No. 78.
Mr. Hilliard to Mr. Evarts.
Rio de Janeiro, April 3, 1880. (Received May 1.)
Sir: The ministry of January 5, as it is styled here, of which Consilheiro de Sinimbu was chief, resigned the seals of office on the 6th of March last. The event was unexpected. Several causes contributed to produce the important result. As I have heretofore informed you, the failure of the electoral reform bill in the Senate was regarded by Mr. de Sinimbu, president of the council and chief of the ministry, as a disaster. It was the great measure of the administration. The Emperor, acting upon the advice of Mr. de Sinimbu, immediately adjourned the session of the General Assembly. It was believed there would be a dissolution of the chamber, but the Emperor took time to consider.
The electoral reform bill had passed the Chamber of Deputies by a large majority. It did not seem logical, therefore, that the chamber should be [Page 94] dissolved because of the failure of the Senate to concur in its action. The Senate is a permanent body, and the dissolution of the chamber could not effect any change in its composition. Still the measure was insisted upon by Mr. de Sinimbu, and it was understood that the Emperor had yielded to his counsel. The same question was subsequently considered in the council of state, and a majority of that body advised against dissolution.
The Emperor, in view of the situation, resolved to act upon his own judgment. At a meeting of the cabinet on the 6th of March, he announced his purpose to decline to issue a decree for the dissolution of the chamber. Thereupon the ministers tendered their resignation, and the Emperor consented promptly that they should surrender their portfolios. His Majesty then invited Consilheiro José Antonio Saraiva, a leader of the liberal party in Bahia, to organize a new ministry; who, after taking some time to consider the situation, consented to undertake the task.
It was announced on Sunday morning, March 28, that the new ministry had been formed.
Consilheiro José Antonio Saraiva, president of the council, takes the department of finance, for the reason that the question of finance is today of great and vital importance in Brazil. He is a senator from the province of Bahia, and is now minister for the third time. He is generally esteemed as an upright man, a politician of broad views, moderate, and patriotic. Married, but childless, he receives from his fazenda, a country estate, near the Bahia Railway, an ample income. His habits are moderate and simple. He is an enemy of ostentation, and even of ceremony, which has made him reluctant to leave his domestic life. He began his career while very young, having been brought forward by influential relatives of the conservative party. He was deputy and president of the province under conservative régime, but conducted himself with such circumspection that he won the esteem of the liberals. When he observed the condition of the country, and saw that the conservative party did not interpret the constitution in accordance with his views, seeking to retard progress, he frankly announced his purpose to act with the liberals, and has been ever since one of the most faithful, devoted, and patriotic chiefs of that party, which today holds him in high esteem.
He was formerly minister plenipotentiary to the Argentine Republic and to Uruguay, when the empire joined with the colorados under General Flores, for the purpose of putting an end to the tyrannies of the blancos in Montevideo. Together with Mr. Thornton he endeavored to prevent bloodshed, although unsuccessfully.
On his return from this mission he became minister of foreign affairs and approved the triple-alliance treaty against Paraguay, negotiating through his successor, Consilheiro Octaviano, his intimate friend and co-laborer, who, like Mr. Saraiva, has always refused to form a part of the council of state, for the reason that they both believed this institution to be unconstitutional.
Mr. Saraiva is an animated, but not always correct, speaker; he has great natural talent, and, above all, a frankness in giving expression to his views, which often carries him further than the policy of his party would require. But while he is faithful to his party and to its liberal ideas, he never forsakes his reason or his morality to treat of measures or expedients which lie considers unworthy. His electoral-reform plan is more in accord with the views of the liberal chiefs of the southern provinces than that of Mr. de Sinimbu. He does not ask for reform of the constitution, because he believes that direct election can be arrived [Page 95] at by ordinary law, since the actual right of Brazilians, who may be electors according to the constitution, is not restricted. Instead of making a list of eligible persons, from which the people may choose the electors, he declares all persons electors whom the people may elect.
This project puts an end to great abuses on the part of the preponderating classes and the official element. It is already undergoing consideration by the Emperor. It is understood that when the Emperor invited Consilheiro Saraiva to form the new cabinet he committed himself to the approval of any project submitted by him.
The minister of foreign affairs, Dr. Pedro Luiz Percina de Souza, is a deputy from Rio de Janeiro. A young man of great talent, of literary culture, a poet in sympathy with the country, possessing a good estate in a rural district, he entered public life as soon as he graduated at the Sao Paulo law school. His early success was due to the powerful protection given him by the liberal chief of Rio de Janeiro, Senator Octa-viano, whoni the new ministry thus far consider its principal friend and support. His appointment to the important post of foreign affairs is regarded as a courtesy shown by Mr. Saraiva to his friend Mr. Octa-viano.
The new minister has traveled, speaks French and Italian, and understands English, but is not accustomed to speak it.
The minister of justice, Consilheiro and Senator Dantas, is next after Mr. Saraiva the most important and popular chief of the liberal party of Bahia. He was once minister of public works in the ministry of the late Mr. Zacarias, an eminent leader of the liberal party during the Paraguayan war. He is a fluent orator, studious and upright in his life.
The minister of empire (interior), Baron Homun de Mello, is a deputy for São Paulo. He was a short while ago president of the province of Bahia. He is an intimate and devoted friend of Mr. Saraiva, who required in the ministry a man capable of resisting any extravagant ideas on the part of his colleagues.
The minister of agriculture, commerce, and public works, Deputy Buarque de Macedo, is an engineer, and was director of the section of public works in the department of which he is now chief. He is a prominent man in his branch, and was formerly fiscal of the Pernambuco Railway. He has had charge of other commissions of importance. During the last session of the Chamber of Deputies he became noted for the talent with which he defended the financial measures made necessary by the bad circumstances of the country.
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For the present, the names of significance are those of Mr. Saraiva, on account of his reputation for sincerity and patriotism, and of the minister of foreign affairs, on account of his talents and of his important friends from the south who support him.
The southern parliamentarian, Martinho Campos, was invited by Mr. Saraiva to become a minister, but refused, promising, however, all his support. He is a friend of the minister of foreign affairs. It seems that in his place will be presented the name of the deputy for Minas, Lima Duarte, who is not a liberal leader, but he is an important planter, highly esteemed for his loyalty to the support of his party. Should he accept, he will be minister of marine.
The war department will probably be occupied by (General) the visconde de Pelotas, who enjoys great prestige for having been the one who fought the last battle of the Cordilheiras in Paraguay, or rather of having skillfully organized the pursuit of Lopez until he was killed. [Page 96] The visconde has been presented by his province in a triple list for senator. The Emperor will choose him first, that he may afterwards be called to the ministry, for it is understood that upon the death of the Marquez de Herval he declared he would not accept a place as minister, as it was dependent upon the popular vote, and on the imperial choice for senator.
In case the visconde refuses, it is probable that Senator Paranagua, an intimate friend of Mr. Saraiva, will resume the duties of the war department.
Such is the composition of the new ministry. It brings to the service of the empire much ability and influence, but it must at once undertake difficult tasks.
I have the honor to be, &c.,