The Democratic Advocate

Slavery Abolished in Brazil.
The Emperor Don Pedro II, of Brazil, has abolished slavery throughout his whole vast dominions, by an Imperial decree. The emancipation is gradual, and slavery is to be entirely extinguished in twenty years; all children born after the 5th of April are to be absolutely free.
The only civilized country in which human slavery exists to-day, is Spain; or rather its colonies of Cuba and Porto Rico. There is, we believe, a system of slavery in Turkey, but the slaves in that country are not confined to the negro race, but beautiful Caucasian maidens are brought from their mountainous homes, and sold to the wealthy and indolent Turks.
In the Argentine Republic, and we believe in the other South American countries, when slavery was abolished years ago, the emancipated race at once became endowed with all the rights of citizenship, and there is no legal distinction on account of color; but it is rare that an African attains any important position, or high official station there.
We were informed by an intelligent citizen of the Argentine Republic, that only one negro has yet been promoted to the grade of Colonel in their army, and he was a man of remarkable intellect, and fine capacity as a soldier. In Brazil, also, the emancipated negro at once takes the position of political equality, there having heretofore been no legal discrimination between the different colors and races.
But the South American nations are not considered the best governed countries in the world. Brazil is a despotic monarchy, and of course is a strong government, and as long as she is blessed with such a ruler as Don Pedro, there is little danger of outbreak.—
Throughout all the rest of South America, Central America and Mexico, where mixed races exercise the rights of citizenship in an unlimited degree, there are continually revolutions, insurrections, and civil wars; there is no permanent government, nor security for life and property.
This state of things almost finds its counterpart in our country in the large cities, where a mass of ignorant, vicious people, are controlled by corrupt political leaders, and the money of office holders and office seekers. Every voter of a commonwealth should be an educated, responsible, thinking person.—Towsontown Free Press.