San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-02-04
PRESIDENT DE MORAES.
The Now Chief Executive Of the
United States of Brazil
He Was the First High Official Chosen
from Civn Life by the VIII of the Peo-
pie. and May. Therefore. GIVE
Peace to His Country.

Prudente lose de Moracs is the first
president of Brazil chosen from civil
life by the will of the people. Ever
since the overthrow of the monarchy
in 1889 and the deposition of Dom
Pedro the spirit of unrest, which af-
fects all South American republics
more or less, has been most pronounced
in Brazil One of the most ardent re-
publicans was Gen. Manoel Deodoro da
Fonseca, at that time marshal in the
army. When the coup came, NOvem-
Der IA, 1889, Da Fonscca placed himself
at the head of the troops. The emper-
or and the ministry were at once called
on to resign and did so without hesita-
ton.
A proclamation was Immediately is
sued announcing the establishment Of
the republic and formation of provis-
ional government of which Marshal da
Fonseca was chosen president. Fonseca
was elected permanent president Feb
ruary 6, 1891, but his methods, chiefly
in relation to affairs of finance, made
him unpopular and congress interfered,
his measures being voted down. A law
was adopted for the purpose of i'm
peaching him. but he vetoed it. Con-
greSs Overrode the veto. Then Fonseca
issued an order disSOlving congress and
establishing martial law, and pro-
claimed himself dictator. The result
was another revolution broke out No
vember %. 1891. Fonseca summoned his
cabinet and resigned. The leaders of
the opposition agreed to accept
as his successor Gen. FlOrianO PeiXOtO,
the vice president, who had remained
neutral during the trouble between
the president and congress-. With the
accession of PeiXoto period of peace
full progress was anticipated. Discon-
tent had been growing steadily in the
state of Rio Grande do Sui. Rear Adj
miral Eduardo WandcnkOllI had been
anxious to become vice president in
1891, but was beaten by PeiXOto, who
later in the year, when he became
president, drove him from Rio Janeiro,
but he was afterward restored to
command in the navy. subsequently
he was declared a traitor and became
an ally of the revOlutiOnists in Rio
Gpande do Sui. The navy revolted in
1898 Admiral CustodiO Jose Mello was
at the head of the instruction. Later
he was joined by Admiral Saldanha da
CANA. The contest against the gov
ernIuent continued until March of the
present year, wnen Admiral da CANA
deserted his ships in the harbOr of Rio
JaneirO in that month and fled to
BuenOs Ayres. while in the following
month Admiral MellO also took refuge
in the same place, thus ending the
naval revolution. President Peixoto
issued a decree February :, 1894, call
ing a general election March 1, at the
same time ordering that the state of
siege should end February %; but this
latter order was afterward extended
several times.
Prudente Jose de MOraeS was elected
president by an overwhelming ma
jOrity. He is one of the most con-
spicuous members OF the republican
party in his native land. Born in Sac
PaulO, one of the richest and most
prosperous states in Brazil he was ed
ucated in the university of the state,
where he graduated in the faculty of
law. During the empire he made his
political debut in the chamber of depu-
ties, where he and CampOs Sclles were
the only avowed republicans. After
the deposition of Dom Pedro and the
proclamation of the republic in 1890 he
became one of the most conspicuous
pillars of the new regime. He was one
of the triumvirate who took upon
themselves the direction of affairs in
Sac Paulo. His native province sent
him to the senate at Rio. where he
presided over the labOrs of the con-
stituent assembly and earned the af-
lection and respect of friends and ad-
versaries alike by his courteous firm
ness and his great impartiality.
On the constitution of the senate he
was elected vice president, ana when
the country proceeded to its first pres
idential election in 1891 he was nomi-
mated by an influential section of the
modern republicans to stand against
Marshal Deodoro da Fonseca. Although
he failed to secure election he polled a
large number of votes, and it became
evident that the constitutional party
had centered their hopes in him.
DR.. 'Prudente de Moraes is between
so and GO years of age. The dignity
of his personal manner and the I'M
blemished integrity of his character,
apart from his very exceptional abili-
ties as statesman, justify the hope
that his presidency will go far toward
| consolidating tho hest clements in his
country.
| Down on Passes.
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