The evening times., 1899-09-25
POLITICS IN BRAZIL.
AdrOit. Methods Employed to Get
Possession of Offices.

AdrOit Methods Employed to Get
Possession of Offices.
An entertaining account of the political
conditions in Brazil is given by a gentle
man who has Just returned from trip
through the interior CT that country.
He says that the people Of the in
terror are not as friendly to this
country as the inhabitants about Rio
and Para. They are SO far removed
from the seat of government that the cen
trail authority is little felt and lightly heed
ed. The states in the interior of Brazil are
almost Independent principalities and are
governed by rulers who have much greater.
authority over the inhabitants than the
Federal Government.
Politics consists entirely of war be-
tween the "ins" and the outs No soon
er do one set find themselves in possession
OF the offices than all the other politicians
in the state combine Ito turn the rascals
out" This leads to many complications
amusing to Americans. AS an example OF
the tricks sometimes employed to secure
political preferment the gentleman re-
ferred to the case of the Governor Of the
Amazonas. THE State of Amazonas,' he
said, lis one of the largest and wealthiest
of all Brazil. 1t includes the territory OF
the headwaters of the Amazon, and being
several thousand miles from Rio is prac-
tically an Independent government.
''Some time ago its political destinies
were in the hands of governor, who, by
his ability and his business acumen, had
accumulated a large fortune. He was
strongly importuned to relnquish his grasp
np ha nd lots nj friends
get next to the treasury. but he scornfully
declined to reiinquish his monopoly of the
public crib 1t happened at that time 1t
was inadvisable to start revolution Tor
the purpose of driving the governor from
office, so strategem was employed Instead of
force.
'.The congress of Amazonas, a body cor
responding to one OF our State iegisia-
lures, met and passed an act providing
that the governor should make year S
tour of Europe for the purpose of interest
ing European capitalists in the industrial
ard agricultural enterprises of Amazonas
and TO study the conditions OF commerce
and banking. etc, in Europe. 1t was be-
lieved such trip would greatly benefit
the state, and in order to provide the gov
ernor with funds sufficient for him to
make suitable impression on the mon
archs of Europe fund of $4,000, or So,000
per month, was allotted to him for travel
ing expenses. So carefully did the cons pir-
atOrs guard their plans that the governor
did not for a moment suspect their inten-
ton to oust him, but he did fear that If
he started out without his money they
might forget to hand over the $4,000. The
scrupIes of the governor were overcome,
however by his friends, who informed him
that to make certain he would receive his
travelling expenses they were prepared TO
hand over the money in advance.
"All objections to his departure being
thus removed, the governor prepared ID
sail without delay and arrangements were
made for his departure amid pomp and
ceremony. Just before the sailing the
lieutenant GOVERNOR rushed to the gov
ernor and pressed him to sign some i'm
portant papers. The governor hastily
scrawled his signature on the papers and
was about to arise when the lieutenant
governor bethought himself OF one more
document which il was absolutely neces-
sary the governor should sign-probably
receipt for the $50 0000, but which had
not yet been prepared. He suggested that
the governor write his signature at the
bottom OF a blank sheet and he would hll
in the paper later. This scheme met with
the approval of the governor, who wrote
his name as requested at the bottom OF a
blank sheet OF paper.
Amid the wild hurrahs of the admiring
populace the governor set sail and few
months afterward word was received OF
his safe arrival in Europe. On receipt oi
this information the lieutenant governor,
who was acting chief magistrate, sum-
moned an extra session of the congress
and laid before that body the resignation
of the governor. The willy lieutenant gov
ernor had filled in the blank sheet OF paper
with the formal resignation OF the COVER
nor At this astounding piece OF informa-
tion the members Of the congress at first
refused to believe their own ewes, but aft
er considering the matter and verifying the
| signature at the bottom of the resignation
| they came to the conclusion il was genuine
and accepted it. The lieutenant governor
was then elected governor and assumed the
reins of Office Immediately.
The intelligence of his deposition was
conveyed to the former governor in Europe
and his tour was cut short. He hastened
home with the avowed purpose of taking
vengeance On the new governor and all
his friends. He landed at Rio and was
about TO proceed up the Amazon to his for
| mer capital, when he was met with ths
polite message that if he attempted TO as
cend the river the steamer which carried
him would be met by gunboat from ANA
zonas and be sent to the bottom with all or
| board. This not only tended to cool his
| ardor, but made cold chills run up an(
| down the backs of the steamer captains tc
| whom he applied for transportation. Con
| sequently he did not succeed in getting
away from Rio, and the last heard of hin
he was cooling his heels IN the ante-roon
| of the federal administration, implorins
| its assistance to regain the governorshiI
| of AmazOnas.'
There are according to the informant
| certain influences at work in the Amazon
| territory inimical to the United States.
| is not so much to fear of territorial aggres
| sion at our hands, but the commercial ri
| walls Of the United States find it to thei
advantage to circulate statements calcula
| ed to inspire the people with hatred ant
| distrust. Many of the inhabitants are Span
| iards, or have Spanish blood in their veins
and they sympathized with Spain in th'
late war. The commercial rivals of til,
| United States also find it to their interes
| to stimulate the unfriendly feeling. AS
result the trade of the Amazon is almos
| entirely in the hands of the English anC
| Germans, the Americans being almost ex
cluded.
While the educated Brazilians are friend
| ly toward Americans, this feeling is no
| shared by the populace. The federal gov
| ernment is desirous of cultivating the mos
amicable relations with the United States
| but, as said before, the interior provinces
| of Brazil are so far removed from the sea
| of government that the federal authorit!
| has little influence.
The Army Surgeons.
(From the Kansas City Starr
| The convention of army surgeons thai
will be held in Kansas City on the 9th