The sun., 1909-06-16
PENNA'S DEATH AND THE BRA
LILLIAN ELECTION.

The death OF DIR. Alfonso A. Moreira
Penpa, the President Of Brazil, cannot
fail to have an important effect upon the
current politics OF that country. Al
though the Presidential eleotion will not
take place until March 10. 1910. the cam
paign is already waxing hot. and President
Penna, though not himself a candidate,
had been taking an energetic hand In 1t.
President Penna's candidate was DR..
David Campista. Minister Of Finance in
the present Cabinet. His candidature
represents the ambition OF the State Of
Minas-Geraes to maintain an ascendenoy
In the government OF the republic. Presi-
dent Penna himself was native Of that
State and represented it In national poll
tics, and there can be no doubt that all the
power OF the central Administration was to
be exerted to elect another of its sfavorite
sons" in the person Of Dr. Campista for
the next Presidential term, which runs
from November is. 1910. to the same day
in 1914.
To large element OF the Brazilian popu-
lation. however. the fact that he halls from
Minas- s-Geraes Is the principal If not the
only objection to Dr. Campista. There
is no small jealousy Of that State both
among politicians and the public in gem
eral The opposition has pretty well
settled upon Marshal Hermes Rodriguez
da Fonseca who until recently was Min
lister Of War, as its candidate. and hus-
ting campaign is already being made in
his interest. In the first place Ma.rshai
da Fonseca paid visit to Germany during
the last army maneuvres. He was re-
ceived with considerable distinction by
the Kaiser. and he came home with dec
orations and reports on army matters OF
an imposing character. In fact, he was
promptly boosted upon a sort Of pedestal
OF military glory. perhaps trife Of the
Boulanger sort, and at least a good deal
Of effervescence. not to say enthusiasm
was developed in his favor as a popular
hero. Then his candidature for the Presi-
dency was formally announced.
Marshal da Fonseca at once resigned
from the Cabinet and his resignation was
accepted. Then DR.. Gampista, not to
be outdone in candor, resigned too; but
his resignation wasn't accepted. Presi-
dent Penna insisted on his remaining
in Office. Next, the President Of the
Chamber Of Deputies. DR.. Carlos Peixoto.
and the chief Of the General STAFF OF the
army, Marshal Camara, resigned. pre-
sumably in order to support the Fonseca
candidacy. These occurrences were re-
garded as giving the political situation
an acute character, and the indications
were that the long campaign Of ten months
would be unusually exciting even for
Brazil, where excitement, though seldom
turbulence, is characteristic Of political
movement,
The death Of President Penna removes
the principal support from DR.. Campista' s
pretensions. and not impossibly 1t may re-
suit in his withdrawal from the contest and
In the temporary collapse Of the Minas-
Geraes ascendency. In that case a pos
sible candidate against Marshal da Fon-
SEGA may be found in the Baron de Rio
Franco, now Minister for Foreign Affairs
an able statesman. enjoying considerable
popularity. However. it cannot be dis
puted that the Presidents death enor-
mousiy increases the prospects Of Marshal
da Fonseca's election. His chances seem
very good indeed unless a counter wave
should set in against the military aspect
OF his campaign. which has been made
perhaps q little too prominent to wear
we'll with the Brazilian voters