The Emperor was summoned from Petropolis, and naturally could hardly realize the situation. The ministry having resigned, at midnight he attempted to form a new one, whereupon he was made a prisoner in the palace, all communication denied, and the Imperial family ordered to leave Brazil in twenty-four hours. The steam-ship Alagoas was placed at their service, with the iron frigate Riachuelo to escort them. At this stage I telegraphed the Department, simply stating existing facts for its information and asking instructions. As a censorship has been placed over the telegraphic office I send open cables. From midnight Saturday till midday on Sunday all communication by cable was prohibited. On Sunday a constitution was promulgated and a complete ministry formed. The Imperial family sailed at 3 o'clock that afternoon, at which time I telegraphed the Department of that fact, also of the existence of a de facto government, and urged the recognition of the "United States of Brazil." In my opinion the republican form of Government is securely established, even though the present ministry should fall. Our constitution and flag have been copied, and, looking to future relations, I desire our country to be first to acknowledge the Republic. I mail copies of "Diario Official" of November 16, 17, and 18, containing all official decrees, etc., of provisional government. Decree No. 2 confers a settlement in money on the late Emperor, his acceptance of which is considered an abdication. I am, etc., ROBERT ADAMS, JR. [Inclosure 1 in No. 20.-Translation.] PROCLAMATION. FELLOW-CITIZENS: The people, the army, and the navy, in perfect harmony of sentiment with our fellow-citizens resident in the provinces, have just decreed the dethronement of the Imperial dynasty, and consequently the extinction of the representative monarchical system of government. As an immediate result of this national revolution, of a character wholly patriotic, a provisional government has just been instituted, whose principal mission is to guaranty by public order the liberty and the rights of citizens. To compose this Government until the sovereign nation by means of competent organs shall proceed to the choice of a definitive Government, the undersigned citizens have been chosen by the chief of the executive power. Fellow-citizens: The provisional government, simply a temporary agent of the national sovereignty, is the government of peace, of liberty, of fraternity, and of order. In the use of the extraordinary attributions and faculties with which it is invested for the defense of the integrity of the nation and for the security of public order, the provisional government, by all the means in their reach, promise and guaranty to all the inhabitants of Brazil, native or foreign, security of life and property, respect for all rights, individual and political, except as to the latter the limitations required by the safety of the country and defense of the Government proclaimed by the people, by the army, and by the navy. Fellow-citizens: The functions of ordinary justice, as well as of civil and military administration, will continue to be exercised by the officials hitherto employed in relation to all acts, in the fullness of their effects; in relation to persons, the advantages and rights acquired by each functionary will be respected; but the life-term of the senate is hereby abolished, and also the council of state. The chamber of deputies is dissolved. Fellow-citizens: The provisional government recognizes and will respect all national obligations contracted during the previous regimen, treaties subsisting with foreign powers, the public debt, external and internal, existing contracts, and further obligations legally contracted. MARSHAL MANOEL DEODORO DA FONSECA, Chief of the Provisional Government. EDWARD WANDENKOLK, Chief of Squadron, Minister of Marine. QUINTINO BOCAYUVA, Minister of Foreign Affairs and pro tem. of Agriculture, Commerce, and Public Works. [Inclosure 2 in No. 20.-Translation.] Decree No. 1-Dated November 15, 1889. The provisional government of the United States of Brazil decree: ART. 1. The form of government of the Brazilian nation proclaimed and decreed is a federative republic. ART. 2. The provinces of Brazil, joined together in the bonds of federation, constistute the United States of Brazil. ART. 3. Each one of these States, in the exercise of its legitimate sovereignty, will decree in due time its definitive constitution, electing legislative assemblies and local governments. ART. 4. Until elections are held in a regular way for members to constitute a constitutional congress, and for legislative assemblies in each of the States, the Brazilian nation will be governed by the provisional government of the Republic; and the new States by the governors that may be proclaimed, or in default of these, by governors delegated by the provisional government. ART. 5. The respective governments of the federated States will adopt with urgency all necessary providences in order that order be maintained and publie security preserved, and that the rights and liberty of citizens, whether Brazilians or foreigners, be guarantied. ART. 6. Wherever public order may be disturbed, in any of the States, and wherever the local government shall not possess the means of repressing disorders and securing peace and tranquillity, the provisional government will enforce, by means of the public force, the free exercise of the rights of citizens and the unconstrained action of the constituted authorities. ART. 7. The federative Brazilian Republic being the form of government proclaimed, the provisional government does not recognize, nor will it recognize, any local government contrary to a republican form, awaiting, as in duty bound, the final sentence of popular suffrage, as expressed by the free vote of the nation. ART. 8. The regular army and navy, and public forces of the three arms of which there are garrisons or detachments in the different provinces, will continue subordinated to and exclusively dependent on the provisional government of the Republic, the local government being, however, empowered to decree the organization of a civil guard for the policing of the territory contained in their respective States. ART. 9. All civil and military departments hitherto subject to the control of the central government of the Brazilian nation will remain under the direct control of the provisional government of the Republic. ART. 10. The territory embraced within the municipality neuter will remain for the time being under the immediate jurisdiction and control of the provisional government of the Republic, and the city of Rio de Janiero will continue to be the seat of the federal power. ART. 11. The secretaries of state in the different departments or bureaus of the actual provisional government will be encharged with the execution of this decree in the part relative to each. MARSHAL MANUEL DEODORO DA FONSECA, S. LOBO. RUY BARBOSA. Q. BOCAYUVA. BENJAMIN CONSTANT. RIO DE JANEIRO, November 15, 1889. Mr. Blaine to Mr. Adams. [Telegram.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, You will maintain diplomatic relations with the provisional government of Brazil. BLAINE. Mr. Adams to Mr. Blaine. [Telegram.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Argentine, Chili, and Uruguay have recognized. ADAMS. No. 21.] Mr. Adams to Mr. Blaine. [Extract.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Petropolis, November 27, 1889. (Received December 23.) SIR: I have the honor to continue my report on the recent revolution. Before the departure of the ex-Emperor, the continuance of his present income from the state was guarantied to him by the provisional gov ernment, at least until the meeting of the new assembly, and further in consideration of his immediate and peaceful departure, $500,000 was offered to him, and upon its acceptance, the grant was confirmed by decree No. 2, a translation of which is inclosed. It is proper to state that on the morning of the 16th my colleagues proposed that the diplomatic corps should make a demonstration on behalf of the Emperor, by going in a body to the palace and demanding to see him. This proposition was politely but firmly declined by me, in which position I was sustained by the French chargé d'affaires. Later we both separately called at the palace but were refused admittance by the guards, although I stated my official position and requested my card to be sent to the Emperor. On Monday, 18th instant, Rio resumed its usual avocations. The military patrol was withdrawn. The provisional government was completed as follows: "Chefe," Marechal Deodoro da Fonseca; minister of interior, Aristides da Silva Lobo; war, Lieutenant-Colonel Benjamin Constant; finance, Ruy Barbosa; navy, Eduardo Wandenkolk; foreign affairs, Quintino Bocayuva; agriculture, José de Miranda Ribeiro; justice, Manoel Ferros de Campos Salles. On November 19 the several legations received from the foreign office a circular (translation inclosed) whereupon I immediately cabled the Department for instructions. On the 20th instant the Department's cable, dated November 19, was received. The mail and train for the day having left Petropolis, a telegram was sent to the minister of exterior relations as follows: I am instructed by my Government, by cable, you will maintain diplomatic relations with the provisional government of Brazil. ROBERT ADAMS, Jr., United States Minister. To which an acknowledgment was received same day by telegraph. On the same day a letter was addressed to the foreign office conveying the same intelligence. A letter was addressed to the consul-general communicating the instructions of the Department and requesting him to inform the several consuls thereof by telegraph. A copy of the translation of decree No. 4, relating to the adoption of the new national colors, is inclosed. This completes the record to date. The provisional government continues to perfect its organization, and so far perfect order reigns in the provinces. The former presidents of the provinces have all been removed and new ones appointed with ab solute powers, chosen chiefly from the military class. The provincial assemblies have also been abolished and no word is heard of an election for a national congress to adopt a constitution. Many of the men formerly prominent in public affairs, both Imperialists and Liberals, while accepting the present order of things, stand aloof and seem to be waiting. The future is not assured, and no one can predict for this country of the unexpected. In conclusion, allow me to express my appreciation of the confidence the Department reposed in my judgment and its prompt action on my suggestions. Fully conscious of the responsible position, I have endeavored to act most conservatively, and have reported nothing but verified facts to the Department. Of course the air was charged with rumors. On the 17th instant, when the ex-Emperor had accepted the payment of money, thereby acknowledging the new government, and sailed away, I felt justified in advising the Government to recognize the Republic, fully assured it would redound to our future advantage. The frequent allusions in all demonstrations here to our country, and the numerous telegrams and congratulations received at this legation, tend to confirm this opinion. All of which I trust will meet with the approbation of the President and the Department. 1 am, etc., ROBERT ADAMS, Jr. [Inclosure 1 in No. 21.-Translation.] The Emperor's abdication. In view of the representation which was delivered to me to-day at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, I resolve, yielding to the power of circumstances, to depart with all my family for Europe to-morrow, leaving this country, beloved by us all, and for which I have exerted myself to give constant proofs of deeply seated love, and dedication for almost half a century, during which I filled the position of chief of the state. In departing, therefore I with all the persons of my family, shall always retain the most tender remembrances of Brazil in offering ardent prayer for its greatness and prosperity. D. PEDRO DE ALCANTARA. RIO DE JANEIRO, November 16, 1889. CIRCULAR.] [Inclosure 2 in No. 21.-Translation.] Mr. Bocayuva to Mr. Adams. MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, Rio de Janeiro, November 18, 1889. It has been impossible up to the present date to send the necessary communication regarding the political events of the three days just passed to Robert Adams, jr., envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States of America. These in short are as follows: The army, the navy, and the people have decreed the deposition of the imperial dynasty and consequently the extinction of the representative monarchical system; a provisional government has been established, which has already entered upon the exercise of its functions and will continue to exercise them until the sovereign people shall choose definitely, by means of competent organs; this Government has manifested to Senhor D. Pedro de Alcantara the hope that he would make the sacrifice of leaving Brazil, together with his family, and this intimation has been attended to; a federative republic has been provisionally proclaimed and decreed as the form of government of the Brazilian nation, the former provinces constituting the United States of Brazil. The Provisional Government, as declared in its proclamation of the 15th current month, recognizes and will respect all national compromises and obligations contracted during the rule of previous governments, treaties subsisting with foreign powers, the public debt, whether external or internal, contracts in vigor, and all other obligations legally contracted. In the Provisional Government, whose chief is Marshal Manoel Deodoro da Fonseca, I am charged with the portfolio of foreign affairs, and it is for this reason that I have the honor to address Mr. Adams, jr., assuring him, in conclusion, that the provisional government is ardently desirous of maintaining the relations of friendship which have hitherto existed between the United States of America and Brazil. I take advantage, etc. Q. BOCAYUVA. [Inclosure 3 in No. 21.] Mr. Adams to Mr. Boca yuva. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, I have the great honor and happy satisfaction to inform your excellency that I am instructed by my Government by cable, "You will maintain diplomatic relations with the provisional government of Brazil. " In transmitting this information allow me to express the hope that the cordial relations which have hitherto existed between my country and Brazil may be augmented by her adoption of a republicau form of government. If your excellency will be pleased to name a day and hour, I shall be happy to call upon and pay my respects to you, and also be presented to His Excellency Manoel Deodoro da Fonseca, chefe do Governo Provisorio. I avail, etc., ROBERT ADAMS, JR. [Inclosure 4 in No. 21.-Translation.] Decree relative to the flag and escutcheon of Brazil. The Provisional Government of the Republic of the United States of Brazil: Whereas the colors of our former flag remind us of glorious struggles and victories both of the army and of the navy in the defense of the fatherland; Whereas those colors, independent of the form of government, symbolize the perpetuity and integrity of our country among nations; it is hereby decreed: ARTICLE I. The banner adopted by the Republic shall continue the tradition of the former national colors, green and yellow, in the following manner: A yellow lozenge on a green field, having in the center a sky-blue spheroid, crossed by a white circular zone running obliquely, and falling from the left towards the right, bearing the legend, "order and progress," with twenty-one stars, amongst them those of the "Southern Cross," all placed in their proper astronomical position as to distance and FR 89-5 |