Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-12-19
BRAZIL'S TROUBLES.
DETAILS OF THE ATTEMPT TO KILL
PRESIDENT BARROS.
THE UPRISING OF FANATICS.
RADICAL CONSPIRACY TO PUT Pc
REiRA IN POWER.
Martial Law Declared and Prompt
Measures Taken TO Suppress the
RadicnIs-BnrrOs Declines
to become n Die
tator.
THE UPRISING OF FANATICS.

washington, Dec. 1S.--The mails from
Brazil bring the details of the recent at
fcrnpt to assassinatc President Moraes Bar
roS of which We had a bilef tcitSrdpihC
notice. Last spring a band of fanatics AT
CaHudos. in the interior Of the state OF
bahia. rebelled against the government
,rboy are hardy, fearless hunters and
Icrdsmen. only partially civilized, and have
peculiar customs which the government
has been trying to suppress They were
led by an energetic and skiilful native
named Canselheiro, and. having captured
lot of modern rifles and ammunition, made
4: very powerful and dangerous band. 1t
cost the government three times their num-
ber OF soldiers and a large amount or
money 10 suppress them. The campaign
was similar TO that OF our army against
Chief Joseph. of the Nez Perces, twenty
years ago, but they were finally subdued
and the president OF the republic Went over
10 an island in the harbor OF Rio dc Janeiro
upon which the military arsenal stands 10
review the troops that had been engaged
in the expedition and congratulate the
officers upon their success. While he was
passing through the lines of troops, q
petty officer in one of the regiments.
named Marcellno Mello, darted out from
behind a column with a revolver IN his
lldIlu hllu IL "aS d oOuDiC biiiSi'o
revolver. and it is supposed that only one
barrel was loaded. because the shot did
not take effect. In an instant Marchiel
Betancourt the secretary OF war, who was
walking with the president, sprang upon
the assassin and wrenched the pistol from
his hand, but the latter drew a knife from
his breast and stabbed Betancourr three
times, in the breast, the stomach and the
loin. Colonel Ancora. who commanded the
ok fts.., crD6 fSIn
or three cuts from the knife, but they
were not serious. The secretary of war WAS
taken to the chapel of the arsenal near
by, and died there few hours later, Pres
1dent Moraes Barros remaining by his side
until he breathed his last.
The assassin was stranger In Rio. He
came from the interior of the republic and
had served some time in the army. When
his effects were searched he was found to
have in his possession q portrait of Diocle-
cino Martyr, chief of what is known as the
Jacobin party, the extreme radicals, who
have made a great deal of trouble for the
government and have been particularly Bit
ter against the president because Of his con-
servative disposition. While the assassin
would not confess, there was circumstantiaI
evidence to show that he was an agent of a
general conspiracy, and Martyr was arrest
ed on suspicion and thrown into prison.
Congress also authorized the president to
declare martial law and suspend habeas
corpus for thirty days, in order TO permit of
the arrest of Jaun Cordiero and Pinero
Machado. members of the senate, and sew
eral members of the chamber of deputies
including Jaun Abara and Barbosa Lima,
the former governor Of Pernambuco who
from arrest under ordinary circumstances.
Baron. Santana Merry. the editor of the
radical newspaper, was also arrested, as
there was abundant evidence of his con-
nection with the conspiracy, and even the
vice president. Manoel Nictorino Pereira,
was placed under surveillance by the po-
lice, chiefly because he had been in con-
stant communication with men who were
known to be in the conspiracy, and few
d1N haf h1d at fh.a .1n A.
tion in a vicious manner in public speech
from the balcony of a newspaper office:
There was no occasion for his speech. and
II was evidently his intention to incite a
riot which might afford an occasion for the
conspirators to carry out their plan.
The object Of the conspiracy WAS to de-
pose President Moraes Barros or get rid
OF him in some way, and place Vice Pres
ident Pereira in power in order that he
might control the presidential elections.
which occur on the first of March next.
There is great dissatisfaction with the
president among the radical members of
the Republican party, because Of his con-
ciliatory policy in pardoning all the rebels
who We're engaged in the revolution several
years ago. and his conservative and pru-
dent administration of the finances has eX-
cited the animosity of the speculative ele-
ment. MoraeS BarroS is j thoroughly hon
est man and declines TO be a dictator. He
was one of the original Republicans of
Brazil. is a man of simplicity of manners
and great moral courage, and has sur
rounded himself with ministers of ability,
integrity and experience, who have pre-
vented some of his original followers from
enjoying the plunder as they would like.
He has taken important steps in reorran-
izing the judiciary guaranteeing religious
liberty, extending educational privileges SO
TO reduce the 81 per cent of illiteracy
which WAS inherited from the empire, and
10 a great extent has subducd the hostil-
ity of the rich and aristocratic element,
which composes the monarchical and &C.
clesiastical party. He Is also reorganiZ-
ing and restoring the financial system,
which was bunslcd in the early days of
the republic. and funding the enormous
debt that was incurred under the empire.
With the reforms and the honest attempts
at economy in the administration of pub
lie affairs he has awakened bitter hostil-
fly on the part of the radical leaders, and
they fear that if ManoeI Ferraz de Cam
pos SALES. the government candidate fol-
president. is elected, the policy of Presiden,
Moraes BarroS will be continued.
The details of the conspiracy have not
yet been disclosed, but court of inquiry
which is probably now in progress vii
throw much light upon the act of the AS
Sassin. The effect OF The tragedy. how.
ever, has been 10 strengthen The govern.
ment and bring 10 the support of the pres
ident and Campos Sales. who has beer
selected for his successor all the military
element, the commercial and financial in
tereSts of the country, and all the peopl,
who believe in good government.
There was Il great demonstration at tn.
funeral of the minister of war. His bod,
WAS followed 10 tho grave by 80 Q0b people
The president was warned that he mus
not attend. 1t WAS considered unsafe fo
him 10 appear in public because the cX
tent of the conspiracy WAS unknown. Blu
ne dsrcgarded an cauticns and not onl,
attended the funeral, but rode through III
streets unguarded in an open carriage
This manifestation of courage and conf
dcncc touched the hearts of the peopl
and materially strengthened his influence
Campos Sales. the Liberal candidate TO
the presidency, Is now governor of tn
state of san Paulo. He WAS one of tn
little group of republicans who thi,-t-
years ago organized the movement which
finally resulted i'll the overthrow of III
empire. He was i member of the provis
innal government and served as miniSt @
nf Justice in the first cabinet While 1,
that Office he was elected II senator iron
ibe state Of san Paulu. and was one O
the most influential members of that bod
in framing the constitution and organic
ing the new government. ltt. WAS III
author of the I'LL which separated churc
and state and guaranteed religious libort
10 the people. He organized the fedora
and stale judicial system which Is base
upon the judiciary of the United State
aud many other OF the most impurtau
features OF the new republic We're sus
restcd and formulated by him. He ha
shown great ArmncSS OF charIctcrd an
administrative ability and has the com
plct. confidence of the taxpayers who rt
gard him as - just and safe executiy,
CampnS sales has a great admiration 70
the THitsd States.
He considers ours the model sovernnen
and. II elected TO the presidency March
proposes 10 sail at once for the Unite
States and devote several months precet
irg his inauguration. which takes pla,
November i, TO tn" study of our inStitI
lions. and particularly the machinery ,
the executive branch of our government.
order 10 secure ideas Tor the reorGani2Itio
OF the government Of Brazil. The troasur
iI.t,rior and agricultural departments W
receive his particular attention, and /