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José Carlos Rodrigues and O Novo Mundo, 1870-1879*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

George C. A. Boehrer
George C. A. Boehrer*
Affiliation:
Department of History, University of Kansas
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Extract

In 1872, it was estimated that there were 378 foreign language journals published in the United States. Of these, only one was in the Portuguese language. O Novo Mundo, published in New York from 1870 to 1879, was singular among the foreign language press publications in that it was designed not for an immigrant audience but rather for readers in another country. Its purpose was to interpret the United States primarily to Brazilians and secondarily to other Latin Americans. Faithful until its last issue to this end, it also commented on the Brazilian political and social scene.

José Carlos Rodrigues, O Novo Mundo's original owner and only editor, was a remarkable Brazilian in an era when the Empire and the First Republic produced a galaxy of extraordinary public figures. Born in the city of Cantagallo, province of Rio de Janeiro, on July 19, 1844, be was the son of fazendeiros, and attended the Colégio Dom Pedro II in Rio de Janeiro.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Inter-American Studies , Volume 9 , Issue 1 , January 1967 , pp. 127 - 144
Copyright
Copyright © University of Miami 1967

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Footnotes

*

An earlier, briefer version of this paper was read at the Annual Meeting, of the Southeastern Conference on Latin American Studies in 1960 at Columbia, South Carolina.

References

1 O Novo Mundo (hereafter NM), II, 21 (24 June, 1872), 162. The original spellings have been retained for the title O Novo Mundo (instead of the modern O Novo Mundo) and for all quotations taken directly from this journal.

2 For two other Portuguese language journals published in the same decade see notes 57 and 76.

3 Gauld, Charles A., “José Carlos Rodrigues, o patriarca da imprensa carioca,” Revista da História (São Paulo), Ano 4, No. 16 (October-December, 1953), p. 428.Google Scholar

4 Ibid., pp. 428-429.

5 Elmano Cardim, “José Carlos Rodrigues—sua vida e sua obra. Conferencia realizada em 5 de setembro de 1944 no Instituto Histórico e Geográfico Brasileiro na sessão solene comemorativa do centenário de nascimento do grande jornalista,” in Na minha seara (Rio de Janeiro: Jornal do Commercio, Rodrigues, 1948), p. 96. In becoming a “non-denominational Protestant,” Rodrigues seems to have adopted a religious solution which is typically American. See Boorstein, Daniel J., The Genius of American Politics (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1953), pp. 145–149.Google Scholar

6 For details, see Raimundo Magalhães Júnior, Rui, o homen e o mito (Rio de Janeiro: Editora Civilização Brasileira, 1964), pp. 149-173.

7 Charles Frederick Hartt to José Carlos Rodrigues [hereafter JCR], Ithaca, 4 December, 1869, Biblioteca Nacional de Rio de Janiero [hereafter BNJR], Secão dos Manuscritos, 1-3, 15; NM, III, 27 (23 December, 1872), 43.

8 Rodrigues, José Carlos, Chrestomathia da lingua ingleza sendo excerptos escolhidos da litteratura ingleza, e de breves noticias sobre a vida e as obras dos autores citados. (New York: Barnes and Company, 1870).Google Scholar A copy of this exists with a dedication by the author to the Emperor in the Thereza Christina [the Empress] Collection in the Biblioteca Nacional of Rio de Janeiro.

9 The archives of the American Tract Society for the years under consideration have been destroyed by fire. Those of the American Bible Society contain the copy of a letter by Edward W. Gilman of 28 June, 1877 to Rodrigues requesting him to check the accuracy of a translation of the Epistles of St. Peter just published in Rio de Janeiro. There is no record of a reply, and his name is not to be found again in the letter books for the period concerned. Letter of Margaret T. Hills, Secretary for Historical Research, American Bible Society, to the author, New York, 6 February, 1966.

In the Rodrigues Papers in the Biblioteca Nacional, Rio de Janeiro, there is no correspondence with either society.

10 Cardim, loc. cit.

11 Receipt dated January 24, 1872, signed by JCR, Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Caleb Cushing Papers, Geneva Arbitration Commission, January-June, 1872, AC 5221.

Evidently Rodrigues delayed in doing the translation and caused Hamilton Fish some concern. See Hamilton Fish to Caleb Cushing and undated draft of telegram of Cushing to JCR, idem.

The corrected Portuguese translation is also to be found among the Cushing Papers. The corrections are not in JCR's hand. (Corrected Portuguese Translation of the Alabama Case, Ibid, AC 5221, Add 3.) When published, the volume appeared without indicating the translator. The Riggs Memorial Library, Georgetown University, has a dedicatory copy to the late Leo Rowe of the Pan American Union signed by Rodngues as the translator.

12 The Nation's articles on Brazil and Spanish America are not signed during the years in question. He did contribute one soon after he returned to Brazil. The Nation, No. 1227 (December 19, 1889), pp. 494-495.

13 Rodrigues, José Carlos, The Panama Canal. Its history, its political aspects, and financial difficulties (London: Sampson, Low, 1885), iii.Google Scholar

14 Mack, Gerstle, The Land Divided: a History of the Panama Canal and Other Isthmian Canal Projects (New York: A. A. Knopf. 1944), p. 304.Google Scholar

15 NM, VIII, 93 (6 September, 1878), 213, et seq.

16 The Nation, No. 278 (3 November, 1870), p. 299. Each illustration cost Rodrigues $325. Copy of JCR to Quintino Bocayuva, New York, 18 March, 1871, Quintino Bocayuva Papers, Collection of Ranulfo Bocayuva Cunha, Rio de Janeiro.

17 NM, IX, 108, (1 December, 1879), 274. Charles Gauld, loc. cit., states that Novo Mundo ceased publication when the packetboats were discontinued. However, this had occurred earlier and by 1879 a new service was in operation. Cardim, , op. cit., p. 77 Google Scholar, attributes the cessation to a new Brazilian postal law.

18 NM, V, 53 (22 February, 1875), 117; 122.

19 NM, V, 58 (23 July, 1875), 238.

20 Revista Industrial. Agricultura, minas, manufacturas, artes mechanicas, transportes e commercio. Vol. I, 1 (July, 1877).

21 NM, I, 1 (24 October, 1870). 2.

22 Ibid., p. 15.

23 Ibid., V, 56 (23 May, 1875), 190.

24 NM, II, 24 (24 September, 1871), 206.

25 NM, VI, 64 (23 January, 1876), 74.

26 NM, VIII, 94 (6 October, 1878), 222-224; NM, VI, 67 (23 April, 1876), 142; NM, V, 56 (23 May, 1875), 190.

27 NM, III, 35 (23 August, 1873), 178-179.

28 NM, I (24 October, 1870), 2.

29 NM, I, 2 (23 November, 1870), 18.

30 NM, VI, 70 (Julv, 1876), 205.

31 NM, I, 6 (23 March, 1871), 86; II, 16 (24 January, 1872), 63; II, 17 (23 February, 1872); II, 19 (23 April, 1872), 114.

32 NM, III, 26 (23 November, 1872), 22.

33 NM, V, 49 (23 October, 1874), 14.

34 NM, V, 50 (23 November, 1874), 34. Why Rodrigues was opposed to this ministry is not clear. The Viscount of Rio Branco had secured the first major piece of legislation for the abolition of slavery on September 28, 1871, and had successfully defended the state's pretensions against the Church, brought two bishops to trial and jailed them. He was also the head of one branch of Brazilian Masonry.

35 NM, VI, 71 (August, 1876), 236.

36 NM, VII, 29 (July, 1877), 146-147.

37 NM, VIII, 94 (6 October, 1878), 209.

38 NM, VIII, 93 (September, 1878), 194.

39 NM, IX, 96 (5 December, 1878), 254.

40 NM, II, 14 (24 November, 1871), 18.

41 NM, II, 22 (23 July, 1872), 171; III, 31 (23 April, 1873), 115; III, 33 (23 June, 1873), 146-147.

42 See, for example, NM, 39 (23 December, 1873).

43 NM, VIII, 95 (5 November, 1878), 238.

44 NM, IX, 107 (1 November, 1879), 250.

45 See Mandelbaum, Seymour J., Boss Tweed's New York (New York: John Wiley, Sons, c.d. 1965), pp. 177–180.Google Scholar

46 NM, I, 4 (23 January, 1871), 51.

47 NM, III, 13 (24 October, 1871), 3, 6.

48 NM, I, 10 (24 July, 1871), 146.

49 NM, I, 3 (23 December, 1870), 34.

50 Gauld, “José Carlos Rodrigues…,” p. 428. Rodrigues was able to return to Brazil at this time for the statute of limitation (20 years) for his defalcation had run out. See Magalhães Júnior, Rui, o hotnem e o mito, p. 154

51 NM, II, 18 (23 March, 1872), 102.

52 NM, I, 7 (24 April, 1871), 102; V, 53 (22 February, 1875), 118.

53 NM, IX, 106 (1 October, 1879), 226.

54 NM, VIII, 87 (March, 1878), 70.

55 NM, I, 11 (24 October, 1870); II, 17 (23 February, 1872), 84-85; I, 3 (23 December, 1870), 35, 38.

56 NM, VI, 63 (23 December, 1875), 69-72.

57 NM, I, 1 (24 October, 1870), 15.

Rodrigues was greatly concerned over his journal's attraction of advertisers. In 1878, Herculano de Aquino, then an employee of the Brazilian Consulate in New York, founded A Correspondencia, a commercial bulletin. Rodrigues thought that Aquino was using his position in the consulate unfairly to attract support for his own review. See JCR to Salvador de Mendonca, New York, 21 October, 1878, and Salvador de Mendonca to JCR, New York, 21 October, 1878, BNRJ, Secáo dos Manuscritos, 1-3, 3 and 56.

There seem to be no extant files of A Correspondencia either in Brazil or in the United States. The Brazilian Consulate General in New York, which was supposed to have one, destroyed its old periodical files some time ago.

58 NM, I, 3 (23 December, 1870), 43; See, for examples, I, 7 (24 April, 1871), 110.

59 NM, VIII, 85 (January, 1878), iv.

60 NM, I, 2 (23 November, 1870), 26.

61 NM, III, 34 (23 July, 1873), 174.

62 NM, V, 59 (23 August, 1875), 272. Another Brazilian, Pedro D.G. Paes Leme, in an article published in O Novo Mundo describes his visit to the farm. P.D.G. Paes Leme, “Um brazileiro no oeste americano,” NM, VII, 73 (January, 1877), 18.

63 NM, II, 23 (23 August, 1872), 202-204 to III, 32 (23 May, 1873), 144.

64 NM, V, 52 (23 January, 1875), 106; V, 55 (23 April, 1875) and VIII, 91 (July, 1878), 155ff; III, 36 (23 September, 1873), 210; I, 6 (23 March, 1871), 87.

65 NM, I, 4 (23 January, 1871), 55-56; I, 5 (21 February, 1870), 78; I, 6 (21 March, 1871), 94; I, 7 (24 April, 1871), 110.

66 NM, V, 58 (23 July, 1875), 242.

67 NM, V, 50 (23 November, 1874), 44; VII, 79 (July, 1877), 150; IX, 97 (4 January, 1879), 5-6; Daniel P Kidder to José CR, Madison, New Jersey, 17 February, 1879, and Kidder to JCR, Madison, N.J., 20 February, 1879, BNRJ, Secáo dos Manuscritos 1-3, 3, 26-27.

68 Charles Frederick Hartt to JCR, Rio Tapojos on board steamer Pará, 17 September, 1871, BNRJ, Seção dos Manuscritos, 1-3, 3, 19.

69 Hartt to JCR, Ithaca, 8 August, 1874, BNRJ, Secao dos Manuscritos, 1-3, 3, 20. Presumably, this was in a class of Portuguese which Hartt had begun some years earlier. Hartt to JCR, Ithaca, 21 May, 1871, BNRJ, Seção dos Manuscritos, 1-3, 3, 16.

70 NM, VIII, 88 (April, 1878), 74.

71 NM, I, 3 (23 December, 1870), 38.

72 NM, I, 9 (24 June. 1871), 140-141; I, 11 (24 August, 1871), 167; III, 25 (23 October, 1872), 2; VI, 71 (August, 1876), 236; VI, 72 (September, 1876), 267; A Revista Industrial, I, 2 (August, 1877), 43

73 NM, I, 1 (24 October, 1870), 11; I, 8 (24 May, 1871), 125; I, 10 (24 July, 1871), 155; I, 11 (24 August, 1871), 173; II, 14 (24 November, 1871), 25; IV, 40 (23 January, 1874), 71; V, 49 (23 October, 1874), 6, 9; V, 51 (23 December, 1874), 74; V, 57 (23 June, 1875), 214; VIII, 85 (January, 1878), 16-17; VIII, 91 (July, 1878), 146; IX, 97 (4 January, 1879), 6-7.

74 NM, IV, 40 (23 January, 1874), 71.

75 Jesuino Marcondes de Oliveira Sa to JCR, Vila da Palmeira, Paraná, 19 June, 1877, BNRJ, Seção dos Manuscritos, 1-3, 4, 76.

76 NM, I, 9 (24 June, 1871), 140-141, and III, 25 (23 October, 1872), 2. Aurora Brasileira was founded by Herculano de Aquino in 1873. A file of this journal is in the Biblioteca Nacional of Rio de Janeiro. See A Aurora Brasileira, I, 1 (22 October, 1873) et seq.

77 The two colleges which advertised were Lehigh and RPI. NM, VII, 74 (January, 1877), iii. According to Morse, Richard M., From Community to Metropolis: a Biography of São Paulo (Gainesville, Florida; University of Florida Press, 1958), p. 157 Google Scholar, who secured his information from O Correio Paulistano of January 22, 1874, there were eight Brazilian students at Lehigh.

78 NM, I, 6 (23 March, 1871), 91; Ibid., p. 87 and VII, 80 (August, 1877), 186; I, 4 (23 January, 1871), 62; II, 19 (23 April, 1872), 118; and VI, 65, (23 February, 1876) and subsequent issues.

79 Charles Frederick Hartt to JCR, Rio Tapajos aboard the steamer Pará, 17 September, 1871, Seção dos Manuscritos, 1-3, 3, 19.

80 JCR to Elias Fausto Pacheco Jordão et al, New York, 23 November, 1874, printed in A Provincia de São Paulo, 4 January, 1875. See also O Polichinello (São Paulo), 25 June, 1876. Pacheco Jordão had been a student at Cornell. NM, I, 9 (24 June, 1871), 140-141.

81 A Republica (Rio), 24 December, 1870; 8 October, 1871; 19 April and 25-26 August, 1873.

82 See for example, Provincia de São Paulo, 20 October, 1875.

83 Joaquim Saldanha Marinho to JCR, 25 July, 1875, BNRJ, Seção dos Manuscritos, 1-3, 3, 45; Quintino Bocayuva to JCR, Rio, 25 April, 1874, Ibid., 1-3, 1, 75; and Note 18; NM, VI, 61 (23 October, 1875), 15.

84 NM, III, 28 (23 January, 1873), 53-54; NM, VI, 61 (23 October, 1875), 15; Quintino Bocayuva to JCR, Rio, 25 April, 1874, BNRJ, Seção dos Manuscritos, 1-3, 1, 75; A Republica, 23 February, 1871, and subsequent issues.

85 NM, VI, 64 (23 January, 1876), 74.

86 NM, VI, 70 (July, 1876), 218; VII, 73 (January, 1877), 2; VII, 77 (May, 1877), 99.

87 NM, V, 55 (23 April, 1875), 170; VIII, 93 (6 September, 1878), 195.

88 NM, I, 5 (21 February, 1871), 71; VII, 77 (May, 1877), 98.

89 NM, VIII, 88 (April, 1878), 75.

90 NM, I, 4 (23 January, 1871), 62; III, 36 (23 September, 1873), 194-195; VIII, 96 (5 December, 1878), 254.

91 NM, III, 36 (23 September, 1873). 204.

92 NM, VIII, 96 (5 December, 1878), 254.

93 O Apostola, 15 January, 1871.

94 Ibid., 6 September, 1876.

95 Bom Ladrão, 19 March, 1875.

96 Chronica Religiosa, II, 47 (29 October, 1871), 373; II, 42 (24 September, 1871), 331-332; III, 3 (24 December, 1871), 18-19.

97 Boa Nova, 14 May, 1873.