26 DECEMBER 1891, Page 2

The disturbances going on in Brazil are of a peculiar

kind. Province after province, it is said to the number of eleven, has risen, has cast out its Governor, and has elected a substi- tute, usually a soldier. The Central Government threatens, but it never does anything, and after a time it acknowledges the more popular man as its own agent also. These "revolu- tions," all exactly alike, must be due to some common motive, and it is pretty clear that this motive is a desire for greater Provincial autonomy. The Provinces, in fact, want to become States. That is consistent, as we see in North America, with strong Federal Union ; but we fancy the Brazilian States have a secondary object. They want to keep their own money, and be sheltered by the Republic without paying anything for its support.