccilN" capitals "i Inc
States and in the Federal capital The l'rcsi
dent and the President are chosen 10y IL
rect suffrage ~ the nation and by an absolute
majority Of the votes Congress meeting Oh
MAY =. two months after the election, j. To-
uuircd bv the Constitution 10 complete me
count. and IL no candidates have secured an
absolute majority Of The popular vote. 10 ballot
for the two receiving the highest vote. \ ma
iority vote IN Congress IN that contingency de-
tcrmncs the olrctiou Of President and Vice
President. Their terms Of Office under the Con
stituton begin on November H.. following their
election. These are The legal requirements. the
methods OF election in precincts AMI Of count
ing in the State capitals being regulated by
special statutes and The right of suffrage being
subject 10 an educational qualification
From this summary Of the law it is apparent
that the announcement from Rio of the election
of MoracS and Pcrcira on Thursday IS prcma-
turc While the result Of the hallotng can be
quickly aSccrtaincd in the coast towns weeks
must clapsc before II can be known how the
nation has voted. II MoracS and Pcrcira were
virtually the only candidates outside the Fed
cral capital they have undoubtedly been elect
ed by a ma jority vote; but the result cannot be
officially registered until Congress meets early
I'm May. Even then they cannot enter upon
office until the expiration of the first Prcsi-
dental term on November l.. that PeiXoto
still has eight months in reserve. II will be- pos
siblc, however for Moracs 10 become President
at any time If PciXOtO chooses 10 offer his
resignation. Under the Constitution the Vice
President succeeds the President. and If he
dies resigns office or Is removed the succession
passes first 10 the NicePrcSidcnt of the Senate,
then 10 the President Of the Chamber of Dcpu-
lies, and finally To the President Of the Federal
Supreme Court. MOracs Is now the NiccPresl-
dent of the Senate. and in the event Of the
resignation Of PciXoto he will become President
for the remainder Of the uncXpircd term. This
fortunate coincidence may open the way for II
speedy settlement OF the war now wagng In
Brazil. PeiXoto. after the election of Moraes
has been officially determined. can retire from
office and bring 10 an end II civil conflict which
has been mainly personal struggle between
McIlo and himself.
Moracs is civilian, and on that account his
election will be good augury for the future
Of republican institutions in Brazil. He is also
Il sagacOus and enlightened statesman, expert
cnccd in public affairs, pioneer Republican
and a representative Of Sac Paulo, the most
progressive State in the Federal Union Pc
reira is worthy associate. man of influence
in his own State and Of unblemlshcd character
The election of these candidates, if it has been
brought about without military pressure and
with substantial unanmty. can scarcely fail
10 lead To suspension of hostiliticS aud Il
restoration Of peace with Il general amnesty
for political offences The earliest dispatches
indicate that the election was conducted with
out breach Of peace or the intervention Of the
soldiers. These accounts must he received with
caution and reserve until full confirmation can
be secured 4 pacific election held in war
time. without military pressure in any of the
States. would be an unerring sign Of civil prog.
ress in Brazil where the moral force of cdu-
Gated public opinion has been lacking