All through the eighties, in fact, immigrants from Italy poured into the temperate regions of southern Brazil, to the number of nearly two hundred thousand, supplementing the many thousands of Germans who had settled, chiefly in the province of Rio Grande do Sul, thirty years before.
Apart from the industrial problem thus created by the abolition of slavery, there seemed to be no serious political or economic questions before the country.

Ever since 1881, when a law providing for direct elections was passed, the Liberals had been in full control.

The old Dom Pedro, who had endeared himself to his people, was as much liked and respected as ever.

But as he had grown feeble and almost blind, the heiress to the throne, who had marked absolutist and clerical tendencies, was disposed to take advantage of his infirmities.
For many years, on the other hand, doctrines opposed to the principle of monarchy had been spread in zealous fashion by members of the military class, notable among whom was Deodoro da Fonseca.

And now some of the planters longed to wreak vengeance on a ruler who had dared to thwart their will by emancipating the slaves.