The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-01-31


teer corps in most of the forts and arsen ais
we're faithful to the Government. The
fortress of Villegagnon, with its force of
600 marines. declared neutrality. as did
also Admiral Soldanha da Cana. director
OF the Naval School, the hospital and Das
Cobras Island
Desultory fighting in and out Of the bay
confined then and has been kept Up ever
since, Rio and Nictheroy having both
suffered severely under the BON bardment,
and in November Admiral da Cana finally
joined the bells. issuing a proclamation,
since repudiated, in favor of the restOra-
ton to the throne Of the house OF Bragan-
"a in the person Of the eldest son of the
Prince d'Eu. Since Da CANA joined the
rebels the revolution has taken on a new
color. IL has also new chief. 1t is
Da Cana and not Mello who leads the
movements. 1t is he who now
controls the revolutionary forces and
directs the policy of the insurgents. Mello
was Minister of the Marines and an ad-
miral when he revolted. Da CANA was an
admiral and in practical charge of two
harbor forts He was popular with all
classes. and MellO tried hard TO get him to
join. But Da Cana said no, he would re-
main neutral, so Mello started the fight
alone. From September 6 for two months
he made little Roadway, and tried again
and again to get Da Gama's help in vain.
Mello was fighting, as he said. to free
the country from the yoke of PexUto,
whom he called tyrant President.
Da Cana was only moderately in SYM
patty with the movement. A change
Of 10
wanted an entire change of government,
to break UP altogether the republic and 10
restore the monarchy. On these terms he
might revolt. Matters were getting seri-
Gus with Mello. He had to get Da Gama's
aid or see himself beaten, so instead of
captivating himself to the Government
he capitulated to Da Cana. BE beat the
Government. On these terms sDa Cana
went over to the naXy. 1t is he now who
is at the head of the revolutionary move
ment and whose ideas govern.
The ease with which the empire was
overthrow gave an impetus to revolution
airy business and left it a promising field
for daring spirits. There was an empire
big in extent Of territory, and IN one day
November 10, 10S9-the reignng power
was pulled down and republic set up
And the total loss Of killed and wounded
was one man, and be was shot by mis-
take. The example was magnificent, but
the ease of the change was suggestive.
The Emperor was a decorative figure
head in the same sense in which the Queen
is in England. He reigned but did not
govern. He never exercised his theoreti-
cal veto power, and his so-called Ministers
were Ministers of the Legislature. Under
the Presidential system COPIED from the
United States the President is the actual
head of the nation. He is commander-in-
chief of the army and navy, and appoints
and removes Ministers at pleasure. The
constitution saws in terms that these Min
listers are responsible to him, not 10 Con-
gress. They are the agents and secre-
taries OF the President exactly as mem bers
of President Cleveland'S Cabinet are his
agents and secretaries.
Tod ay the President is expected, as the
direct representative of the nation. TO eX-
ercise his full share in legislation and
assume financial responsibility for il,
either by approving or vetOlng the acts of
Congress, Matters ran along with smooth
ness. with only minor revolts in the prov
inces, until last July, when President
PeiXoto and Mello differed as to the advisa-
bility of the employing federal aid in
putting down a little rebellion in one of
the provinces, Rio Grande do Sui
This is one of the most warlike of all of
the States. 1t furnishes most of the
cavalry for the army. and there are always
internal troubles there. The question of
helping or not helping the State government
was purely Ques ion as 10 the interpreta-
ton of the constitution, and MslIo had
absolutely no right tn assume that his in
depreciation was right. But the desire for
revolution was strong in him; he had
much to gain and little to lose, so be
began gathering arms and ammunition for
his vessels. This. as admiral and Minister
of Marine, he had a right to do. If he
failed in oyerthrowing the Government no
harm could come to him, because always
in previous revolutions the revolu-
tionists were pardoned and received
back with open arms. So he COLI
tinued to get his navy ia order until
Peixoto became suspicious of so much
activity and decided TO scatter the navy.
Consequently the ship Rachuelo was
ordered to France for repairs, while the
remaining vessel, the Aquidabau, was to
proceed into dock for a thorough reft.
II ad the latter taken place the revolution
would have been paralyzed, and the morn
ing of the 9th of September would not
have seen the whole feet steaming roun1
the bay prepared aud ready for action.
All that day was spent in towing the obso-
Ie re onclaGs and torpedo boats away
from the docky ard hands to the rebel posi-
tion. This was accomplished without any
opposition from the vernment until
evening saw Mello at the head of fairly
formidable feet, consisting of one iron
clad, two cruisers, four torpedo-hoats.
three coast-defense ironelads, six gunboats
and three dispatch vessels, besides old
vessels without engines to be used as hos
pital ships and depOts. Having collected
these he slipped his moorings, and with
three shrill shrieks on the siren, as IL In
defiance, proceeded across the hay, there to
form his base of operation off Point Area.
That was the beginning. The end, if It
be the end, has been such as no prophet
could have foretold.