The Washington herald., 1909-06-13

At one time I suppose there were
100000 slaves in Brazil. but our planters
voluntarily began the work OF liberation
not wanting 90 ignore the enlightened
opinion OF the world. or 20 do a thing
that elsewhere was condemned We are
idealists. as ] have said. and desire the
good opinion OF our neighhors and OF pos
terity. The act of ISIS I dare say, lib
Grated nearly l,0o0.e09 slaves"
Immigrants SuDplant Them.
What became of them I asked
They practically disappeared. many OF
them going to the cities. not wanting to
7 stay near their old homes 10 be pointed
out as having once been slaves. Others
obtained gardens or small pieces Of
ground Large numbers OF women went
+ into domestic service i was thought by
some Of our planters and economists that
the abolition of slavery would seriously
( injure agriculture by making labor scarce
and dear. but immigrants came. and We
found no difficulty in planting and gath
ering our crops"
Z Were the negro men given the right
3 Of sunrage2 I inquired
They were made free citizens wIlfr a
/ free citizens rights. but the constitution
Of Brazil restricts suffrage. Beggars and
/ persons ignorant Of the alphabet. for
+ example cannot be registered as electors
( for federal OF state officers. However, I
must not so into that matter. Ny posi-
( ton viii not permit me. even by giving
{ historical facts. seemingly 70 interfere IN
questions which concern other govern
ments than my own. Diplomacy even
prohibits unconscious meddling.
l did you come into personal relations
with Dom Pedro II?"
-Oh. yes; 1 knew him well sup
ported the throne 10 the best OF my abil-
ity. yet / did not believe a particle IN the
divine right Of kings But ours was a
liberal and progressive dynasty, Dom
Pedro II OF Brazil. Gen. BartholOme
Mitre. first President Of the Argentine
Republic, soldier. statesman. historian.
poet and journalist. and Gen. Porfrio
DiaZ. Of Mexico. were the three greatest
/ fgures in Latin-America during my time
A Kind Ruler.
Dom Pedro was the friend OF your
poet, Loagrenow. and Of Agassiz. your
naturalist. During his rule Of forty-nine
years he never attempted 20 check the
freedom OF our newspapers He wanted
all matters fully discussed. and he be-
heved in Ine rotation of political parties.
The doors OF the palace were open 10 the
people, and many poor and obscure
man was privately given a political Of
flee. Dom Pedro was so generous that
when ne left Brazil his debts had 20 be
paid by the public sale of his pictures
books. and household furniture"
BY which route DO you travel when
you return 20 Brazil?" ! asked.
I can now go directly from New York
70 Rio de JaneirO by a very good
steamer in sixteen days-nOt an elegant
liner, such as one can find between New
York and Europe. but comfortable YES
sci An English line Of steamers is en-
gagged in the trade between Brazil and
the United States. and some large ships
10 carry freight. principally. have re-
Gently been established between the two
countries by the encoura cement OF ms
own government Mr. ROdrigues, ms
editor Of the Journal do Comercio. Oui
most influential newspaper-it printed TIVE
pages OF cable news every day in Eng
lish while the fleet OF American wal
ships was in the harbor OF Rio de Jan
eiro-Mr Rodriques was recently a visi
tor 70 this country. and he came and
went by way Of Europe. There are splen
did ships between Brazil and Europe. s.
the voyage is pleasanter by the longel
route. and then one likes the oppOrtunit.
20 stop in Lisbon, Paris. and London"
Imports Are varied.
What kinds CT merchandise does IN,
United states sell 10 your countrymeng p
Illuminating oil. hour-and on -four W,
even give you an advantage in our tar
ins OF 20 per cent over other countries
telegraph and telephone instruments