Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-16
The REPUBLIC OF PORTUGAL.
V-THE "CARBONARIOS".
By Frederic J.Haskin.

The Carbonarios members Of a mys-
terious secret society, have been
dominant factor in Portuguese politics
since the establishment of the republic.
1t is this fact that has caused the Euro
pean enemies of the republic, especially
among the Roman Catholic hierarchy, TO
declare that republican Portugal is in
fact Masonic Portugal. 1t appears. how
ever, that the Portuguese secret society
was purely political in it's beginning.
and there Is no evidence that it has any
connection whatever with the Masonic
order. The Carbonarios appear to be a
curious mixture of men and motives that
may be described only by comparison
with the patriotic Minutemen of the
American revolution. the Vigiantes OF
early days In California, the Ku kluX
Khan of reconstruction days and the
Night Riders of the tobacco districts OF
kentucky and Tennessee.
The Carbonarios set out on their career
as revolutionists bent on overthrowins
the intolerable Braganza monarchy
Then they continued their organization
in the capacity of regulators" and 1t
must be admitted that they did some
good work. But. like all other similar
secret societies. including the ku kluX
Khan and the Night Riders OF our own
recent history, it is predicted that they
will leave off regulating to succumb to
a tendency to be irregular.
The members of the order are bound
by dark and bloody oaths to uphold
numerous enterprises and to hold down
numerous individuals. But chiefly they
are sworn to uphold one another. just
how much influence the CarbOnarios act
ually WELD at present 1t would be Diff
ficult to say, but they are, at any rate.
kl,~k nod NIT a ND
treated with by the provisional govern
ment from the day of it's birth.
\
In Lisbon when any riotous act is done
by night the word goes round that the
a rbonarios
Carbonarios Blamed have been on
for ALI Riotous Acts. . the. r nanar, e.
always holly denied When there is a
report that the existing government is
to be thrown out and another set up
in it's place and the event does not
transpire, 1t is whispered in the wine
shops that the Carbonarios sent out word
that when the scrimmage should occur
they would be there to uphold the hands
of authority. Like the Ku Klux Khan
Of reconstruction days. the Carbonarios
set out to do the work Of regulators
Like the Ku Klux Khan, they will have
tendency to grow irregular as they
proceed. 1t is predicted that the time
will come when some members of the
order will have to be dealt with sum-
marily in order that they shall be sup
pressed. In the meantime the Carlo
narios form a picturesque factor in the
political equation in Portugal.
This secret society is formed wholly OF
young men. Many Of them are the young
bloods Of the communities In which
branches are formed, but others are hum
BILE sons of the SOIL The army and the
navy are cleverly organized into groups
Of Carbonarios. and loyalty to the secret
order is, in the heart of any member OF
it, far above loyalty to the army and the
navy. The small groups do not know
each other, but merely know of each
other. One person in each subsidiary
group belongs to a higher group, SO that
all groups are in touch with one another
One hears in Lisbon that the provi-
sionaI government does not draft law
or take any other important step without
first getting the consent Of the Car
bonarios. 1t is also explained that some
Of the half baked measures promulgated
are Carbonate laws" cooked up In a
hurry and rushed through over the heads
and against the cooler judgment of the
men who are nominally the admins
traitors of Portugal. But the ministers
keep silent under criticism and make nc
explanations of their apparently cratic
acts.
X
The Carbonarios have constituted an in
formal, but quite formidable, police force
to guard th'
Rioters May Attack city and va
Own Fellow Members. ilous o'i -
stitutions. If an attack should be made
on any carbonario-protected building
hundreds Of personal acquaintance wouie
meet about them to discover In each othel
members Of their order. for clerks be
longing to different small groups anl
LIN hoxs Of thais.