The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1894-03-23
CALL HIM HOME.
Vice Consul Lewis ct Rio De
Janeiro Roundly Scored.

Has Brought Humiliation and suffering
TO Amerioans-An Interesting Story OF
How They Do Things Down There.
New YORK, March 20-A special CORE
spondent at Rio de Janeiro, under date of
Feb IA, tells the following interesting
story:
John T. Lewis is the vice consu
general here, and at present he is acting
sonsul general. His uncle, William T.
Townes, is the consul general, but he is
now on leave of absence. 1t is affirmed
by Americans that Mr. Lewis has swollen
under the influence of his official posi-
ton. To say that Vice Consul Lewis is
an unframed product does not, in the
view of resident Americans, fully mark
thel measure of his unfitness for respon-
sible 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,
if 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
for redress.
1t has been fortunate that so able man
as Admiral Benham has had practically
complete charge of American interests
here. Vice Consul Lewis has sworn at dis
tressed sailors who have appealed to him,
and in various ways is brutal and dis
gushing. Americans declare that natur-
ally and by lack of acquired attachments,
Vice Consul Lewis is wholly untitled for
hn ;oI he sa Cd To
cupy but does not fill. and that he should
be instantly recalled to private life,
where he will no longer bring humilia-
ton and suffering to his fellow-country-
men.
A Brazilian Opera Bouffe.
When an unsophisticated young person
first attends an opera and sees gang of
conspirators openly discussing their plot
on the street corners, or hears a tribe of
robbers singing at the top of their voices.
he thinks the whole thing nonsense. But
If the aforesaid young man could spend
few weeks watching a Brazilian revolu-
ton he might come to think the opera
real life after all.
Two instances in point have recently
occurred here. The first was in connec-
ton with proposed uprising in the city,
in favor of the rebels, in which mum Der
of citizens and few officers of the Ma
tional Guard were involved. The details
of the plot were worked out on 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-
suade to do So The other soldiers were
to be overpowered or killed. The rebel
feet at the first shot or at a given signal
was to hurry in and land it's men to help
the plotters.
Their total force would be small, not
over a thousand men; but it would occupy
a strong position and would probably be
rapidly increased by volunteers from the
city. So far the plot was strictly bust
n11n1,s Bet now the comic opera element
ines in.
Brazilian Brilliancy.
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 so far as to post
uOJlceS informing Gnelr CLERKS tnaU bney
need not come to business on Monday If
there was heavy firing OF course, in less
than an hour, every one in the CONNER
cial 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 a muir
derer may openly form his plot on one
side, while the victim complacenty |
makes love on the other. 1t would, how
ever, be contrary to all precedent for the |
victim to overhear the murderer and spoil |
the denouement. So in Brazil.
1t seemed somehow unfair for the gov |
eminent 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 If so, it was done secretly.