The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-01-14
The Nominating ConventiOn-An In
nOvatiOn I'm Brazil.

The three boiling states determined
upon a convention Of their own. A
call was sent for representatives from
the various counties Of Brazil, men
duly selected by local voters and with
signed credentials in their hands.
1t was not through an inner ring that
Barbosa wanted to work. For the
first time in Brazil it was the popular
voice that spoke Out of nearly
thousand counties $50 appeared, and
on the 22nd Of May, 1909, the Civilsta
Convention met In. the Lyrico Theatre
In Rio de Janeiro to inaugurate a new
political Development in the Re-
public. 1t was historic day. Shak-
ing off inertia and studied indifference
and initiating a campaign against
that popular ignorance which has
been the political schemer's stock In
trade, the middle class Of the coun-
try threw itself into a political strug-
gle. 1t was but the first step, but it
signifies a new Brazil. And no man
Is so responsible for it as Ruy Bar
bosa.
Thus was the national Civilista
party born-a party without definite
principles and without a platform
save that it was determined to ex-
press the peoples will. The old par
ties had died with the Empire. The
Republican party triumphing in 1889,
swept the leld Of its adversaries and
stood alone. The inevitable followed.
Fixed In its power, the party only
fought within itself and intrigued for
the division Of the spoils. But at
last, on the question Of the monopoly
or influence In the hands of a few, a
man had risen who could lead the
people to self-expression. Neverthe-
less the convention struggled for DAYS
over a method Of procedure. Assiz
Brazil, at that time Minister to Ar
gentina. demanded the formulation
OF definite platform and the select
lon Of a man who could support It.
Barbosa, on the contrary, urged that
tho choice Of a man who could car
~ the people with h,m was the mat
ter OF vital import. nee The platform
would take care OF itself. a mag
netic personality was the need Of the
hour. In that Barbosa was right
and won. And 1t was Barbosa him
self that the convention chose to
lead the peoples part Of Brazil.
So 1t was that the fight was on. 1t
was the first real nominating conven-
ton in the history Of the Republic.
More than that. 1t was the first con-
tested election. But more significant
still, 1t was the first great education
al campaign in which candidate
stumped the country. speaking every
where to enormous and enthusiastic
crowds upon the vital questions of
national life and policy. 1t was a
vivifying mission to the electorate of
the country and Barbosa was pre-
eminently the man for the place. Two
things were the targets for his attack.
He directed his lucid and vigorous
oratory against the concentration of
power In the hands Of the clique and
the failure OF a so-called representa-
tive government to represent. At the
same time he attacked what he saw
as the militarlstic menace, control by
the army the subservience Of civil
power. For months he worked as IL
Incapable Of fatigue. writing and
speaking with pungent effect AS an
educational campaign Brazil had
known nothing like 1t. It stirred tho
dullest corners into q dawning recog-
milton Of the meaning Of representa-
tive government. 1t stung the inert
to sense Of public duty.
Aho hiSt VI mdiCii, lSlU, was cleo
ton day. Fonseca carried the North
by huge majority. There were scat
tering votes for Barbosa In the South.
In Minas and Sac Paulo, where his
strength lay, the returns did not show.
that he had carried either state. Fon-
SEGA was elected, on the face of the
returns, but with the cry OF fraud the
Civilista party set about a contest OF
the election returns. OF irregularities
there is no question but whether Bar
bosa was actually elected or not It Is
impossible to tell. Two hundred
thousand against four hundred thous-
and votes, were the official figures.-
American Review Of Reviews.
In the manner OF disposing of their
eggs may species OF frog exhibit re-
a..I..