The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-11-16
Report That He Has Declared Mar
tial Law Credited.
BRAZIL AND IT'S POLITICS
HISTORY OF CAUSES LEADING
TO RECENT EVENTS.
Police officials Implicated in the
Lynching of Diaz's Assassin, Led
to Trial-Gernans Destroy Solo
mon Island Village-Japan and
Russia.

Washington, Nov. 15.-No official in
formation has been received here con-
firmatory of the report cabled from
Rio de Janeiro via London to the eff
feet that President Moraes has issued
a decree declaring martial law for a
period of 80 days. Nevertheless the
report is credited in diplomatic circles.
If there was evidence of the exist
ence Of a political conspiracy in con-
nection with the recent attempt on
the life of the president of the
Brazilian republic. as the cable states,
a suspension of civil rights, it is
pointed out, would be necessary to &C
complish the arrest of any members of
the house of deputies or the senate who
might be implicated in the conspiracy.
The constitution of Brazil gives the
members of congress immunity from
arrest during the sessions, except by
the direction of the branch of the
legislature to which they may be
members. To procure such an order
of arrest from congress would be a
long process, and in addition would
1nflame popular excitement by the
precipitation of bitter and acrimonious
debate. This being the case, if there
was reasonable ground for the belief
that any of the radical members of
congress were involved in the con-
spiracy, the only way in which they
could be summarily dealt with would
be to declare martial law. This would
not only place in the hands of the gov
eminent the weapons necessary to
bring the constructors to justice, but
the very assumption of this exceptional
authority would, in Itself, tend to
crush the conspiracy and allay the ex-
element. That the conspiracy is di-
rectly traceaible to the existing politi-
cal divisions in Brazil, it is said, is
further evidenced by the reported
who is a prominent Radical or Jaco'bin.
The political excitement in Brazil
dates back to last May, when the Re-
publ1canS in both branches of congress
split in two factions. Previous to that
time there had been practically but
one party in Brazil, known as the
Federal Republicans The old mon
archists, or reactionists, were not
formidable and made no pretentions to
the dignity of a party. The lime of
cleavage in the Republican party
separated the radicals from the con-
servatives. The former, who are
known as the Jacobins, but also cling
to the name of Federal Republicans.
desired to exclude all the monarchists
from any participation in the govern
ment. Their slogan was the republic
for Republicans" The Conservatives
on the other hand (and they were in
the majority in both houses of con-
gress), believed in eonciliating the old
Monarchists, and under the leadership
Of President Moraes announced the
policy of "a republic for all Brazil
ians. The two wings of the Republic
an party also opposed each other on
the financial question, although the
proclaimed purpose Of each was to
establish retrenchment policy which
would balance the expenditures and
receipts of the republic. Last month
the two parties named their respective
candidates for president and vice
president, who are to be chosen at the
general elections next March. There
was naturally much excitement, which
was then in session. These debates
were necessarily of a very personal
character and were marked by SEN
sational attacks on the leaders of the
respective sides.
Campos Sales, governor of one of the
Brazilian states, was nominated for
president by the conservative republic
ans, and Lauro Sodre, senator from
tara, by the radical republicans By
the constitution of Brazil, the presi
ident is ineligible for reelection. so
that the failure to nominate Moraes
in no wise involves dissatisfaction
with his administration