Campaigning with the Republican Reaction
Enter the crowds and see images of one of the first mass electoral campaigns in Brazil, held in 1921
Republican Reaction Election Committee (1921)Museu da República
The great novelty of the Republican Reaction was its campaign. It was the first time that a national political campaign had been carried out with a broad scope, mainly geographic, with the formation of electoral committees in the most diverse cities of the country.
Portrait of Arthur Bernardes (1926) by Annunciato - PhotoMuseu da República
In 1921 and 1922, the political campaign for presidential succession mobilized the country. On one side, the ticket of the current candidate, Arthur Bernardes, governor of Minas Gerais. He was supported by the government of then President Epitácio Pessoa.
Portrait of Nilo PeçanhaMuseu da República
On the other, the "Reação Republicana" ticket, in opposition to the political dominance of São Paulo and Minas Gerais. Its candidate was Nilo Peçanha. It brought together important states – Rio de Janeiro, Pernambuco, Bahia and Rio Grande do Sul and the Federal District.
Nilo Peçanha on campaign (1921)Museu da República
Nilo Peçanha was a well-known political leader from Rio de Janeiro, who had already been deputy, senator, twice president of Rio de Janeiro, as well as President of the Republic (1909-1910) and Minister of Foreign Affairs (1917-1918).
On board the Íris – a ship chartered especially for this purpose –, Nilo Peçanha visited the states of Amazonas, Pará, Maranhão, Piauí, Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Pernambuco, Paraíba, Alagoas, Sergipe, Bahia, Espírito Santo and the Federal District. He traveled accompanied by his wife Anita and his entourage.
Republican Reaction Campaign in Bahia (1921)Museu da República
Nilo Peçanha and his deputy, J. J. Seabra, knew they were at a disadvantage in relation to the official ticket, which dominated the political game in most of the country. In addition, at that time, voting was not secret and electoral fraud was common practice.
The Republican Reaction draws crowds (1921)Museu da República
However, members of Reação thought it possible to reverse the difference, as well as inhibit fraud, by convincing society, bringing it to their cause.
The Republic Reaction in Espírito Santo (1921)Museu da República
Although it was a movement of the political elites, Reação gained the support of various social segments dissatisfied with the government. One of the most important was that of the military, whose support was critical to the strength and geographic breadth of the campaign.
The Republican Reaction in Vitória (ES) (1921)Museu da República
The Republican Reaction also won the support of Freemasonry, feminist groups and urban middle sectors, in addition to the effective participation of the press in promoting the campaign.
The Republican Reaction draws crowds (1921)Museu da República
In sea or river ports, in train stations or in squares, the passage of the Reaction through the cities attracted crowds of sincere supporters or "motivated" by the orders of local political leaders. Many simply enjoyed the festive atmosphere.
The Republican Reaction draws crowds (1921)Museu da República
Motorcades, marches, rallies, speeches on the balconies of buildings, bands... such were the routine activities in each of the cities visited by the campaign.
The Republican Reaction draws crowds (1921)Museu da República
The crowd photos were an asset to the campaign's propaganda, as they reinforced the image of popular support for the opposition. However, the overwhelming number of straw hats, caps and berets indicates that doing politics in the streets was an exclusively male activity.
In addition to the streets, the Republican Reaction campaign filled theaters in the capitals. In the photos Nilo appears speaking on stage at the theaters Santa Roza (João Pessoa), Amazonas (Manaus) and Polytheama Bahiano (Salvador).
The Republican Reaction draws crowds (1921)Museu da República
In traditional banquets, candidates were received by the circle of local political leaders.
Finally, in March 1922, the election took place, marked by accusations of fraud on both sides. The victory went to Artur Bernardes. In July, young soldiers dissatisfied with the result rebelled at Fort Copacabana, starting the "tenentista" movement.
Nilo Peçanha in domestic scene (1923)Museu da República
Nilo Peçanha and J.J. Seabra also did not recognize the result and claimed arbitration of the electoral process. But without success: on November 15, 1922, Artur Bernardes took office at the Catete Palace. Withdrawn from politics, Nilo Peçanha died in 1924.
"Zé-povo wants the guava jam/ Rolinha, give it up, Lower that crest/ Even though a Bernarda is made a hell of a lot/ You're not going to Catete! You're not going to Catete!/ There, Seu Mé! (...) Over at the Palace das Águias, olé, You will not put your foot (bis)" The march in favor of Nilo Peçanha (born in Campos, RJ, like guava jam) took to the streets of Rio de Janeiro and earned its authors a call to the police station, after Bernardes, a.k.a. "Rolinha" and "Seu Mé", assumed the Presidency.
The Nilo Peçanha Collection, belonging to the Historical and Institutional Archive of the Museum of the Republic, comprises around 20,000 documents, mainly textual, most of which are correspondence. The collection was formed by donations made by the widow Anita Peçanha in 1948 and by Armênia Peçanha, the owner's sister, in 1960. The collection also contains 547 photographs, in which the set of images that portrays the Republican Reaction campaign stands out.
Museum of the Republic /IBRAM/SECULT
Director - Mario Chagas
Technical Coordination - Livia M. N. Gonçalves
Communication Sector - Henrique Milen
Research and texts: Sílvia de Oliveira Campos de Pinho and Paulo Celso Liberato Corrêa
Editing: Paulo Celso Liberato Corrêa
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