December 29 Sunday – In Boston, William Dean Howells wrote to Sam:
I have just heated myself up with your righteous wrath about our indifference to the Brazilian Republic. But it seems to me that you ignore the real reason for it which is that there is no longer an American Republic, but an aristocracy-loving oligarchy in place of it. Why should our Money-bags rejoice in the explosion of a Wind-bag?
Howells was becoming increasingly radicalized in his political views, and had been greatly affected in the Haymarket case, as well as in the loss of his daughter Winny. He also declined to go to West Point with Sam.
…for I hate to shiver round in the shadow of your big fame, and I guess I hate the sight of a military-factory too, though I’m not sure; I suppose we must have ‘em a while yet [MTHL 2: 626-7].
Clara Clemens wrote of this day:
We had a very Merry Xmas and a mighty warm one….It is a beautiful day today and if it had not been so desperately muddy I should have ridden.
I hope I can ride tomorrow before breakfast, but no doubt it will rain.
We are greatly satisfied with Papa’s book [CY], but I should think he would almost fear England….
We are going to New York Saturday [Jan.4] to see Ada Rehan in “As You Like It,” and I don’t know yet what else [Salsbury 273]. Note: Ada Rehan was advertised in this play on Jan. 3 as well as for the next day at a 2 p.m. matinee starring as Rosalind [N.Y. Times, p.7 “Amusements”].
Thomas W. Higginson sent a postcard to Sam with just this message: “Bravo ! for you & Brazil” [MTP]. Note: A military coup in Brazil overthrew the monarchy of Pedro II; a republic was proclaimed..
Unfortunately the revolution did not produce the political reality imagined by either Twain or Howells but one of a more capitalist bent. During the First Brazilian Republic, Brazil was dominated by a form of machine politics known as coronelism (rural political bosses), in which the political and economic spheres were dominated by large landholders. The most powerful of such landholders were the coffee industry of São Paulo and the dairy industry of Minas Gerais. Because of the power of these two industries, the Old Republic's political system has been described as "milk coffee politics."