The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-12-04
Americas Last Emperor

Although they forced him to abdi-
cate his crown and to become an exile
from his native land, Brazilians en-
terrain only the kindliest feelings to-
ward their late Emperor, Dom Pedro
H., and the twenty-fifth anniversary
of his death in Paris will be observed
with memorial exercises in Rio de
Janeiro and other Brazilian cities to-
day. Dom Pedro H., who occupied
the last Of New World thrones, was
not deposed because Of any fault of
his, for he was a kindly, patriotic
monarch, the hero of successful wars,
and the emancipation of the slaves in
Brazil. 1t was therefore purely the
growth of republican sentiment that
brought about the bloodless revolution
of 1889, whereby the empire was over
thrown, and a republic set up in it's
stead. The Emperor made no at
tempt to resist the. popular will, and
was treated with the greatest ccnsid-
GRAFTON by the revolutionists. 1t was
his desire to spend his last days in
Brazil, the land Of his birth, but this
boon was refused him, as it was fear
ed that. however good his intentions,
he might be a disturbing factor in
the reorganization of the government
Generous financial provision was
made for him, and with due ceremony
he was escorted to ship which car
ried him to his royal relatives in Por-
tugaL
Dom Pedro II. was the only son of
Emperor Pedro I. of Brazil and Leo
poldina, an Austrian archduchess. The
first Dom Pedro was the son of King
Tnhn nf ortI nd ho INT
ed regent of Brazil in 1921. Although
the eldest son Of monarch and heir
to the throne Of Portugal and its
American empire, Brazil, Dom Pedro
I, encouraged the movement for Bra
zil's independence from Portugal. In
1922 he formally proclaimed Brazil
free and independent, and was solemn
ly crowned Emperor. In 1881 he alb
Dictated in favor of his infant son, for
whom a regent was appointed, until
in 1910 he was crowned Emperor as
Pedro IL. Three years later he mar
ried the Princess Theresa Christina
Maria, sister of Francis l., King of
Naples. She died in 1889, shortly be-
fore the revolution which deprived
Pedro of his throne.
The last Of the American emperors
was an enlightened, liberal ruler, of
scholarly tastes, and he never used
in an aggressive manner even the re-
stricted powers given him under the
constitution. The early years Of his
reign were marked. by several wars,
including those with Buenos Ayres
and Paraguay and Uruguay. The war
against Paraguay, in which Brazirs
allies were Argentina and Uruguay,
began in 1865 and lasted five years,
ending with the death of Paraguay's
Infamous dictator, Don Francisco So
lano Lopez. This was one Of the most
terrible wars in history, practically
the entire male population Of Para
quay having been wiped out, while a
majority Of the women and children
starved to death.
Emperor Pedro made tour of
1871 and 1872, and in 1876 the En-
peror and Empress were the guests
Of the United States government at
the opening Of the Centennial Exhi-
bition in Philadelphia.
The overthrow Of Dom Pedro, al
though accomplished without the
shedding Of blood initiated a period Of
turmoil and civil strife which contin-
ued for several years: Marshal de
Fonseca, the first president, was..an
INSCRIPTIONS, -self-seeking politician,
and the last days Of the deposed EN-
peror were saddened by the unhappy
plight Of his native land. At length
the dictatorship Of Fonseca was
brought to an end. and a real repub-
lie was established, under which Bra
I'll has f1ourished as never before.