292 A YEAR IN BRAZIL. 



country, viz. "Whether the emancipation policy of the Dantas 

 ministry, as set forth in the Government Slave Enfranchisement 

 Bill, shall receive the proper endorsement." * The Anglo-Brazilian 

 Times, a little later,, says 



"What the result of this appeal to the electorate will prove it is as yet too 

 soon to vaticinate, inasmuch as it seems certain that, in the coming 

 struggle, the old lines of demarcation between Conservative and Liberal 

 will, to a great degree, be obliterated, and the issue will practically turn 

 upon the question of sympathy for, or hostility to, the Government Slave 

 Bill." 



The Times of September 8, 1884, published a leader on the 

 Emancipation question, but it took an utterly erroneous view of 

 the two parties Abolitionists and Emancipators stating that 

 the former wish to secure the slave gradual but full freedom, with 

 efficient protection pending his definite manumission ; and the 

 latter, while setting him nominally free, would keep him in cleverly 

 forged bonds. The Times refuses to believe the statements in a 

 very able and lengthy letter by Mr. Walter J. Hammond, which 

 appeared in its pages on September 3, and, taking as its text the 

 then lately celebrated jubilee of the abolition of slavery in British 

 dominions, speaks of slavery and the present crisis in Brazil in a 

 manner which displays either absolute ignorance or wilful dis- 

 regard of the real position of the various interests under con- 

 sideration. 



The result of the elections was the return of the Liberal party 

 to power, with Senhor Dantas as Premier, who had stated, in 

 February, that before he had accepted office his own views with 

 regard to the institution of slavery were harmonized with those of 

 the Emperor. The new Parliament assembled the 8th of March, 

 1885. The Emperor's speech announced the presentation of a 

 Government bill for facilitating the Emancipation of slaves, and 

 commended the measure to the earnest consideration of the 

 representatives of the people. 



The South American Journal, f in a leader, said 



" There are, however, two opinions on this, as on every other subject. Though, 

 practically, all are agreed in desiring the removal of the blot of slavery. . . . 



* The South American Journal, 'September 6, 1884. 

 t March 21, 1885. 



