Uma história da Revolução Federalista: o confronto discursivo dos jornais Rio Grande do Sul e Eco do Sul (1891-1895)

Abstract

This doctoral thesis aims to present a history of the Revolução Federalista through the discursive clash of the newspapers Rio Grande do Sul (aligned with the Partido Republicano Rio-Grandense) and Eco do Sul (aligned with the Partido Federalista). Both are daily newspapers from the city of Rio Grande (located in southern Brazil), and this study covers the period between June 1, 1891 (the emergence of the newspaper Rio Grande do Sul) and September 1895 (the reappearance of the newspaper Eco do Sul). The theoretical-methodological markers used are the premises of political history and press history, with conceptual contributions from content analysis and discourse. The thesis aims to understand, analyze, and explain newspapers as both source and object. It identifies narratives, discussions, opinions, positions taken, clashes, criticisms, ironies, replies, and counter-replies published in their daily editions through their pages. It takes into account the historical context, the political-party scenario, and its incipient polarization (followers of Júlio de Castilhos and members of the Partido Republicano Rio-Grandense - PRR - on one side, and its opposition composed of dissidents from PRR, former liberals, former conservatives, and monarchists on the other). It also considers press legislation, censorship arising from it, and the impacts suffered by newspapers. The characters involved (owners, editors, and main collaborators) and their complex relations with power and opponents are examined. In addition to checking what each one presented in relation to the period. In parallel, it investigates the permanence of a resistant monarchism and how this was treated in different newspapers. It also explores identity constructions involved, under construction, and in dispute (especially the “legacy” of the Revolução Farroupilha of 1835), a memory claimed by both, Rio Grande do Sul and Eco do Sul. It examines how the border was seen, described, presented, sometimes praised or criticized alternately by newspapers. The Revolução Federalista is understood here as an expanded process. Therefore, it is defended as initiated from the Revolution of November 8th 1891. This was a movement that emerged in the city of Rio Grande that united press, civil society, Navy, and Army of this municipality in an uprising (which would be replicated in other municipalities especially those on the border of Rio Grande do Sul) against Deodoro da Fonseca’s dissolution of the National Congress. This had as one of its reflections Júlio de Castilhos fall from state government. This started a process that encompasses but is not limited to war in its duration, traditionally accepted by historiography (between 1893 and 1895).