The Macao Election (1874)

Notícia de primeira página na edição de 27 de Abril de 1874 do jornal The London and China Telegraph sobre a polémica que envolveu as eleições no território para o cargo de deputado em Portugal pelo Círculo de Macau. Júlio Ferreira Pinto Basto, candidato que tinha o apoio do governador, seria eleito a 1 de Março e a 8 de Julho de 1874.

O candidato derrotado era o médico, professor e jornalista, Francisco da Silva Magalhães, que chegou a Macau em 1871 sendo António Sérgio de Sousa o governador (1868-1872) seguindo-se-lhe Januário Correia da Silva.

Considerado um liberal, fundou em Janeiro de 1872 o jornal O Oriente - durou cerca de 10 meses - onde fez duras críticas ao governador, aos jesuítas, às congregações religiosas e à Associação Promotora da Instrução dos Macaenses. O governador ordenou a sua prisão e foi desterrado para Timor em 1872. Ali pediu a exoneração de médico militar e regressou a Macau em 1874 seguindo depois para Manila onde exerceu clínica durante sete anos. Em 1883 regressou a Macau e foi professor no Seminário de S. José. Regressado a Portugal morreu em Tomar em 8 de Março de 1886.

Anyone who knew Macao some twenty years since is acquainted with the utter impossibility, in a general way, of rousing the people out of their dolce far niente life the state of apathetic insouciance in which they seem to be perennially sunk, will have been much surprised to hear the excitement which is reported in the Hong Kong papers to have been produced in the little Portuguese settlement, in reference to the election of a deputy to represent its interests in the Lisbon Legislature.

A veritable storm in a tea cup. The principal functions of the fortunate for this post would seem to be, according to Macao correspondent of the Hong Kong Times, to have free passage home by the English mail boat to receive medal and draw five dollars a day.

The facts of the excitement at Macao are somewhat as follows Dr Magalhaens whilom editor of the Oriente, who has returned from his exile in Timor, was, by the exertions of his friends, elected on the 15th of February a few days before his return to the colony. This election was  declared null and void by the Governor on the ground that Dr Magalhaens had not received an absolute majority of votes, which is required by law in the election of a deputy the first instance.

No candidate having obtained requisite absolute majority, it became necessary, in accordance with Portuguese Parliamentary, usage to hold a second election within a reasonable time at which a bare of votes would carry the day, and it was on this election that all the excitement arose.

Dr Magalhaens who holds extreme views with regard to the traffic in human flesh and the expulsion of the Sisters of Charity from Macao, was the chosen candidate of the combined fraternity coolie dealers, who adopted him chiefly on two grounds- first because is declared and bitter enemy of the Governor Viscount San Januario, who has the credit, or as it would seem at Macao, the odium, of having destroyed the coolie trade; and secondly because they fondly hoped, that being an energetic and independent man, he would, if sent to Lisbon, somehow contrive to induce the home Government to rescind their orders respecting the abolition of Macao's pet branch of commerce.

Dr Magalhaens issued a very gushing proclamation or address to the constituency some of the professions in which seem to be de cidedly inconsistent with his previous public declarations. The opposing candidate was Senor Pinto Basto, a well-connected gentleman and Procurador of the Senate, who was supported by the Governor, the official and clerical and the principal inhabitants of the place - in point of fact by the respectability of Macao generally.

There were also two other candidates but they were never in the race at all. As the day of election (Sunday, March 1st) drew nigh, Macao was for the nonce roused from its wonted state of somnolence the canvassers for both the leading candidates redoubled their energies and the Independente, Dr Magalhaen's organ, (whose editor we hear is to be Magalhaen's presented with a gold pen by the Portuguese residents at Hong Kong), was loud in its complaints against the Governor for using his personal and official influence to procure votes for his favourite candidate. 

The result of the polling, we learn, was 241 votes for Pinto Basto and 235 for Magalhaens, the Government party thus winning by a narrow majority of six votes, and Basto has been elected deputy to the great disappointment and discontent of the coolie dealer and their friends. His victory was celebrated in the cusinsertion tomary manner by a Te Deum in the Cathedral and in the evening, some of the houses were decorated, a band of music perambulated the town and more Sinico crackers were let off.

Rumour says that the Government party gained their victory by the admission of nineteen persons to vote who were not duly qualified, owing to their recent arrival from Portugal, and great indignation was expressed on this score; in fact, we are not sure that an appeal of some kind was not threatened on this ground and on that of undue influence; but, doubtless, long ere this Macao has gone to sleep again, to dream over its fancied woes in general, its ruined coolie trade, and empty barracoons which in the interests of humanity, it is hoped will never be again tenanted.