200 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF DOM PEDRO II. 



as unconstitutionalj as too personal a government. Those who pretend 

 that the control of a nation should be left exclusively to the ministers 

 and parliamentary majorities, rest upon the celebrated maxim : " The 

 constitutional Icing reigns, hut does not governP This is not the place to dis- 

 cuss this important question, but as to the maxim we cannot refrain from 

 declaring, with Guizot, that it has no solid foundation. If M. Thiers ut- 

 tered it, when in the opposition, it is very certain he would not defend it 

 to-day, since his experience at the head of the French nation. It was the 

 constitution of England, wliich in some sort deprives the sovereign of 

 political action by the existence of a constituent and all powerful parlia- 

 ment, which led him to make this statement. But even with such a 

 constitution, the distinction, as made by the Emperor between the attri- 

 butes of the head of the nation, of its ministers, and of the national parlia- 

 ment, is absolute, as M. Thiers himself proved by his conduct in the con- 

 stituent assembly of Versailles, during his government of the country 

 from 1871 to 1873. It is, moreover, very easy to show the nonsense of 

 the remark by substituting for the word reign its true significance, as 

 given by the good Lettre, in his remarkable dictionary : " To reign," he 

 says, " is to govern a state under the title of king, queen, emperor, elect- 

 or, prince, or duke." Now, is it not nonsense to say the king governs, 

 but does not govern ? 



The maxim, moreover, is not in accordance with the Brazilian 

 constitution, which confers upon the sovereign not only control over 

 the political powers governing the nation, but also especial attributes 

 to be exercised by him exclusively. The accusation therefore that the 

 Emperor is illegal in his personal government is without foundation. 



We have seen that Dom Pedro gives audience to the public twice a 

 day. On these occasions he exhibits the qualities of a truly liberal sov- 

 ereign, and shows that he cares as much for the interests of his Brazil- 

 ian family as for his own. lu fact, he receives every one, foreigners or 

 his own people, with affability and kindness, pressing the hand of 

 those he regards especially. If an artist or a savant presents himself, 

 Dom Pedro does not allow him to depart without some conversation 

 ui)on his especial pursuit 5 if one of his acquaintances, he inquires with 

 interest for the health of the different members of his family and inter- 

 changes with him some familiar and pleasant remarks. To claimants 

 he has become somewhat reserved in manner on account of the great 

 number who have imposed upon his kindness, and also because he does 

 not wish to encroach upon the attributes of his ministers. Still, he 

 listens with patience and attention ; making from time to time an objec- 

 tion, or giving counsel; but he does not trouble the ministers with 

 their pretensions, unless justice, equity, or benevolence require. If a 

 complaint is made to him either from subaltern of&cials, who are very 

 apt to suppose injustice has been done when thej^ have not been pro- 

 moted fast enough to suit their supposed deserts, from a disajjpointed 

 office-seeker, or from any one whatever, Dom Pedro takes the trouble 



