OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 535, 16 June 1909, Page 7

OBITUARY

THE PRESIDENT OF BRAZIL. (BY TELEGEAPU—rEESS ASSOCIATION—COPTEIGBT.) (Rec. June 15, 10 p.m.) ' '; Rio de Janeiro, June 15. Obituary: Dr. Affonso Penna, President of Brazil; aged 61 years. i DR. PENNA'S CAREER. SERVICE UNDER THE EMPIRE AND THE REPUBLIC. Dr. Affonso Agusto Moreira Penna, born on .November 30, 18i7, was a Minister under the dethroned Emperor Dom Pedro. The Brazilian Republic was proclaimed on Novsmber 15, 1889, and in 1906 Dr. Penna was elected by universal suffrage its sixth President, his term lasting till 1910. . ..V Dr. Penna lias been described as ,"a dignified, scholarly little man of simplo manners." He' was born in the, small village' of Santa Barbara de Matto Dentro, near the.old capital of the Brazilian State of Minas Geraes, and •had a thorough and extensive classical education. In 18G5 he graduated at Caraca. a famous college directed by Roman Catholic priests, and went the next year to Sao' Paulo to study law. After grndualing in law, in 1870, he returned to his native State and established a law office in the town of Barbacena. Three times he served in the Emperor's Cabinet, holding the portfolios of War, Agriculture, aud State. It was while he was Minister for State that the law was passed which gave freedom fa all slaves over sixty years of age. ... "A Monarchist in Principle."

"After the proclamation of the Republic, on November 15, 183!) (writes a biographer), Dr. Peunn retired-to private life, with a record of political uprightness and honesty behind him of which auy man might be justly proud. Bat he was not destined long to remain a private citizen. A monarchist from- principle, the overthrow of the throno was a severe blow to him, and yet, like Senhor Joaquin Nabuso, and a few others, he did not cease to bt- a Brazilion or to lovo his country becauco the form of its -government was changed. So, when his mother State called hint to her Constitutional Convention he responded promptly, and throw himself without reservation -into the arduous task set before that body. Such, moreover, was' tlie convention's confidence in his honesty and competence that he was made President of the committee to edit the Constitution of the State. Tho document will ever stand a monument to his statesmanship." Honest and Hard-Working. Tho following appreciation of tho deceased President was penned 'in the year of his taking offico;— . : 3" "The historian would probably not bo justified in characlerisin;; Dr. Ptnna as a brilliant man, but he is better than brilliant, lie possesses in a high degree those rare qualities which inspire the confidence of men. lie is honest. Ilu can be. trusted. He has alwavs been a hard worker. From (he days of his coljege life he bus'set high ideals tor liimsolf, and striven ever to do well whatever canio to his hand. Modesty is characteristic of the man. The staunch qualities of his character have impressed Ihe people, and for this reason ho haj> been called to tha high post of honour he now holds.