urdered in cold blood, and numerous executions of men of lesser note
took place, among these being two Frenchmen for whose death the
Brazilian government was subsequently called upon to pay heavy
compensation.

General Peixoto was succeeded as president on the 15th of November 1894
by Dr Prudente de Moraes Barros. It was a moot question whether Peixoto,
after the revolt was crushed, would not declare himself dictator;
certainly many of his friends were anxious that he should follow this
course, but he was broken down by the strain which had been imposed upon
him and was glad to surrender his duties. He did not recover his health
and died shortly afterwards.

From the first day that he assumed office, President Moraes showed that
he intended to suppress praetorian systems and reduce militarism to a
minimum. This policy received the approval and sympathy of the majority
of Brazilians, but naturally met with bitter opposition from the
military element. The president gradually drew to him some members of
the better conservative class to assist in his administration, and felt
confident that he had the support of public opinion. Early in 1895
murmurings and disorderly conduct against the authorities began to take
place in the military school at Rio de Janeiro, which had always been a
hotbed of intrigue. Some of the officers and students were promptly
expelled, and the president closed the school for several months. This
salutary lesson had due effect, and no more discontent was fomented from
that quarter. Two great difficulties stood in the way of steering the
country to prosperity. The first was the chaotic confusion of the
finances resulting from the maladministration of the national resources
since the deposition of Dom Pedro II., and the corruption that had crept
into every branch of the public service. Much was done by President
Moraes to correct abuses, but the task was of too herculean a nature to
allow of accomplishment within the four years during which he was at
the head of affairs. The second difficulty was the war waged by
religious fanatics under the leadership of Antonio Maciel, known as
"Conselheiro," against the constituted authorities of Brazil.

The story of Conselheiro is a remarkable one. A native of Pernambuco,
when a young man he married against the wishes of his mother, who took a
violent dislike to the bride. Shortly after the marriage the mother
assured her son that his wife held clandestine meeting