The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-03-14

asylum, probably insures a result Nhlcu hHs
for some weeks been imminent From the
time when on Jan. % last. da Cana and Pres
ident Peixoto's representative met on Admiral
Benham's flagship TO talk over terms OF peace.
II was evident that the revolt was nearing its
end. At that time PeiNoto watchful not TO
give the insurgents even an apparent victory.
declined da Gamas ptoposal that civilian
should be elected President. the army and
navy not voting: yet. with an address no less
consummate, he took care that civilian
acceptable to all parties. Moroes should be
elected on March l. and there was then little
left to light about The prop had been knocked
from under the rebellion.
As for the restoration Of the empire. while
unmistakably the desire OF some ~ the insur-
gents. that was as preposterous as Mr.. Cleys-
lands break to restore the monarchy In
Hawaii; and az in the Hawaiian case. too. the
"kick" Of the gun had proved most disastrous.
Although hssty disavowals were made OF mon
archist purposes. tho cause OF the insurRent
feet was undoubtedly hurt by the suspicion
that Il was hostile to the republic based on
the wording OF da Gama's proclamation.
The origin OF the war has sometimes been
traced to Peixoto's veto OF a bill which had
been passed BY the Brazilian Congress making
the vice-Presldent Ineligible to the ofice Of
President. But before that event as may
dissensions. There had been some mon
archist sentiment. there had been serious
financial troubles. and for two years there had
been rebellion In the southernmost State.
Rio Grande do Sui. The vote OF Congress
itself i'm piled friction between that body and
the Executive and Admiral Mello thought the
time ripe for applying to Pelxoto the heroic
remedy ola notice to quit which had succeed
cd with the dictator Fonseca.
This notice he served. and on Sept. g. 1893.
tho entire fleet in the harbor OF the capital be-
gan its revolt But the army stood by Peix OTTO.
and hello the forts. Of which VilleRaignon pro-
tected the city and Santa Cruz Lage and Sao
Joao the entrance to the harbor. Although
the navy asserted that II would substitute
true republis for what was becoming q mill
tary despotism. aud Mello's proclamation ac-
cused Peixoto Of exercising arbitrary power
and OF corruption. the Congress Loyalty
rallied to the support OF the Executive.
Thus sustained. Peixoto spurned Mello's de-
mand for his resignation. and within two days
Of the beginning Of the revolt the forts and the
ships opened fire on each other. A week later
the city was bomba rded. and other lombard
ments Of It were those Of Sept. -. lasting
several days and Of Oct 10 Great efforts we're
made to capture or destroy Nictheroy. and
from timo to time for months the forts and
ships kept up the conflict whom diplomatic
Interference had diverted warfare from the
city. In one OF the numerous encounters an
old armorclad OF Mellos. the Javary was
sunk. but. It was said. through the leaking
from loosened Joints. rather than from being
perforated By shells. though one had Just
struck her.
The insurgents set up Provisional Govern
ment at Desterro which place was captured
nv IN, Renublica and othsr vss..l. that haa
left Rio. and tbey co0perated also with IN.
r.bels in nh. aoutb. ana vben M Isnoth Al
mir.l ia CANA Who bad M ar.t r.n.in.d nan
trail in the barbor on the Tamand.rs ioined
them and assumed command two barbor
Islands were also added. while thu going
ovsr n, Fort yiIIegaigno, IN the inspro.nt
Cause and thu bIocLad. Of santos. the we'll
known mort further south were further Incl.
dents of Importance. But Peixoto on his mart
had not been idIe At New YORK his agents
bought the steamer Ell Cid, placed a dynamite
gun, and other weapons aboard. the mama
being changed to the Nictheroy. and also ao-
ouired the steamer Britannia. which was
arm cd and called tho Ameriea. besides obtain
ing two fast steam yachts here. The Ericsson
eunboat DESTROYER. with her submarine
weapon. was also purchased. as were several
torpedo boats from Europe. The Tiradente..
not At Rio de Jansiro and the Bahia which
was at that port. had remaine cd loyal With the
collection OF this HETEROGENEOUS fleet the
months PASSED. hut. even when tbSy vers as
sembled in Brazilian waters, Peixoto bssitated
to nit them against the Aauidabap. the Repub-
lica the Tra,aho the Tnmandare and otb.r
tnsurgent vessels that might perhaps hay,
blown them to pieces before they could get
within the firing distance of their shorter
range armaments However. on Dec. l. the
Aouidaban. under Mello. ran nv the forts to
sea. and with this ship and the Republica
away. perhaps at Santos or De.terro the on
portunity TO act became tempting.
Signs. too. had become spparent that the re-
bellion was fast exhausting itself through
lack OF resources. II had been based ON the
theory o. receiving sufficient support ashore
TO force the prompt resignation OF psixoto:
and when this was not accom- plished. thu
question Of the supply OF munitions and
wages. and of achieving such suecesses I'm
battle as would keep up the courage Of its
supportsrs. bscame ssriou.. Tho un.vm-
pathetic attitude OF at least most of the forsien