Republic (proclamation of the)

News of the proclamation of the Republic in the capital reached Madeira on the afternoon of 5 October 1910, and shortly afterwards a telegram arrived announcing the formation of the government. On the 6th, Dr Manuel Augusto Martins, who had been invested by telegram from the new government with the highest authority in the district, conferred about the events with Councillor (conselheiro, honorary title of the royal council) António Jardim de Oliveira, the secretary-general acting as civil governor, and with Colonel Valeriano José da Silva, the military commander. These authorities told him that they had received no official communication that the Republic had been established in the country. He immediately telegraphed Lisbon, asking for this communication to be made so that he could take up the post to which he had been appointed and the new government could be recognised by the Madeirans.

The communication to the military commander was not long in coming. This authority then declared that he did not object to the republican flag being raised at the Fort of São Lourenço (‘St Lawrence’) or to the forces rendering it the due honours. These acts took place shortly afterwards at the Fort of São Lourenço, witnessed by Dr Martins and several fellow republicans, who had stationed themselves on the balcony of the Restoration Club (Club Restauração), which overlooks the Avenida de Gonçalves Zargo. The new flag was given a military salute by the guard, which had formed up for the purpose, while a local band (filarmónica) played A Portuguesa, which everyone heard in silence and with the greatest respect. Dr Martins, Azevedo Ramos, Dr Pestana Júnior and Dr Gonçalves Preto spoke from the balcony, all urging the people to keep order and respect individuals.

The new civil governor had been installed before the ceremony just described. Because the secretary-general was not present, office was conferred on him by the official Octaviano Soares, and the revolutionary flag was hoisted on the flagpole of the civil government building (Governo Civil) while A Portuguesa was played. Dr Martins raised cheers for the Republic, for Liberty and for the Fatherland, which were warmly returned by the people gathered in the street.

In the evening, numerous groups, accompanied by the Artístico-Madeirense and Artistas Funchalenses bands, paraded through the streets of the city, burning Bengal lights and cheering the Republic. At the end of the demonstration, Azevedo Ramos addressed the people from one of the windows of the ‘Dr. Manuel de Arriaga’ centre.

On the 7th, at half past nine in the morning, the republican flag was raised at the Fort of São Tiago (St James the Greater), with the battery firing a salute. At 1 p.m. an identical ceremony took place at the fortress of São Lourenço, attended by the 27th Infantry Regiment. Led by a few sergeants, the regiment had left its barracks armed with rifles and bayonets, in breach of the standby order the commander had given so that it could respond to any request from the administrative authority should public order be disturbed.

Several officers appeared in the Praça da Constituição (‘Constitution Square’), among them Captain Henrique Luís Monteiro, who tried to impose discipline on the troops but was not heeded. Dr Pestana Júnior, municipal administrator (administrador do concelho, the government's representative) of Funchal, then climbed onto a bench in the square. He declared that no officer of the regiment would act against the new political regime, as the captain himself had assured him on his word of honour, and that in these circumstances the men should obey their officers and fall back into line. Dr Pestana Júnior added that, for his part, Captain Henrique Monteiro’s word of honour was a pledge he greatly respected.

Shortly afterwards the artillery major Goulart de Medeiros arrived at the Largo da Restauração. He was known as a republican, and everyone supposed that he had helped bring the troops out of their barracks. After conferring with the distinguished and spirited officer Captain Henrique Monteiro, he too addressed the troops gathered there, urging them to obey, since the regiment’s officers had declared their support for the new regime. He was the object of an enthusiastic demonstration of sympathy from sergeants and soldiers alike, as well as from the people.

Meanwhile, an officer of the regiment raised the republican flag at the fortress of São Lourenço. The troops presented arms to it, and Dr Pestana Júnior led several cheers, which the people returned with enthusiasm.

At the troops’ request the band of the 27th Infantry arrived, and by order of the military commander the flag was lowered and raised again to the strains of ‘A Portuguesa’, with due honours. By then the force was already under the command of its officers, as Major Medeiros had asked in his speech. On their way from the Praça da Constituição to the Largo da Restauração, where, as we have said, this officer spoke, the men had refused to be commanded by their officers, and it was the sergeant-major who led them.

The regiment then set off, accompanied by its band playing ‘A Portuguesa’ and under the command of Major Luís Correia Acciaioly. It marched through the Rua de São Francisco, Rua da Carreira, Rua de João Tavira, Rua do Aljube, Rua dos Ferreiros and Rua do Príncipe, the Rampa de Dom Manuel, the Largo do Pelourinho and the Campo de Dom Carlos, and went to salute No. 3 Garrison Artillery Battery. The battery had not joined in the infantry regiment’s demonstrations and maintained the strictest discipline throughout, under the command of Captain João Augusto Pereira.

At the artillery barracks, which many members of the public entered, several cheers were raised for the Republic. The troops and the people then continued along the Rua de Santa Maria, the Largo do Pelourinho, the Rampa de Dom Manuel, the Rua do Príncipe and Rua dos Ferreiros, the Largo do Colégio and the Rua do Castanheiro, finally entering their barracks, where there were fresh displays of rejoicing.

At the request of the infantry sergeants and men, the military commander, Colonel Valeriano José da Silva, declared the regiment’s standby at an end and had the bust and portrait of Manuel II removed from his office in the barracks. He likewise ordered that all disciplinary punishments cease to be served.

The troop movement of the 7th was called a public demonstration of support for the Republic. Those who analysed the facts dispassionately, however, regarded it as an insubordination of a serious nature, though hardly surprising in a revolutionary period, when discipline and military regulations are generally little respected.

Near the former Praça da Constituição we saw many English people, who had landed in Funchal on the morning of the 7th, flee in terror at the sight of the armed soldiers heading in disorder towards the square. Truth demands it be said, however, that apart from the indiscipline and the soldiers’ refusal to obey their officers’ orders, nothing else deserving censure occurred that day, either on the part of the troops or of the people.

The Republic was proclaimed in Madeira without any obstacle whatsoever. Despite some foolish acts later committed by partisan individuals with little respect for the opinions and beliefs of others, the new regime was well received by almost everyone. It was then supposed that under it morality would enter the administration of the State’s revenues, and that the errors and follies which had so discredited the governments of the last years of the monarchy would no longer be committed.