to the opposition was the sudden abolition of slavery without any
compensation to slave-owners. The planters, the principal possessors of
wealth, regarded the measure as unnecessary in view of the act which had
been passed in 1885 providing for the gradual freeing of all slaves. The
arguments used were, however, of no avail with the regent, and the
decree was promulgated on the 13th of May 1888. No active opposition was
offered to this measure, but the feelings of unrest and discontent
spread rapidly.

Establishment of the Republic, 1889.

Towards the close of 1888 the emperor returned and was received by the
populace with every demonstration of affection and esteem. Even among
the advocates of republicanism there was no intention of dethroning Dom
Pedro, excepting a few extreme members of the party, now gained the
upper hand. They argued that it would be much more difficult to carry
out a successful coup _d'etat_ when the good-natured, confiding emperor
had been succeeded by his more suspicious and energetic daughter.
Discontented officers in the army and navy rallied to this idea, and a
conspiracy was organized to depose the emperor and declare a republic.
On the 14th of November 1889 the palace was quietly surrounded, and on
the following morning the emperor and his family were placed on board
ship and sent off to Portugal. A provisional government was then formed
and a proclamation issued to the effect that the country would
henceforth be known as the United States of Brazil, and that in due time
a republican constitution would be framed. The only voice raised in
protest was that of the minister of war, and he was shot at and severely
wounded as a consequence. Dom Pedro, completely broken down by the
ingratitude of the people whom he had loved so much and laboured for so
strenuously, made no attempt at resistance. The republican government
offered to compensate him for the property he had held in Brazil as
emperor, but this proposal was declined. His private possessions were
respected, and were afterwards still held by Princess Isabella.

The citizen named as president of the provisional government, was
General Deodoro da Fonseca, who owed his advancement to the personal
friendship and assistance of Dom Pedro. Second in authority was placed
General Floriano Peixoto, an officer also under heavy obligations to the
deposed monarch, as indeed were nearly all of those who took active part
in the conspiracy.