THE POLITICS OF BRAZIL

Hokitika Guardian, 6 October 1924, Page 4

THE POLITICS OF BRAZIL

By Leonard Matters in the “ Daily Mail.”)

.No patriotic Brazilian, especially if imbued with the strong national sentiment that is cultivated in the lederal capital of Hio de .laniero, will admit that behind and underlying the present trouble in his country is anythin;; more than what appears on the surlace. And what appears on the surlace is simply an impudent bid lor power on tlie part of a few disgruntled politicians, or the effort of discredited army officers to revenge themselves against the federal authority. The seriousness of the revolt in the State of Sao Paulo cannot, however, be denied, and it requires no intimate knowledge of conditions in Brazil to suggest that there must be some more deeply rooted grievances than those proclaimed to account for such an outburst ill armed protest against the national (lovernnient. As a matter of fact the grievances do exist, and privately the patriotic Brazilian aforesaid recognises them and deplores them. Politics in Brazil, as indeed almost throughout l.atin-Ainoru a, connote power, privilege, perquisites, and peTf. This will be denied, but it is true. For one’s nuliiTeal enemies nothing is too bad. Though nominally the highest form of democracy prevails in Lal-in-America under a republican system patterned on that existent in the United States, in practice autoracy and despotism are rampant. AT.MOSPIIKBK OP SCANDAL.

Power is obtained in devious ways and is dipluycd with a ilagrance that astounds nobody who is familiar with the conditions, though in justice to men of honour it. must, be said that this brazen-faced abuse of authority constitutes a recognised evil to overcome which they exert all their ini'nonce.

In the case of the Argentine, for instance, every holiest man ol all parties supported the law introduced by the deceased President, Dr Itoque Saenz Pena, providing for free elections. It was passed, and the day of the “ eaudillo,” or political boss, was liver. An immediate etfeet of this law was to have an election conducted without all the scandals that had been associated with such affairs in the past, and the very authors of the law lotind themselves defeated at the poll by a party that had been kept out ol olliee lor nearly a quarter of a century. fn Brazil neither the elections nor the Administration are sat islactory to public-spirited citizens. The president, Dr Berlin riles, attained to olliee in an atmosphere ol scandal. Belore the elect ion a letter was published in the “(Tirrcio da .Manila ” giving what was wulelv believed lo he his views oil how to overcome political opposition.

Dr Bernardos repudiated authorship of it, hut it left a nasty laste in the mouths of honest persons and may he said to lie the cause of the diallectioii throughout the Brazilian Army, leading first lo ilitnrv revolt of July lil-jo ;,iul the more recent mutiny ol Sao Paulo. In this letter it was said that political opposition ol Army Ollicors could he overcome by bribes ol nioiiev and place, and the Army consul,.red its honour had been grossly insulted. PISA PI’OI NTKD I’ll A/I 1.1.1N5. T'lie poiiev ol Dr Iveruariles aitei In* look oT.r ■ was merely'a continuation of | lie t which hi- predecessors had followed, which right-minded Brazil consider disgraceful. Coming as a potentate from the State ol .MiuaCcraes. where be bad been president, \!] hi.- nolilieal opponents were promptly made lo leel his personal displeasure. while hi- relatives and supporters began to batten cm place and privilege.

That Dr Bernardos had done; much towards stabilising the finances and restoring the economic health of Brazil is admitted, but otherwise bis policy has been me same as that of Pessoa—a potty, narrow-minded, selfish one, beneficial enough to his relatives and cronies, but- disappointing even to Brazilians, who now find themselves compelled to uphold him before the world as the custodian of Brazil’s honour and unitv •