The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-28
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explorers took possession of Brazil In the
name of their sovereign. For nearly Two
hundred years it was quite an open ques-
ton whether Portugal would be able to hold
her ground against the Spaniards, the
French, the English and the Dutch, all OF
whom sought, with occasional temporary
success, to wrest it from her. The struggle
ended in the establishment Of Portuguese
supremacy. The country remained a
colonial possession until 1915, when it was
merged into what was called the Kingdom
Of Portugal, Brazil and Alagarves. An
independence movement vas started a few
years later, and on October IL, 1892, Pedro
]. was proclaimed Emperor Of Brazil.
Portugal failed to re~establish her authority
and recognized the new empire in 1925.
The rule Of Pedro /. was 80 unsatisfactory
to the people that he abdioated in 1881 in
favor Of his son, a child Of only 5 years OF
age. A regency was established. In 1910
announcement was made OF the accession
Of Pedro IL, and he was proclaimed
Emperor in July Of the following year, at
Is years OF age. His reign lasted until his
deposition, in 1889, and the establishment
Of the present United States Of Brazil. h
country Is, therefore, the youngest OF the
American republics with the exception OF
Cuba and Panama.
Pedro II. was one of the really great meh
Of the nineteenth century. This 10 amply
attested by the fact that he ruled for forty
eight years with less domestic disturbance
during the entire term than some OF his
neighbors had ina single year. He wa a
man OF unusually attractive personality,
broad In mind and democratic In habit;
q patriot I'm the largest sense OF the term.
He was o close student Of politics and
economics, q traveller and an observer. Al
though he was doubtful Of the SUCCESS Of
republican institutions among his people.
it may not be doubted that the hberality,
the freedom and the political breadth Of his
rule made possible the form Of government
adopted by the Brazilans In 1889.
The deposition Of Dom Pedro wal effected
by a bloodless revolution. The movement
was In no way personal toward him, but
certain abuses had grown up in the admin
istraton Of affairs. and the political leaders
believed that the best method OF correction
was through "a new political institution.
After a little more than a year Of unsatis-
factory control by a provisional govern
ment, a law Of constitution was adopted
on February "a, 1891. Since that time
Brazil has wrestled more or less busily with
the same problem that has beset SO many
other republics, the question of oentraliza-
ton or decentralization Of power. AS this
is a matter which is even now not fully de-
termined in the United States, it behooves
American commentators to judge with
charity the political conduct Of their neigh.
bors.
Brazil must and will work out her own
political problems. They are interesting
to students of political history, but the
special interest of the American people
has II do with her Industrial possibilities
and our trade relations with her. Beyond
the mere fact that her possibilities are
known to be almost limitless, Brazil's eco
nomio resources are little better than a
subject for guesswork. The country oocu-
pies about IS per cent. Of the entire South
American continent. Its area slightly ex-
ceeds that Of the United States proper Its
northern half, lying within ten degrees of the
equator, is in large part a region Of extern
sive forest plains, drained by thu Amazon
and the rivers which flow into that mighty
stream. This is a region of constant high
temperature and heavy rainfall. 1t is not
a white mans country, and few Of either
Latin or Saxon blood are at all likely to
attempt home establishment in it.
Much better conditions appear in the
remainder Of the country. Southwark Of
the tenth parallel of south latitude the sur
face is more diversified, being traversed
by numerous mountain ranges, although
none are Of great altitude. The heat is that
of the tropics and sub-tropics, but the air
is drier, the rainfall less and general con-
ditions far more healthful than in the north
ern half of the country.
Like Argentina, Brazil is for the present
essentially an agricultural and pastoral
country, although her forest industries play
an important part in her commerce.. The
gathering of rubber is the business of the
natives of sparsely settled northern and
northwestern States. The export value of
this product exceeds $50, 900, 900 a year. The
southern States are the coffee district,
which supplies about rs per cent. of the
worlds demand for the berry. For the
last three years our imports of Brazilian
coffee have averaged nearly 800 ,000, 900.
pounds a year. Rubber and coffee are the
principal articles of export, although there
are shipments of hides, cotton, cacao and
tobacco to the amount Of several millions Of
dollars each a year. The United States Is
the market for about one-half Of Brazil's
total export sales.
Brazil's importation consists mainly Of
the merchandise needed, in an agricultural
and non-manufaoturing country. 1t in
cludes textiles Of all kinds, iron and steel,
machinery, agricultural implements, hard
ware, cutlery, crockery and glassware,
and all the thousand and one articles re-
quired in civilized communities. 1t is not
to the credit OF American business enterprise
that 80 small a share OF Brazil's purchases
is made in this country. We supply barely
more than 10 per cent. Of her requirements.
During the last three calendar years we
have bought from her s255 900 900 worth Of
her products. We ave sold her during
that period only $SS 500 900 worth OF our
products. The mere fact of an adverse
balance of trade is a matter Of no impor-
lance whatever. We buy because we want
what she has to sell, and that which we buy
contributes to our progress and welfare.
What we could and should do is to pay
for our coffee, rubber, hides, DO, a smaller
amount in cash or European exchange and
a larger amount in cotton cloth, manu-
features of iron and steel, of paper, leather,
and wood, and a miscellany OF domestic
commodities.