Year: 1872

s Eeoro H, emperor OF nrazh'


We published on Monday letter from our
correspondent in Rio Janeiro recording the
festivities in honor of the Emperor OF Brazil
on his return from his extended travels The
hearty and brilliant reception accorded him by
all classes showed his popularity. while it
eTnced the good sense OF the people, who
know how to appreciate SO wise, practical,
and withal SO unassuming sovereign.
The spontaneous bursts Of joy which greeted
his return clearly proved that his rule is not
founded upon ''the divinity which doth hedge
q king" but upon the affections of his
people.


To-day we give our correspondents account
of an interview he had with the Emperor
soon after his arrival His Majesty gracefully
consented to communicate to the HERALD his
opinions and impressions of the different
countries of Europe in which he had been
sojourner. He also expressed his regret that
he had been debarred from carrying out his
original programme, which included visit
to the United States. But the keen interest
which he evinced in the progress and intel





him rest until he has seen the most pro-
gressive country in the world. We promise
him cordial welcome A sovereign who is
SO democratic-we might say American-in
his thoughts and habits, who mingles with
the passengers and eats at the common table
of steamboat above all, who is occa-
sonally partial to the Anglo-Saxon beverage
familiarly known as gin cocktail, is sure to
take kindly to the customs and habits of the
American people.


Dom Pedros career has been one of usefnl-
ness, not of glittering show. false pretence and
frivolity-very much unlike the career of the
man who lost crown and sceptre at Sedan.
He does not profess to be monarch by divine
right, but only the leader of people over
whom the accident of birth-or, since his rule
has been SO beneficial let us say Providence
has placed him.


Two words form the key Of his character
utility and progress. This is partly the result
Of life of research and meditation. In mat
ters Of science in legislation and in politics he
has no equal in his country. His acquaint-
ance with modern literature and his conversa-
tional powers in many languages are quite
remarkable With these scholarly attain
ments he combines modesty which charms
all those who ever come in contact
with him. Our correspondents abroad have
from time to time approached the Emperor,
and the HERALD has thus been enabled to inn
part to the American people and the world at
large better knowledge Of this ruler of a
vast empire. We call to mind the narrative of
ON interesting interview which one of our
correspondents had with Dom Pedro before his
departure on his great tour. Later on, another
representative of the HERALD found oppor-
tunity ''to shoot him flying AS old Tecumseh
would express thunder the very shadow Of
the Pyramids. All were received with cor
dialty and absence of restraint which is so
refreshing to find in the monarch of great
nation. His chief claims to the attention Of
the American people, however, are his ardent
efforts for the abolition Of slavery, which have at
last paved the way towards complete emanc-
patton Of the negro. To accomplish this great
object he has had to war against the ignorance
Of all classes of his people. His own race, in
deed the whole human race, owe debt Of
gratitude to Dom Pedro.