The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-24
THE BRAZILIAN MINISTER AND MIR.
DEPEW.

There seems to be great deal of in
ternational nervousness extant at pres
ent, a sort of sensitiveness that makes
governments and their official represent
atives quick to resent the slightest i'm
putation on their honor or dignity. The
Brazilian minister at Washington affords
the latest example. The minister takes
exception to a portion Of Hon. Chauncey
NJ. Depew's address before the New York
Bar Association, and hastens to defend
Latin-American countries in general and
Brazil in particular against charges
which he intimates are founded in ig-
norance. Mr.. Depew was arguing in
favor of careful construction of the
Monroe doctrine and against its indis-
criminate application. After intimating
that the President had pushed it to an
extreme limit and committed the United
States to a position it might be difficult
to maintain. he said:
slight extension Of the principle COM
pels US TO assume a protectorate over all
these republics. Their enterprises and in
dustrfes are almost entirely owned or con-
trolled and carried on by Americans, Eng
lish, Germans, French and Italians. Their
governments are in almost perpetual revo-
confiscates property right and left except
that OF foreigners. If he could rely upon
the United States to protect him, he would
treat the lives, possessions and business of
the Germans, English, Italians and French
with the same impartial appropriation as ne
does those of his own countrymen. These
nations would demand reparation and re-
dress. This would involve the collection
of substantial damages, and we would be
In measure bound TO assume the quarrel.
We might, at the whm necessities of
the successful military dictator of Venez-
uela, or the Argentine. of Brazil or Bo-
Iyia. of Paraguay or Peru of Yucatan or
ouent wars with the powers of Europe.
This would require an immense navy and a
large standing army.
This is the passage to which the Bra
lillian minister takes exception. He says
Mr.. Depew ought to know that at present
there are no dictators in South America,
but Presidents elected in accordance
with the constitution and laws of the
countries. and that there is as much Sc
curity for life and property either of the
citizens or foreigners in Brazil, Chile or
Argentine as there is in the United States
or England He says, further, that no
self-respecting South American state
would countenance the idea of a protec-
torate, and especially that Brazil, with
a population at present of Is, 900. 900. and,
after seventy-four years Of constitutional
government, never aggressive. but al
ways peaceful and self-reliant, would not
require a protectorate to maintain it's
sovereignty and independence"
Perhaps the minister has taken Mr.
Depew too seriously. Aside from the
fact that he is not coordinate branch
Of the government, the minister should
have reflected that he has cultivated a
somewhat flowing style of oratory that
sometimes leads him to make statements
lacking in exactitude. Moreover, in the
present case, as lawyer addressing
lawyers. it was his business to present it
as strongly as possible. He was arguing
that Mr.. Cleveland had carried the con-
struction Of the Monroe doctrine so far
that If it were carried little further it
would compel the United States to as
sumo a protectorate over South Ameri-
can states. He did not say this govern
ment ought to assume such protectorate,
nor even by remote implication favor
such a thing. but he said if the govern
ment was not careful it might find itself
logically committed to that position
What he said on this point was of a
hypothetical character. said for the sake
of argument, and scarcely worth the Sc
rious notice of a foreign minister.
In another part of his statement Mr..
Depew was slightly inaccurate. 1t hap
pens that just now there is not a military
dictator in any South American state.
though within recent years there have
been in several of them. Venezuela had
a revolution In 1892. followed by three
successive relationships, then by a pro-
visional government and finally by the
election of President Crespo, himself a
general of the revolution. Crespo is con-
stitutional President, but there is no tell
ing how long he will continue so. There
was an attempt to overthrow his gov
eminent in July last, but it was put
| down by force and several thousand per-
| sons were banished for treason. Presi-
| dent Crespo is giving the country the
| best administration it has ever had. He
| will probably continue President as long
| as he wishes to, and then name his sue
cessor. and by that time there will prob
the last presidential election. in 1892. was
military affair, the present President
was inaugurated by armed force, and
Immediately proceeded to Danish a large
| number of the opposite party. AS to
most of the South American states, Mr.
| Depew was not far wrong. when he
| said "their governments are in almost
| perpetual revolution"
| 1t was a mistake to include in this
statement Brazil. the Argentine Repub-
| lie and perhaps Chile. The first two
especially. have stable government and q
progressive people. They are the strong.
| est and proudest states Of South Amer.
lea. and are growing rapidly in strength
and Importance. The most significant
feature Of the Brazilian minister's note is
his almost indignant reputation OF the
idea that Brazil would under any cir.
| cumstances accept protection from the
United States. He plainly implies thai
| so far as Brazil is concerned she has nc
use for any construction Of the Monrot
doctrine that carries with it any obliga
ton to recognize the superiority OF the
United States Territorially. Brazil /.
! almost as large az the United States. ant