The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-03-20
like 4 sOM|C OPERA.
A Few Inside Facts About the
Brazilian Revolution.
VICE CONSUL LEWIS SCORED.
Declared to BE Unit to Represent Our
Country-An Insulting Arrogant and
swelled-Head Young Man, Brutal
I'm the Extreme.


Bp The Associated Press.
NEw York, March a0.--Ths following
letter has been received from . corre-
spondent at Rio de Jansiro, dated Feb. IA:
When an unsophistiostsd young person
first attends an opera and secs gang Of
conspiratQss openly discussing their plot
on the street corners, or hears tribe OF
robbers singing at the top Of their voices.
he thinks the whole thipg nonsense. But
II the aforesaid young man could spend
few weeks watching . Brazilian revolu-
tion he might come 20 think the opera
real iife after all
Two instances In point have recently
occurred here. The first was in connec-
tion with proposed uprising In the city
in favor OF Che rebels, in which q number
Of citizens and few officers of the Ma
tional Guard were involved. The details
Of the plot were worked out on q Friday
night. The citizens were to go on Mon
day morning to San Conceicaro and Sande
Hills garrisoned by the government.
The officers there, In the plot. were TO
admit them and then join them with as
many of their soldiers as they could per-
to be overpowered or killed. The rebel
deet at the first shot or at q given signal
was to hurry In and land It's men TO help
the plotters
Their total force would be small, not
over thousand men; but IL would occupy
strong position and would probably be
rapidly increased by volunteers from the
city. So far the plot was strictly busi-
ness. But now the comic opera element
comes in.
Ovcr-Exuberant.
Nearly every conspirator went about
town telling all his friends--on the streets,
in the horsecars. anywhere-that the next
day Peixoto was to be humbled and the
revolution was to be successful. The
British, who are very intimate with the
rebels, were, of course, notified, and the
two principal banks went 30 far as to post
notices informing their clerks that they
leed not come to business on Monday il
here was heavy firing. or course, in less
Jhsn an hour, every one in the CONNER
>tal quarter knew that something was
going to happen on Sunday and Monday.
And, of course. the government knew it
too.
Even then the plot came near succeed
ing through the influence of another
opera bouffe idea. On the stage q mur-
derer may openly form his plot on one
side, wnile the victim complacently
makes love on the other. 1t would, how
ever, be contrary to all precedent for the
victim to overhear the murderer and spoil
she denouement. So in Brazil.
1t seemed somehow unfair for the gov
srnment to discover the plot before the
rebels were ready and consequently pre-
vent the fun. Nothing was done or said
on Sunday to obstruct the success Of the
uprising. 1t was only on Sunday evening
when the rebel fleet anchored close to the
city that any action was taken. The sus-
pected regiments were then moved and
number Of arrests Of officers and citizens
were made. 1t is said that Is officers
were shot. II so, IL was done secretly.
This Needs Investigation.
John I. Lewis is the vice consul general
ct Rio de Janeiro, aud at present he is
acting consul general. His uncle, Will
fam 4. Townes, In the consul general, but
he is now on leave Of absence. 1t In
affirmed by Americans that Mr.. Lewis
has swollen under the influence of his
official position. To say that Vice Consul
Lewis Is an unframed product does not,
In the view of resident Americans, fully
u
responsible position.
When those of his own land in difficulty
have applied to him for official direction
or assistance his attitude and utterances
have been arrogant to the point of insult,
AZ not of abuse. He pays absolutely no
heed to the complaints Of his countrymen
other than to affront them, and they are
forced to the United States naval officials
ior redress.
1t has been fortunate that so able man
as Admiral Benham has had practically
complete charge of American interests
mere Vice Consul Lewis has sworn at dis
tressed sailors who have appealed to him,
and in various ways IL brutal and dis
Qusting. Americans declare that natur-
ally and by lack OF acquired attachments.
Vice Consul Lewis Is wholly untitled for
the position which he Is presumed to oc-
cupy but does not fill. and that he should
be instantly recalled to private life
where he will no longer bring humilia-
tion and suffering to his fellow-country-
men.