Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-15

The provisional government OF the ne"
republic of Portugal was proclaimed DC
tober ), 1910, the day after the flight
Of King Manuel. DIR. Theophile Braga
was made provisional president. and he
at once promised to hold elections for a
permanent constitutional assembly that
should choose the permanent officers OF
the republic. This election, after being
postponed several times. was held May
. last. The 1872 deputies then elected
met June 10. and two days later elected
Anselmo Braamcamp to be president of
the republic Of Portugal. With that event
the provisional government ended its
career. The royalist counter-revolution
predicted for that particular day did not
materialize. and the new government be-
gan its career in peace.
President Braamcamp was not a men,
Der OF the provisional government, and
his election is interpreted an
earnest of the good faith of the
pioneer republican leaders. one OF
whom might have made himself die
tator. The new president was president
Of the municipal council of Lisbon, and
~ such proved himself an able, con-
scientious and progressive man. 1t is too
early TO judge Of his acts as the head Of
tne national government.
4
The pioneer republican leaders, those
who were active I'm the revolution. and
who had high
Leaders Worthy place In the pro-
of Their Stations. mem. "' on n''@ ,hs
whole proved worthy of their stations.
When history takes Its final measure
Of the men who set out to make
republic after the last Of the
Braganzas was expelled from Portugal
IN October. 1910. II will be unfair II al
1owances are not made for the many
difficulties under which they began their
task. Portugal is q small country upon
the edge OF a continent containing two
successful republics-France and Switzer-
land. The continent is full Of monarchies
and monarchists anxious to see the down.
fall Of any and all advocates of a form
Of government that looks to the removal
OF princes from the pension list Criti-
ciem in the monarchist newspapers of
Europe was most unfair to Portugal from
the beginning of the effort at government
for and by the people. The men who
made up the provisional government after
the revolution were described as fncapa-
BILE and insincere. and for months after
the expulsion OF Manuel Lisbon was
painted as crater likely at any moment
sale murder
Theoph,le Braga. as the head of the
provisional government. was the man
most discussed in the European yellow
press. He was described as everything
from q learned nincompoop to a prac-
teal tyrant. His failure. his assassina-
ton. his elevation TO the presidency Of
tho forthcoming republic. his assumption
~ he
Tor crown. were among the destnies
Irophesied for him In various quarters.
MI Braga is poet writer. a philoso-
pher. He was chosen by the more prac-
teal leaders. who
Poet, Writer became ministers,
and Philosopher. b bis sm, r.atSe r ol
spcctabilty and integrity. and partly, ac-
cordinS TO harsh critics. because he could
be bent 10 the will OF men whose motives
were less creditable than his, and whose
integrity was less above suspicion. A
man OF very simple tastes. a bookworm.
an altruist. a dreamer. anything but a
practical politician" Mr.. Braga seemed
fitted for the duties of his position only
by intention. Yet many foreigners in
Lisbon maintained that he was more
honest than guilsIess, and that IL he was
selected because he was unworldly those
who counted upon his becoming putty
In their hands were mistaken in their
man. That Mr.. Braga had at heart the
interest of the Portuguese masses and
had high hopes OF the success of the
country as republic was not doubted
by any one who knew him.
Bernadlno Machado, who became min
lister OF foreign affairs when the pro-
visionai government was formed, was at
one time minister Of public works under
the monarchy. He also had served in
the Portuguese parliament as q repub-
lican deputy. An eloquent orator q
genial. kind-hearted man Of three score
years. an ardent republican who had
stunped the whole country for years
preaching his policies. a man widely pop
uIar among both the common people and
the members of the upper classes Mr.
Machado was eminently the man for the
place BY reason of his ability and the
esteem In which he was held. He was
joculariy called by foreigners in Lisbon
the father of the republic" His photo
graph was familiar window decoration
the homes of advocates of republican
government in Lisbon and Oporto While
there were not wanting persons who ac-
cused Mr.. Machado of self seeking, he