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Copyright © Regina Navarro Lins, 2017
Copyright © Editora Planeta do Brasil, 2017
Todos os direitos reservados.

Preparação: Luciana Figueiredo


Revisão: Carla Fortino e Andréa Bruno
Diagramação: Abreu’s System
Capa: André Stefanini
Adaptação para eBook: Hondana

Dados Internacionais de Catalogação na Publicação (CIP)


Angélica Ilacqua CRB-8/7057

Lins, Regina Navarro


Novas formas de amar / Regina Navarro Lins. – São Paulo:
Planeta do Brasil, 2017.

Bibliografia
ISBN: 978-85-422-1177-1

1. Amor – Aspectos psicológicos 2. Relação homem-mulher


3. Relações poliamorosas 4. Casais homossexuais 5.
Comportamento sexual I. Título.

17-1195 CDD 155.64

2017
Todos os direitos desta edição reservados à
EDITORA PLANETA DO BRASIL LTDA.
Rua Padre João Manuel, 100 – 21o andar
Ed. Horsa II – Cerqueira César
01411-000 – São Paulo-SP
www.planetadelivros.com.br
atendimento@editoraplaneta.com.br
A Flávio Braga, amigo, amante e parceiro, há
dezessete anos dividindo a vida comigo e sempre
contribuindo para o meu trabalho.

A Gilda Lima, amiga querida, que leu atentamente


todos os capítulos e fez importantes observações.

A Giovanni de Polli, grande amigo, que muito


contribuiu para que eu me tornasse escritora.

A Taísa e Deni, meus filhos, e Diana, minha neta.


Agradeço aos amigos Benny Valansi, Dudu Bertholini,
Jefferson Guedes, Juliana Nasciutti, Lígia Baruch de
Figueiredo, Patrícia Costa e Thais Fragozo pela contribuição
dada a este livro; e aos meus pacientes, leitores, ouvintes e
seguidores nas redes sociais por terem me contado suas
histórias.
Todos os relatos apresentados neste livro são verdadeiros.
Nomes e qualificações dos entrevistados foram trocados para
proteger sua privacidade.
Sumário

Prefácio
Introdução

I Amor romântico
O que é o amor romântico
Expectativas que não se cumprem
Ideais, crenças e atitudes
Como surgiu esse tipo de amor
Ama-se o amor, apaixona-se pela paixão
Quanto mais difícil, mais apaixonados ficamos
Para manter a idealização, não se pode conhecer bem o
outro
Prejuízos do amor romântico
A trajetória do amor romântico
Fonte de frustração
Convivência – o grande problema
O declínio do amor romântico
Alguns sinais do declínio do amor romântico
No consultório
No cinema
Nas histórias infantis – de Cinderela a Valente
Nos brinquedos – a vida amorosa de Barbie e Ken
Na música
O maior desafio vivido pelos casais
Joana e Felipe
Pat e João
Mariana e Pedro
Jorge
Júlio

II Vida a dois
Sedução e conquista
Grandes conquistadores
Casanova
Advogado don juan
Os caminhos da sedução
Homens e mulheres – sedução diferente
Nas mãos de um sedutor
Benching – quando se espera “sentado” por alguém
Sedução a qualquer preço
Mulheres aprendem a “desmunhecar” em curso para
“atrair partidão”
Meninas são treinadas para seduzir futuros pretendentes
Início de uma relação amorosa
O encontro amoroso
Um só tem olhos para o outro
Dois tipos de busca por um parceiro
O que nos atrai no outro
Códigos estabelecidos desde o início
A paixão
A duração da paixão
Paixão e sofrimento
Amor e paixão
Quando o(a) parceiro(a) se apaixona por alguém
A paixão está em via de extinção?
Ausência de garantias no amor
É necessário “trabalhar” um relacionamento?
Dependência emocional
Simbiose x autonomia
Relacionamentos codependentes
Dependência e amor se confundem
Medo de não ser amado
O vínculo com a pessoa amada
Dependência masculina
Redefinindo a masculinidade
Medo da perda
Intimidade
Necessidades conflitantes
Medo da intimidade
O homem e a intimidade
A importância da privacidade
Intimidade x privacidade
Uma visão ampla da intimidade
Controle – possessividade – ciúme
Intimidade e controle
Interpretações equivocadas
Ansiedade de abandono
Sexo na vida a dois
Aconchego x erotismo
Livre para o prazer
Inteligência erótica
Egoísmo necessário
Sobre a importância de ser insensível
Fronteiras do ego
Exclusividade sexual
Ingrid Bergman e Roberto Rossellini
Por que é difícil falar contra a exclusividade obrigatória
Monogamia é realmente melhor do que a não monogamia?
A exigência de exclusividade
Você só pode ter olhos para mim e eu para você
De onde vem isso?
A difícil monogamia
Pensavam que elas eram fiéis
Sites para encontros extraconjugais
O papel dos amantes
Quando o parceiro se relaciona com outra pessoa
Duplo padrão em declínio
Motivos das relações extraconjugais
A entrada de um terceiro
Solução negociada
Os prejuízos causados pela repressão dos desejos
Educação para amar
O amor necessita de aprendizado
Dar e receber no amor
Por que os casais brigam?
Da fusão à diferenciação
A fusão é aceita com naturalidade
Sempre somos três
Eu sou uma pessoa, você é outra!
A reação de quem deseja manter a fusão com o outro
O fim de um relacionamento
Dificuldade em se separar
O fim do relacionamento para as mulheres
Como o medo de perder pode nos levar a perder tudo
O processo de separação
A dor do abandono
Clube de homens abandonados por uma mulher
Uma diva abandonada
Separações que viram notícia
Angelina Jolie e Brad Pitt
Renascer após a separação
III Outros caminhos do amor
Vida a dois fora da curva
Encontros esporádicos
Uma vez por mês
Namoro nada convencional
Amar duas pessoas ao mesmo tempo
Conflito e sofrimento
Da relação aberta ao ciúme
Amor a três
Henry e June
Prática que ganha espaço
As várias faces do amor
Alegrias e desafios de uma tríade
Amor a três em notícias de jornal
Suécia
Estados Unidos
Brasil
Relações livres
O que eles pensam sobre relações livres
Como vivem os Rli
Construção da autonomia
Não à monogamia como padrão inquestionável
Ciúme
Sentimento de posse
Monogamia x relações livres
Compersão – uma emoção não monogâmica
Fim de uma relação
Poliamor
O que é o poliamor
O que é ser poliamorista
O que as pessoas têm dificuldade de entender
Quantos são os poliamoristas?
Relacionamentos secretos x relacionamentos abertos
Em outros países
Cinco mitos sobre poliamor desmentidos
Eu cresci em uma família poliamorista
A não monogamia me mostrou o que realmente significa
estar com alguém
Fora do mundo ocidental
Os Na e os relacionamentos múltiplos
Diferença entre poliamor e relação livre
Busca amorosa por meio de aplicativos
Como era a busca amorosa
A era dos aplicativos
A busca amorosa de mulheres a partir dos 35 anos
Aplicativos gays
Encontros gays em viagens
Os principais aplicativos gays
Apelo romântico
Nova ética sexual
Amor depois dos 70
Divórcio grisalho
Reencontro
Após 72 anos juntas, mulheres se casam nos Estados
Unidos
Idosos criam “repúblicas” para viver entre amigos
Só é possível viver com leveza quando sabemos que logo a
vida vai acabar
Fim do gênero
As portas se abrem para o movimento feminista
O imperativo do desejo
Heterossexualidade como norma – controle social
Cisgênero x transgênero
Pronome pessoal neutro
Diferenças entre homens e mulheres não são naturais
O que é gênero?
Quando se começou a falar mais sobre gênero?
Gênero tem a ver com o sexo da pessoa ou está
exclusivamente ligado aos valores de cada cultura?
O que é ideologia de gênero?
O que é Teoria Queer?
Você acredita que dentro de algumas décadas não haverá
mais distinção entre masculino e feminino?
Gênero e fluidez
Minhas lembranças

IV Corpo
Pudor e amor romântico
Os corpos também falam
Corpo x diálogo
Nudez
A nudez no século XXI
Nudez como protesto
Streaking
De peito à mostra
Desfile de moda
O nu liberto
Passeando pela cidade
Na academia de ginástica
No restaurante
No forró
Nudes
O nu antes do nudes
O conflito
Sexting
O nudes integrado à nossa cultura
O que vale e o que não vale no nudes
Nudez revelada
O veto ao nu masculino e a desigualdade de gênero
Prazer sexual
O difícil prazer sexual
Orgasmo
Sexo com a esposa
O prazer está em suas mãos
Potência orgástica
O prazer tântrico
As preliminares e o sexo tântrico
Tantra: massagem terapêutica sexual
Sexo a três
Realização de um antigo desejo
O outro lado da história – a garota de programa
“Naquele dia, rompi completamente com uma série de
preconceitos”
“Tenho 62 anos e estou casada há 42”
Além da meia-idade
Não há limite de idade para o sexo
Vantagens do sexo depois dos 50
Os superanimados

Conclusão

Referências

Notas

Lista de músicas
Prefácio

“E as namoradinhas?”, pergunta comum naqueles jantares de


família, geralmente nos encontros com parentes com os quais
não se tem lá muito contato. Agora, tá aí uma pergunta cada
vez mais difícil de responder. Antes, esse era o único jeito de
amar. Namoro era uma espécie de ensaio do casamento. A
coisa mudou. Existem novas formas de amar, de ser amado,
de fazer sexo, de trocar carinho. Ué… não conhece? Bem-
vindo ao século XXI.
As questões estão mais complexas. O Kama Sutra, o guia
milenar indiano de sexo, pode ter esgotado as descrições das
posições sexuais. Afinal, o corpo humano tem lá suas
limitações. A perna não pode abrir mais, o tronco não
consegue se dobrar tanto, a boca tem uma amplitude bem
restrita. Mas e a mente humana? Ah, essa é incensurável. O
desejo é capaz de produzir um sem-número de formas de
amar e de fazer sexo.
Não estou falando do amor de uma relação extraconjugal
ou daquela paixão de verão que faz tremer a base. Isso já é
tema de livro ou filme água com açúcar, coisa do passado. Não
é polêmico, não choca, mal é assunto de fofoca. O tema das
“novas famílias” já é também uma discussão razoavelmente
assimilada: homens casando entre si ou mulher no terceiro
casamento com filhos de outras relações vivendo todos bem
sob o mesmo teto. Quem ainda acha isso uma afronta? Passou.
Caiu na rotina, principalmente nas grandes cidades.
Este século apresenta outras configurações: relações
(estáveis) a três, poliamor, amores via internet,
relacionamentos abertos. Hoje, talvez possa até ser uma
história solta de uns amigos mais moderninhos, mas – alerta
aos conservadores – são tendências para o futuro. Já foi
motivo de desgosto ter alguém desquitado na família. Hoje, é
tão banal quanto ter cabelo liso ou enrolado. O ultraje de
ontem é a normalidade de hoje.
E os aplicativos? Tem para todo gosto. Mas você já parou
para pensar em como eles revolucionaram a maneira como o
amor e o sexo são tratados nos centros urbanos? A tecnologia
tirou o monopólio de bares e boates como locais de encontro
de solteiros e (por que não?) de casados. A pessoa pode até
usar os aplicativos com frequência, mas será que ela se dá
conta de como as relações humanas estão sendo sacudidas por
eles?
Sem dúvida não é fácil entender o que mudou e o que vai
mudar no futuro. Talvez exija até um pouco de coragem para
se desapegar daqueles conceitos tradicionais de namoro e
casamento. Talvez as palavras de ordem sejam conceitos bem
mais simples, quase primitivos: “felicidade” e “liberdade”. O
amor, quem sabe, vem como consequência.
Com certeza essa é uma mudança de pensamento que vai
ser mais difícil para aquele “tio do pavê” entender. Ele vai ter
que chegar à conclusão de que a pergunta “das
namoradinhas” não faz mais sentido. Mas essa é uma
reflexão essencial para todos e qualquer um de nós.
Para entender uma realidade tão (deliciosamente)
complexa, só um oráculo.
Regina, me ajuda aí!

Nelson Garrone
jornalista
Introdução

É comum pensar no amor como se ele nunca mudasse. A


forma como amamos é construída socialmente, e em cada
época e lugar se apresenta de um jeito. Crenças, valores e
expectativas determinam a conduta íntima de homens e
mulheres. Podemos acompanhar sua origem,
desenvolvimento e transformações observando a História.
O amor cortês, surgido no século XII, foi a primeira
manifestação do amor recíproco. Ele deu origem ao amor
romântico, que durante séculos não pôde fazer parte do
casamento. No Renascimento, século XVI, a mulher é
contemplada com reverência quase religiosa, e surgem
questionamentos a respeito do amor. As mulheres foram
divididas entre santas e pecadoras. No Iluminismo, século
XVIII, o amor cai em desprestígio; a Idade da Razão desprezou
a emoção e insistiu que o intelecto do homem é que devia
governar suas ações.
No século XIX, o controle das emoções foi gradativamente
suplantado por uma atitude resumida na palavra
“sensibilidade”. O amor começa aos poucos a entrar no
casamento. O início do século XX, com o automóvel e o
telefone, traz uma grande novidade: o encontro marcado. A
partir de 1940, o amor romântico entrou no casamento pra
valer. Antes, as uniões ocorriam por interesses familiares.
Agora, a maioria das pessoas anseia pelo amor romântico, que
é específico do Ocidente.
Após a Segunda Guerra Mundial (1939-1945), com a
destruição de Hiroshima e Nagasaki, a ameaça da bomba
atômica paira na cabeça dos jovens. Com o sentimento de
insatisfação que isso provoca, eles começam a questionar os
valores daquela sociedade e de seus pais. O advento da pílula
anticoncepcional, aliado ao cenário crítico, prepara o terreno
para a Revolução Sexual. Estamos hoje num momento em que
antigos valores estão sendo profundamente questionados.
Como em toda transição, observamos comportamentos
díspares – alguns muito libertários e outros bastante
conservadores. Não são poucas as pessoas que ainda temem
viver de forma diferente da que estão acostumadas. Afinal, o
novo assusta e o desconhecido gera insegurança. Contudo,
acredito que o predomínio das novas formas de amar seja
apenas uma questão de tempo.
I

Amor romântico
O que é o amor romântico

Há seis meses conheci Joel. Sou separada, tenho 35 anos, ele, 41. Fui
me surpreendendo nas primeiras 24 horas que ficamos juntos. Tive
certeza de que era o homem da minha vida. Me apaixonei
completamente. Fomos ficando cada vez mais próximos. Passamos
os fins de semana juntos, na casa dele ou na minha. Mas, de uns
meses pra cá, tenho percebido aspectos na sua personalidade que
detesto. Ele é intolerante e agressivo com qualquer opinião
diferente da dele. Brigou com minha melhor amiga durante um
jantar. Ninguém entre meus amigos o suporta… Como é que não
notei isso antes?

Quando critico o amor romântico muitos reagem,


imaginando que estou criticando o amor. A crença de que esse
tipo de amor é a única forma de amor que existe torna difícil
imaginar algo diferente. “Os seres humanos têm a capacidade
de criar laços, de demonstrar afeto, de amar. Mas o que
chamamos de amor não existiu desde sempre, tampouco está
presente em todos os contextos. Por ser histórico, o amor é
uma construção social e varia de forma, de significado e de
valor. Assim como todas as culturas elegem suas formas de
viver, de sofrer, de gozar, de morrer, também elegem suas
formas de amar.”[1]
As características do amor romântico me parecem
bastante claras: você idealiza a pessoa amada e projeta nela
tudo o que gostaria que ela fosse. Atribui a ela características
de personalidade que na verdade não possui. Não se relaciona
com a pessoa real, mas com a inventada de acordo com as
próprias necessidades. Por isso, esse tipo de amor não resiste
à convivência diária do casamento, cuja excessiva intimidade
torna obrigatório enxergar o parceiro como ele é, não
deixando espaço para que a idea lização possa se sustentar. O
desencanto é inevitável, trazendo, além do tédio, sofrimento e
a sensação de ter sido enganado. Quando percebemos que o
outro é um ser humano, e não a personificação de nossas
fantasias, nós nos ressentimos e geralmente o culpamos.

Expectativas que não se cumprem


Várias são as mentiras que o amor romântico impinge a
homens e mulheres para manter a fantasia do par amoroso
idealizado, em que duas pessoas se completam, nada mais
lhes faltando. Entre elas estão as seguintes afirmações:
• Só é possível amar uma pessoa de cada vez.
• Quem ama sente desejo sexual pela mesma pessoa a
vida inteira.
• Quem ama não sente desejo sexual por mais ninguém.
• Há uma complementação total entre os que se amam.
• Os dois se transformam num só.
• O amado é a única fonte de interesse do outro.
• Cada um terá todas as suas necessidades atendidas pelo
outro.
• Qualquer atividade só tem graça se a pessoa amada
estiver presente.
• Todos devem encontrar um dia a “pessoa certa”.
O resultado dessas crenças na vida a dois é que, com
frequência, um imagina o outro como ele não é na verdade e
espera desse outro coisas que ele não pode dar. As
expectativas e os ideais do amor romântico são passados
como a única forma de amor, e as pessoas aprendem a sonhar
e a buscar um dia viver tal encantamento. Entretanto, como
nada corresponde à realidade, em pouco tempo de relação elas
se decepcionam e se frustram.

Ideais, crenças e atitudes


O amor romântico prega um conjunto de crenças, valores e
expectativas que determinam, mesmo inconscientemente, o
que devemos sentir e como reagir no relacionamento com
outra pessoa. Professora de Comunicação, a americana Laura
Kipnis concorda: “Evidentemente o amor é sujeito a tanta
regulação quanto qualquer substância poderosa que induza ao
prazer. Seja ou não uma fantasia que acalentamos enquanto
nos agrada, livres como pássaros e borboletas, existe uma
quantidade interminável de instrução social para nos dizer o
que ele é e o que fazer com ele, e como, e quando”.[2]
Somos condicionados, já na infância, a desejar viver esse
tipo de amor. Aprendemos a acreditar que só é possível ser
feliz vivendo um romance, que traz a ilusão do amor
verdadeiro. Por isso, poucos suportam ouvir que, apesar de
toda a magia prometida, o amor romântico não passa de uma
ilusão. Sem contar que traz mais tristeza do que alegria, além
de muito sofrimento.
Recentemente, postei um artigo sobre o tema no meu blog
no portal UOL. Como muitos não têm argumentos para
contestar ideias, ataques são imediatos, e, como é comum nas
redes sociais, à minha vida pessoal ou o que imaginam dela:
“Não ache que a sua experiência pessoal é uma regra, muita
gente tem mais sorte do que a senhora no relacionamento” e
“Se a senhora nunca teve um amor de verdade, o azar é seu”
são alguns exemplos.

Como surgiu esse tipo de amor


Desde o advento do cristianismo, o amor só podia ser dirigido
a Deus. O amor cortês, como vimos, foi a primeira
manifestação do amor como hoje o conhecemos: uma relação
pessoal. Surgido no século XII, com os trovadores, nobres
pertencentes à corte da Provença, França, mais tarde se
estendeu a outras regiões e classes sociais da Europa medieval
e transformou o comportamento de homens e mulheres.
Até então o que havia era o desejo sexual e a busca de sua
satisfação, muito diferente da experiência de se apaixonar
vivida por esses jovens. Essa revolução amadureceu, dando
origem ao amor romântico. Esse ideal amoroso só passou a
ser uma possibilidade no casamento a partir do século XIX,
pois antes disso os casamentos se davam por interesses
econômicos e políticos. A partir de 1940, apareceu como
fenômeno de massa, quando todos passaram a desejar casar
por amor incentivados pelos filmes de Hollywood.
O cinema passou a proporcionar uma intimidade sem
precedentes, graças ao desencadear das emoções e das
imagens, para não mencionar a inusitada proximidade das
pessoas, sentadas lado a lado, no escuro. A escuridão em si já
constituía uma forte atração para os jovens casais, que não
dispunham de espaço próprio para intimidades. O romance no
cinema, em grandes close-ups, representava uma experiência
emocional revolucionária, que beirava o voyeurismo, o que
intensificava o clima de sexualidade do cinema, cujas últimas
fileiras se prestavam à troca de carícias e ao ardoroso beijo na
boca.[3]
O amor romântico é a propaganda mais difundida,
poderosa e eficaz do mundo ocidental. Chega até nós
diariamente através de novelas, músicas, cinema, teatro,
publicidade.

Ama-se o amor, apaixona-se pela paixão


Sara tem 34 anos e diz estar vivendo um grande amor e
também um problema:

Conheci Luiz por acaso, num jantar na casa de uma amiga, e


começamos a namorar. Surgiu uma relação muito forte, achei que
íamos ficar juntos o resto de nossas vidas, mas Luiz viajou a
negócios por um mês. Coincidiu que fui passar um fim de semana
em Petrópolis e acabei conhecendo Paulo. Descobri que esse, sim, é,
de fato, o homem da minha vida. Tenho certeza de que quero viver
com ele para sempre. Deu certo na cama, nas conversas… Mas o que
digo a Luiz? Ele está para chegar… Detesto mentir, mas não vejo
outro jeito. Vou ter que inventar uma desculpa…
Geralmente, é com essa certeza de “Estou precisando
tanto me apaixonar!” que se parte em busca de um parceiro.
Na verdade, as pessoas amam estar amando, apaixonam-se
pela paixão, muito mais do que por alguém em especial. Basta
encontrar quem corresponda mais ou menos ao que se deseja
e pronto: inventa-se uma nova paixão e até se sofre por ela.
Mas o sofrimento não é problema: pode ser estancado de
imediato. É só aparecer outro alguém que a transferência do
amor logo acontece. É importante ressaltar que não há nada
grave em desejar um par amoroso. O grave é a crença de que
só se pode ser feliz se houver um par amoroso.

Quanto mais difícil, mais apaixonados ficamos


É inegável que a fusão proposta pelo amor romântico seja
extremamente sedutora. Nos contos de fadas, por exemplo,
heróis e heroínas precisam superar inúmeros obstáculos para,
só no final, conseguirem ficar juntos. Para garantir que
continuarão eternamente apaixonados, as histórias terminam
com o famoso “E foram felizes para sempre”.
Até o século XIX, apesar de arrebatar corações, o amor
romântico não podia se misturar a uma relação fixa e
duradoura. Casamento por amor, nem pensar! Impossível de
realizar, inatingível e tormentoso. As histórias de Tristão e
Isolda e de Romeu e Julieta ilustram bem como esse tipo de
amor é regido pela impossibilidade. Quanto mais obstáculos a
transpor, mais apaixonada a pessoa se torna.

Para manter a idealização, não se pode conhecer bem o outro


Um canadense se casou há pouco com uma japonesa. Ela não
falava inglês nem francês. Ele não falava japonês. Eles
formavam o casal ideal: amantíssimos, atenciosos,
completamente apaixonados, aparentemente a própria
imagem da fusão de dois seres humanos. Então, ela começou
a aprender inglês. Agora, brigam o tempo todo. Estão
começando a conhecer um ao outro. E o sexo já não é tão bom
quanto antes. O que era um excitante mistério recíproco
transformou-se em ressentimento mútuo. O elo entre os dois
baseava-se na ignorância a respeito do outro.

Prejuízos do amor romântico


Kate e Geoff, ambos aposentados, vivem numa bela casa na
zona rural da Inglaterra. Juntos há 45 anos, preparam uma
festa para, na semana seguinte, comemorar com amigos a
longa convivência conjugal. Entretanto, a rotina do casal é
interrompida pela chegada de uma carta do exterior. Escrita
em alemão, autoridades informam que foi encontrado, na
Suíça, o corpo da ex-namorada de Geoff. Ela foi vítima de
uma queda nos Alpes quando viajava com ele há muitas
décadas, cinco anos antes de ele e Kate se conhecerem.
Geoff busca um dicionário para entender melhor a
mensagem e fica abalado com a notícia. Segundo as
informações, o corpo está intacto, preservado pelo
congelamento da região. O passado retorna ao idoso. Ao
comentar com a esposa, ela pergunta se ele irá até a Suíça. Ele
diz que sim, que talvez vá…
Kate segue cuidando dos detalhes da festa, aluga o salão e
procura manter o dia a dia, mas Geoff, naquele momento, está
tomado pelo passado. No quarto dia após a chegada da carta, e
a dois apenas da festa, Kate levanta questões sobre a reação
dele à notícia. Não se conforma com o fato de o marido estar
tão afetado pelas lembranças. Ele a abraça e tenta fugir da
questão, mas ela está insegura e sente ciúmes.
Finalmente, chega o dia da festa. Muitos amigos estão no
salão para comemorar o longo casamento. Geoff pede a
palavra; emocionado, tenta dizer alguma coisa coerente.
Embaraçado, diz chorando que ama Kate. Todos aplaudem.
Inicia-se a música, e ele a convida para dançar. O casal gira
um pouco pelo salão, mas, quando os demais invadem a pista
para dançar, Kate se desfaz do abraço dele num gesto brusco,
que apenas os dois percebem o significado.
Esse é o resumo do filme 45 anos, dirigido por Andrew
Haigh e que tem como protagonistas Charlotte Rampling e
Tom Courtenay.
O sofrimento de Kate e o dano ao seu casamento são
causados pelas crenças equivocadas a respeito do amor. A
partir da ideia de que os dois se completam, torna-se
impossível admitir que o outro tenha qualquer pensamento de
que o amado não participe. Assim, o amado só pode ter olhos
para o outro; não pode ter nenhum espaço próprio, mesmo
que mental, sem que o outro não faça parte. Isso não seria
considerado amor. Kate não suportou ser excluída das
recordações que estavam afetando o marido naquele
momento, mesmo que a ex-namorada já estivesse morta
havia mais de cinquenta anos.
“É difícil esvaziar a mochila que levamos nas costas, cheia
de ideias impróprias e acumuladas durante nossa vida, ideias
impregnadas de crenças irracionais. Ter aprendido um
conceito errado sobre o amor pode nos trazer muitos
problemas nas nossas relações, especialmente na
adolescência, quando somos mais vulneráveis. Realmente,
muitos de nós reproduzimos modelos de relações amorosas
nem um pouco saudáveis, que incluem tolerância ao ciúme e
ao controle.”[4]
Para o psiquiatra americano M. Scott Peck, o mito do amor
romântico nos diz que para cada homem no mundo há uma
mulher que “foi feita para ele”, e vice-versa. Além disso, o
mito implica que há um só homem destinado a uma mulher e
uma só mulher para um homem, e que isso foi
predeterminado “nas estrelas”. Quando conhecemos a pessoa
a quem estamos destinados, o reconhecimento vem do fato de
nos apaixonarmos. Encontramos a pessoa a quem os céus nos
tinham destinado e, uma vez que a união é perfeita, passamos
a ser capazes de satisfazer as necessidades um do outro para
sempre e, portanto, viver eternamente felizes em completa
união e harmonia.
Se, no entanto, não satisfizermos ou não formos ao
encontro de todas as necessidades um do outro, atritos
surgem e nós nos desapaixonamos. Então, fica claro que
cometemos um erro terrível, interpretamos as estrelas
erroneamente, não nos entendemos com nosso único par
perfeito, o que pensamos ser amor não era amor real ou
“verdadeiro”, e não há nada a fazer quanto à situação, a não
ser viver infelizes para sempre ou obter o divórcio.[5]
Imaginar que numa relação amorosa vamos nos
completar, que nada mais vai nos faltar, é o caminho mais
rápido para a decepção. “Será que o amor deveria vir
embalado com advertências sobre a saúde: cuidado, pode
viciar e ser prejudicial para sua sobrevivência?”[6]

A trajetória do amor romântico


Assisti há algum tempo, no YouTube, a Ed Motta e Miltinho
cantando a música “Meu nome é ninguém”, de Haroldo
Barbosa e Luiz Reis, composta nos anos 1960, que ilustra bem
o que acontece com o amor romântico após algum tempo de
convivência. Na letra, depois do primeiro beijo, a paixão foi
imensa. Mas, de repente, foi-se o encanto de tudo.

Quem sou eu, quem é você


Foi assim
E só Deus sabe quem
Deixou de querer bem
Não somos mais alguém
O meu nome é ninguém
E o seu nome também
Também ninguém

A trajetória do amor romântico é essa. No início, um só


tem olhos para o outro. Em determinado momento, o outro já
Another random document with
no related content on Scribd:
for the purpose of guarantying the neutrality of the Isthmus canal or
determining the conditions of its use.

CHILI AND PERU.

The entire question is complicated by the war between Chili and


Peru, the latter owning immense guano deposits in which American
citizens have become financially interested. These sought the friendly
intervention of our government to prevent Chili, the conquering
Republic, from appropriating these deposits as part of her war
indemnity. The Landreau, an original French claim, is said to
represent $125,000,000, and the holders were prior to and during
the war pressing it upon Calderon, the Peruvian President, for
settlement; the Cochet claim, another of the same class, represented
$1,000,000,000. Doubtless these claims are speculative and largely
fraudulent, and shrewd agents are interested in their collection and
preservation. A still more preposterous and speculative movement
was fathered by one Shipherd, who opened a correspondence with
Minister Hurlburt, and with other parties for the establishment of
the Credit Industriel, which was to pay the $20,000,000 money
indemnity demanded of Peru by Chili, and to be reimbursed by the
Peruvian nitrates and guano deposits.

THE SCANDAL.

All of these things surround the question with scandals which


probably fail to truthfully reach any prominent officer of our
government, but which have nevertheless attracted the attention of
Congress to such an extent that the following action has been already
taken:
On February 24th Mr. Bayard offered in the Senate a resolution
reciting that whereas publication has been widely made by the public
press of certain alleged public commercial contracts between certain
companies and copartnerships of individuals relative to the exports
of guano and nitrates from Peru, in which the mediation by the
Government of the United States between the Governments of Peru,
Bolivia and Chili is declared to be a condition for the effectuation and
continuance of the said contracts; therefore be it resolved, that the
Committee on Foreign Relations be instructed to inquire whether
any promise or stipulation by which the intervention by the United
States in the controversies existing between Chili and Peru or Chili
and Bolivia has been expressly or impliedly given by any person or
persons officially connected with the Government of the United
States, or whether the influence of the Government of the United
States has been in any way exerted, promised or intimated in
connection with, or in relation to the said contracts by any one
officially connected with the Government of the United States, and
whether any one officially connected with the Government of the
United States is interested, directly or indirectly, with any such
alleged contracts in which the mediation as aforesaid of the United
States is recited to be a condition, and that the said committee have
power to send for persons and paper and make report of their
proceedings in the premises to the Senate at the earliest possible day.
Mr. Edmunds said he had drafted a resolution covering all the
branches of “that most unfortunate affair” to which reference was
now made, and in view of the ill policy of any action which would
commit the Senate to inquiries about declaring foreign matters in
advance of a careful investigation by a committee, he now made the
suggestion that he would have made as to his own resolution, if he
had offered it, namely, that the subject be referred to the Committee
on Foreign Relations. He intimated that the proposition prepared by
himself would be considered by the committee as a suggestion
bearing upon the pending resolution.
Mr. Bayard acquiesced in the reference with the remark that
anything that tended to bring the matter more fully before the
country was satisfactory to him.
The resolution accordingly went to the Committee on Foreign
Relations.
In the House Mr. Kasson, of Iowa, offered a resolution reciting
that whereas, it is alleged, in connection with the Chili Peruvian
correspondence recently and officially published on the call of the
two Houses of Congress, that one or more Ministers Plenipotentiary
of the United States were either personally interested or improperly
connected with a business transaction in which the intervention of
this Government was requested or expected and whereas, it is
alleged that certain papers in relation to the same subject have been
improperly lost or removed from the files of the State Department,
that therefore the Committee on Foreign Affairs be instructed to
inquire into said allegations and ascertain the facts relating thereto,
and report the same with such recommendations as they may deem
proper, and they shall have power to send for persons and papers.
The resolution was adopted.

THE CLAIMS.

The inner history of what is known as the Peruvian Company reads


more like a tale from the Arabian Nights than a plain statement of
facts. The following is gleaned from the prospectus of the company,
of which only a limited number of copies was printed. According to a
note on the cover of these “they are for the strictly private use of the
gentlemen into whose hands they are immediately placed.”
The prospects of the corporation are based entirely upon the
claims of Cochet and Landreau, two French chemists, residents of
Peru. In the year 1833, the Peruvian government, by published
decree, promised to every discoverer of valuable deposits upon the
public domain a premium of one-third of the discovery as an
incentive to the development of great natural resources vaguely
known to exist. In the beginning of 1830, Alexandre Cochet, who was
a man of superior information, occupied himself in the laborious
work of manufacturing nitrate of soda in a small oficina in Peru, and
being possessed with quick intelligence and a careful observer he
soon came to understand that the valuable properties contained in
the guano—an article only known to native cultivators of the soil—
would be eminently useful as a restorative to the exhausted lands of
the old continent. With this idea he made himself completely master
of the mode of application adopted by the Indians and small farmers
in the province where he resided, and after a careful investigation of
the chemical effects produced on the land by the proper application
of the regenerating agent, he proceeded in the year 1840 to the
capital (Lima) in order to interest some of his friends in this new
enterprise. Not without great persuasion and much hesitation, he
induced his countryman, Mr. Achilles Allier, to take up the
hazardous speculation and join with him in his discovery. He
succeeded, however, and toward the end of the same year the firm of
Quiroz & Allier obtained a concession for six years from the
government of Peru for the exportation of all the guano existing in
the afterwards famous islands of Chinchi for the sum of sixty
thousand dollars. In consequence of the refusal of that firm to admit
Cochet, the discoverer, to a participation in the profits growing out of
this contract a series of lawsuits resulted and a paper war ensued in
which Cochet was baffled. In vain he called the attention of the
government to the nature and value of this discovery; he was told
that he was a “visionary.” In vain he demonstrated that the nation
possessed hundreds of millions of dollars in the grand deposits: this
only confirmed the opinion of the Council of State that he was a
madman. In vain he attempted to prove that one cargo of guano was
equal to fourteen cargoes of grain; the Council of State coolly told
him that guano was an article known to the Spaniards, and of no
value: that Commissioner Humbolt had referred to it, and that they
could not accept his theory respecting its superior properties, its
value and its probable use in foreign agriculture at a period when no
new discovery could be made relative to an article so long and of so
evident small value.
At length a new light began to dawn on the lethargic
understanding of the officials in power, and as rumors continued to
arrive from Europe confirming the asseverations of Cochet, and
announcing the sale of guano at from $90 to $120 per ton, a degree
of haste was suddenly evinced to secure once more to the public
treasury this new and unexpected source of wealth; and at one blow
the contract with Quiroz & Allier, which had previously been
extended, was reduced to one year. Their claims were cancelled by
the payment of ten thousand tons of guano which Congress decreed
them. There still remained to be settled the just and acknowledged
indebtedness for benefits conferred on the country by Cochet,
benefits which could not be denied as wealth and prosperity rolled in
on the government and on the people. But few, if any, troubled
themselves about the question to whom they were indebted for so
much good fortune, nor had time to pay particular attention to
Cochet’s claims. Finally, however, Congress was led to declare Cochet
the true discoverer of the value, uses and application of guano for
European agriculture, and a grant of 5,000 tons was made in his
favor September 30th, 1849, but was never paid him. After passing a
period of years in hopeless expectancy—from 1840 to 1851—his
impoverished circumstances made it necessary for him to endeavor
to procure, through the influence of his own government, that
measure of support in favor of his claims which would insure him a
competency in his old age.
He resolved upon returning to France, after having spent the best
part of his life in the service of a country whose cities had risen from
desolation to splendor under the sole magic of his touch—a touch
that had in it for Peru all the fabled power of the long-sought
“philosopher’s stone.” In 1853 Cochet returned to France, but he was
then already exhausted by enthusiastic explorations in a deadly
climate and never rallied. He lingered in poverty for eleven painful
years and died in Paris in an almshouse in 1864, entitled to an estate
worth $500,000,000—the richest man in the history of the world—
and was buried by the city in the Potters’ Field; his wonderful history
well illustrating that truth is stranger than fiction.

THE LANDREAU CLAIM.

About the year 1844 Jean Theophile Landreau, also a French


citizen, in partnership with his brother, John C. Landreau, a
naturalized American citizen, upon the faith of the promised
premium of 33⅓ per cent. entered upon a series of extended
systematic and scientific explorations with a view to ascertaining
whether the deposits of guano particularly pointed out by Cochet
constituted the entire guano deposit of Peru, and with money
furnished by his partner, John, Theophile prosecuted his searches
with remarkable energy and with great success for twelve years,
identifying beds not before known to the value of not less than
$400,000,000. Well aware, however, of the manner in which his
fellow-countryman had been neglected by an unprincipled people, he
had the discretion to keep his own counsel and to extort from the
Peruvian authorities an absolute agreement in advance before he
revealed his treasure. This agreement was, indeed, for a royalty of
less than one sixth the amount promised, but the most solemn
assurances were given that the lessened amount would be promptly
and cheerfully paid, its total would give the brothers each a large
fortune, and payments were to begin at once. The solemn agreement
having been concluded and duly certified, the precious deposits
having been pointed out and taken possession of by the profligate
government, the brothers were at first put off with plausible pretexts
of delay, and when these grew monotonous the government calmly
issued a decree recognizing the discoveries, accepting the treasure,
and annulling the contract, with a suggestion that a more suitable
agreement might be arranged in the future.
It will be seen that these two men, Cochet and Landreau, have
been acknowledged by the Peruvian government as claimants. No
attempt has ever been made to deny the indebtedness. The very
decree of repudiation reaffirmed the obligation, and all the courts
refused to pronounce against the plaintiffs. Both of these claims
came into the possession of Mr. Peter W. Hevenor, of Philadelphia.
Cochet left one son whom Mr. Hevenor found in poverty in Lima and
advanced money to push his father’s claim of $500,000,000 against
the government. After $50,000 were spent young Cochet’s backer
was surprised to learn of the Laudreaus and their claim. Not wishing
to antagonize them, he advanced them money, and in a short time
owned nearly all the fifteen interests in the Landreau claim of
$125,000,000.
To the Peruvian Company Mr. Hevenor has transferred his titles,
and on the basis of these that corporation maintains that eventually
it will realize not less than $1,200,000,000, computed as follows:
The amount of guano already taken out of the Cochet Islands—
including the Chinchas—will be shown by the Peruvian Custom
House records, and will aggregate, it is said, not far from
$1,200,000,000 worth. The discoverer’s one-third of this would be
$400,000,000, and interest upon this amount at six per cent. say for
an equalized average of twenty years—would be $480,000,000
more. The amount remaining in these islands is not positively
known, and is probably not more than $200,000,000 worth; and in
the Landreau deposits say $300,000,000 more. The Chilean
plenipotentiary recently announced that his government are about
opening very rich deposits on the Lobos Islands—which are included
in this group. It is probably within safe limits, says the Peruvian
Company’s prospectus, to say that, including interest to accrue
before the claim can be fully liquidated, its owners will realize no less
than $1,200,000,000.

THE COUNTRIES INVOLVED.

In South America there are ten independent governments; and the


three Guianas which are dependencies on European powers. Of the
independent governments Brazil is an empire, having an area of
3,609,160 square miles and 11,058,000 inhabitants. The other nine
are republics. In giving area and population we use the most
complete statistics at our command, but they are not strictly reliable,
nor as late as we could have wished. The area and the population of
the republics are: Venezuela, 426,712 square miles and 2,200,000
inhabitants; United States of Colombia, 475,000 square miles and
2,900,000 inhabitants; Peru, 580,000 square miles and 2,500,000
inhabitants; Ecuador, 208,000 square miles and 1,300,000
inhabitants; Bolivia, 842,730 square miles and 1,987,352
inhabitants; Chili, 200,000 square miles and 2,084,960 inhabitants;
Argentine Republic, 1,323,560 square miles and 1,887,000
inhabitants; Paraguay, 73,000 square miles and 1,337,439
inhabitants; Uruguay, 66,716 square miles and 240,000 inhabitants,
or a total in the nine republics of 3,789,220 square miles and
16,436,751 inhabitants. The aggregate area of the nine republics
exceeds that of Brazil 180,060 square miles, and the total population
exceeds that of Brazil 5,069,552. Brazil, being an empire, is not
comprehended in the Blaine proposal—she rather stands as a strong
barrier against it. Mexico and Guatemala are included, but are on
this continent, and their character and resources better understood
by our people. In the South American countries generally the
Spanish language is spoken. The educated classes are of nearly pure
Spanish extraction. The laboring classes are of mixed Spanish and
aboriginal blood, or of pure aboriginal ancestry. The characteristics
of the Continent are emphatically Spanish. The area and population
we have already given. The territory is nearly equally divided
between the republics and the empire, the former having a greater
area of only 180,060 square miles; but the nine republics have an
aggregate population of 5,059,522 more than Brazil. The United
States has an area of 3,634,797 square miles, including Alaska; but
excluding Alaska, it has 3,056,797 square miles. The area of Brazil is
greater than that of the United States, excluding Alaska, by 552,363
square miles, and the aggregate area of the nine republics is greater
by 732,423 square miles. This comparison of the area of the nine
republics and of Brazil with that of this nation gives a definite idea of
their magnitude. Geographically, these republics occupy the
northern, western and southern portions of South America, and are
contiguous. The aggregate exports and imports of South America,
according to the last available data, were $529,300,000; those of
Brazil, $168,930,000; of the nine republics, $360,360,000.
These resolutions will bring out voluminous correspondence, but
we have given the reader sufficient to reach a fair understanding of
the subject. Whatever of scandal may be connected with it, like the
Star Route cases, it should await official investigation and
condemnation. Last of all should history condemn any one in
advance of official inquiry. None of the governments invited to the
Congress had accepted formally, and in view of obstacles thrown in
the way by the present administration, it is not probable they will.
Accepting the proposition of Mr. Blaine as stated in his letter to
President Arthur, as conveying his true desire and meaning, it is due
to the truth to say that it comprehends more than the Monroe
doctrine, the text of which is given in President Monroe’s own words
in this volume. While he contended against foreign intervention with
the Republics on this Hemisphere, he never asserted the right of our
government to participate in or seek the control either of the
internal, commercial or foreign policy of any of the Republics of
America, by arbitration or otherwise. So that Mr. Blaine is the author
of an advance upon the Monroe doctrine, and what seems at this
time a radical advance. What it may be when the United States seeks
to “spread itself” by an aggressive foreign policy, and by
aggrandizement of new avenues of trade, possibly new acquisitions
of territory, is another question. It is a policy brilliant beyond any
examples in our history, and a new departure from the teachings of
Washington, who advised absolute non-intervention in foreign
affairs. The new doctrine might thrive and acquire great popularity
under an administration friendly to it; but President Arthur has
already intimated his hostility, and it is now beyond enforcement
during his administration. The views of Congress also seem to be
adverse as far as the debates have gone into the question, though it
has some warm friends who may revive it under more favorable
auspices.
The Star Route Scandal.

Directly after Mr. James assumed the position of Postmaster-


General in the Cabinet of President Garfield, he discovered a great
amount of extravagance and probably fraud in the conduct of the
mail service known as the Star Routes, authorized by act of Congress
to further extend the mail facilities and promote the more rapid
carriage of the mails. These routes proved to be very popular in the
West and Southwest, and the growing demand for mail facilities in
these sections would even in a legitimate way, if not closely watched,
lead to unusual cost and extravagance; but it is alleged that a ring
was formed headed by General Brady, one of the Assistant
Postmaster-Generals under General Key, by which routes were
established with the sole view of defrauding the Government—that
false bonds were given and enormous and fraudulent sums paid for
little or no service. This scandal was at its height at the time of the
assassination of President Garfield, at which time Postmaster-
General James, Attorney-General MacVeagh and other officials were
rapidly preparing for the prosecution of all charged with the fraud.
Upon the succession of President Arthur he openly insisted upon the
fullest prosecution, and declined to receive the resignation of Mr.
MacVeagh from the Cabinet because of a stated fear that the
prosecution would suffer by his withdrawal. Mr. MacVeagh, however,
withdrew from the Cabinet, believing that the new President should
not by any circumstance be prevented from the official association of
friends of his own selection; and at this writing Attorney-General
Brewster is pushing the prosecutions.
On the 24th of March, 1882, the Grand Jury sitting at Washington
presented indictments for conspiracy in connection with the Star
Route mail service against the following named persons: Thomas J.
Brady, J. W. Dorsey, Henry M. Vail, John W. Dorsey, John R. Miner,
John M. Peck, M. C. Rerdell, J. L. Sanderson, Wm. H. Turner. Also
against Alvin O. Buck, Wm. S. Barringer and Albert E. Boone, and
against Kate M. Armstrong for perjury. The indictment against
Brady, Dorsey and others, which is very voluminous, recites the
existence, on March 10, 1879, of the Post Office Department,
Postmaster-General and three assistants, and a Sixth Auditor’s office
and Contract office and division.
“To the latter was subject,” the indictment continues, “the
arrangement of the mail service of the United States and the letting
out of the same on contract.” It then describes the duties of the
inspecting division. On March 10, 1879, the grand jurors represent,
Thomas J. Brady was the lawful Second Assistant Postmaster-
General engaged in the performance of the duties of that office.
William H. Turner was a clerk in the Second Assistant Postmaster-
General’s office, and attended to the business of the contract division
relating to the mail service over several post routes in California,
Colorado, Oregon, Nebraska, and the Territories. On the 16th of
March, 1879, the indictment represents Thomas J. Brady as having
made eight contracts with John W. Dorsey to carry the mails from
July 1, 1878, to June 30, 1882, from Vermillion, in Dakota Territory,
to Sioux Falls and back, on a fourteen hour time schedule, for $398
each year; on route from White River to Rawlins, Colorado, once a
week of 108 hours’ time, for $1,700 a year; on route from Garland,
Colorado, to Parrott City, once a week, on a schedule of 168 hours’
time, for $2,745; on route from Ouray, Colorado, to Los Pinos, once a
week, in 12 hours’ time, for $348; on route from Silverton, Colorado,
to Parrott City, twice a week, on 36 hours’ time, for $1,488; on route
from Mineral Park, in Arizona Territory, to Pioche and back, once a
week, in 84 hours’ time, $2,982; on route from Tres Almos to Clifton
and back, once a week, of 84 hours’ time, for $1,568.
It further sets forth that the Second Assistant Postmaster-General
entered into five contracts with John R. Miner on June 13, 1878, on
routes in Dakota Territory and Colorado, and on March 15, 1879,
with John M. Peck, over eight post routes. In the space of sixty days
after the making of these contracts they were in full force. On March
10, 1879, John W. Dorsey, John R. Miner, and John M. Peck, with
Stephen W. Dorsey and Henry M. Vaile, M. C. Rerdell and J. L.
Sanderson, mutually interested in these contracts and money, to be
paid by the United States to the three parties above named, did
unlawfully and maliciously combine and conspire to fraudulently
write, sign, and cause to be written and signed, a large number of
fraudulent letters and communications and false and fraudulent
petitions and applications to the Postmaster-General for additional
service and increase of expenditure on the routes, which were
purported to be signed by the people and inhabitants in the
neighborhood of the routes, which were filed with the papers in the
office of the Second Assistant Postmaster-General. Further that these
parties swore falsely in describing the number of men and animals
required to perform the mail service over the routes and States as
greater than was necessary.
These false oaths were placed on file in the Second Assistant
Postmaster-General’s office; and by means of Wm. H. Turner falsely
making and writing and endorsing these papers, with brief and
untrue statements as to their contents, and by Turner preparing
fraudulent written orders for allowances to be made to these
contractors and signed by Thomas J. Brady fraudulently, and for the
benefit and gain of all the parties named in this bill, the service was
increased over these routes; and that Brady knew it was not lawfully
needed and required. That he caused the order for increasing to be
certified to and filed in the Sixth Auditor’s office for fraudulent
additional compensation. That Mr. Brady gave orders to extend the
service so as to include other and different stations than those
mentioned in the contract, that he and others might have the
benefits and profits of it: that he refused to impose fines on these
contracts for failures and delinquencies, but allowed them additional
pay for the service over these routes. During the continuance of these
contracts the parties acquired unto themselves several large and
excessive sums of money, the property of the United States,
fraudulently and unlawfully ordered to be paid them by Mr. Brady.
These are certainly formidable indictments. Others are pending
against persons in Philadelphia and other cities, who are charged
with complicity in these Star Route frauds, in giving straw bonds, &c.
The Star Route service still continues, the Post Office Department
under the law having sent out several thousand notifications this
year to contractors, informing them of the official acceptance of their
proposals, and some of these contractors are the same named above
as under indictment. This well exemplifies the maxim of the law
relative to innocence until guilt be shown.
The Coming States.

Bills are pending before Congress for the admission of Dakota,


Wyoming, New Mexico and Washington Territories. The Bill for the
admission of Dakota divides the old Territory, and provides that the
new State shall consist of the territory included within the following
boundaries: Commencing at a point on the west line of the State of
Minnesota where the forty-sixth degree of north latitude intersects
the same; thence south along the west boundary lines of the States of
Minnesota and Iowa to the point of intersection with the northern
boundary line of the State of Nebraska; thence westwardly along the
northern boundary line of the State of Nebraska to the twenty-
seventh meridian of longitude west from Washington; thence north
along the said twenty-seventh degree of longitude to the forty-sixth
degree of north latitude; to the place of beginning. The bill provides
for a convention of one hundred and twenty delegates, to be chosen
by the legal voters, who shall adopt the United States Constitution
and then proceed to form a State Constitution and government. Until
the next census the State shall be entitled to one representative, who,
with the Governor and other officials, shall be elected upon a day
named by the Constitutional Convention. The report sets apart lands
for school purposes, and gives the State five per centum of the
proceeds of all sales of public lands within its limits subsequent to its
admission as a State, excluding all mineral lands from being thus set
apart for school purposes. It provides that portion of the Territory
not included in the proposed new State shall continue as a Territory
under the name of the Territory of North Dakota.
The proposition to divide comes from Senator McMillan, and if
Congress sustains the division, the portion admitted would contain
100,000 inhabitants, the entire estimated population being 175,000
—a number in excess of twenty of the present States when admitted,
exclusive of the original thirteen; while the division, which shows
100,000 inhabitants, is still in excess of sixteen States when
admitted.
Nevada, with less than 65,000 population, was admitted before
the close Presidential election of 1876, and it may be said that her
majority of 1,075, in a total poll of 19,691 votes, decided the
Presidential result in favor of Hayes, and these votes counteracted
the plurality of nearly 300,000 received by Mr. Tilden elsewhere.
This fact well illustrates the power of States, as States, and however
small, in controlling the affairs of the country. It also accounts for the
jealousy with which closely balanced political parties watch the
incoming States.
Population is but one of the considerations entering into the
question of admitting territories, State sovereignty does not rest
upon population, as in the make up of the U. S. Senate neither
population, size, nor resources are taken into account. Rhode Island,
the smallest of all the States, and New York, the great Empire State,
with over 5,000,000 of inhabitants, stand upon an equality in the
conservative branch of the Government. It is in the House of
Representatives that the population is considered. Such is the
jealousy of the larger States of their representation in the U. S.
Senate, that few new ones would be admitted without long and
continuous knocking if it were not for partisan interests, and yet
where a fair number of people demand State Government there is no
just cause for denial. Yet all questions of population, natural division,
area and resources should be given their proper weight.
The area of the combined territories—Utah, Washington, New
Mexico, Dakota, Arizona, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming and Indian is
about 900,000 square miles. We exclude Alaska, which has not been
surveyed.
Indian Territory and Utah are for some years to come excluded
from admission—the one being reserved to the occupancy of the
Indians, while the other is by her peculiar institution of polygamy,
generally thrown out of all calculation. And yet it may be found that
polygamy can best be made amenable to the laws by the compulsory
admission of Utah as a State—an idea entertained by not a few who
have given consideration to the question. Alaska may also be counted
out for many years to come. There are but 30,000 inhabitants, few of
these permanent, and Congress is now considering a petition for the
establishment of a territorial government there.
Next to Dakota, New Mexico justly claims admission. The lands
comprised within its original area were acquired from Mexico, at the
conclusion of the war with that country, by the treaty of Guadalupe
Hidalgo in 1848, and by act of September 9, 1850, a Territorial
government was organized. By treaty of December 30, 1853, the
region south of the Gila river—the Gadsden purchase, so called—was
ceded by Mexico, and by act of August 4, 1854, added to the
Territory, which at that time included within its limits the present
Territory of Arizona. Its prayer for admission was brought to the
serious attention of Congress in 1874. The bill was presented in an
able speech by Mr. Elkins, then delegate from the Territory, and had
the warm support of many members. A bill to admit was also
introduced in the Senate, and passed that body February 25, 1875, by
a vote of thirty-two to eleven, two of the present members of that
body, Messrs. Ingalls and Windom, being among its supporters. The
matter of admission came up for final action in the House at the
same session, just prior to adjournment, and a motion to suspend
the rules, in order to put it upon its final passage, was lost by a vote
of one hundred and fifty-four to eighty-seven, and the earnest efforts
to secure the admission of New Mexico were thus defeated. A bill for
its admission is now again before Congress, and it is a matter of
interest to note the representations as to the condition of the
Territory then made, and the facts as they now exist. It has,
according to the census of 1880, a population of 119,565. It had in
1870 a population of 91,874. It was claimed by the more moderate
advocates of the bill that its population then numbered 135,000
(15,435 more than at present), while others placed it as high as
145,000. Of this population, 45,000 were said to be of American and
European descent. It was stated by Senator Hoar, one of the
opponents of the bill, that, out of an illiterate population of 52,220,
by far the larger part were native inhabitants of Mexican or Spanish
origin, who could not speak the English language. This statement
seems to be in large degree confirmed by the census of 1880, which
shows a total native white population of 108,721, of whom, as nearly
as can be ascertained, upward of 80 per cent. are not only illiterates
of Mexican and Spanish extraction, but as in 1870, speaking a foreign
language. The vote for Mr. Elkins, Territorial Delegate in 1875, was
reported as being about 17,000. The total vote in 1878 was 18,806,
and in 1880, 20,397, showing a comparatively insignificant increase
from 1875 to 1880.
The Territory of Washington was constituted out of Oregon, and
organized as a Territory by act of March 2, 1853. Its population by
the census of 1880 was 75,116, an increase from 23,955 in 1870. Of
this total, 59,313 are of native and 15,803 of foreign nativity. Its total
white population in the census year was 67,119; Chinese, 3,186;
Indian, 4,105; colored, 326, and its total present population is
probably not far from 95,000. Its yield of precious metals in 1880,
and for the entire period since its development, while showing
resources full of promise, has been much less than that of any other
of the organized Territories. Its total vote for Territorial Delegate in
1880, while exceeding that of the Territories of Arizona, Idaho, and
Wyoming, was but 15,823.
The Territory of Arizona, organized out of a portion of New
Mexico, and provided with a territorial government in 1863, contains
about 5,000,000 acres less than the Territory of New Mexico, or an
acreage exceeded by that of only five States and Territories. Its total
population in 1870 was 9,658, and in 1880, 40,440, 35,160 of whom
were whites. Of its total population in the census year, 24,391 were of
native and 16,049 of foreign birth, the number of Indians, Chinese,
and colored being 5,000.
Idaho was originally a part of Oregon, from which it was separated
and provided with a territorial government by the act of March 3,
1863. It embraces in its area a little more than 55,000,000 acres, and
had in 1880 a total population of 32,610, being an increase from
14,999 in 1870. Of this population, 22,636 are of native and 9,974 of
foreign birth; 29,013 of the total inhabitants are white, 3,379 Chinese
and 218 Indians and colored.
The Territory of Montana, organized by act of May 26, 1864,
contains an acreage larger than that of any other Territory save
Dakota. While it seems to be inferior in cereal producing capacity, in
its area of valuable grazing lands it equals, if it does not excel, Idaho.
The chief prosperity of the Territory, and that which promises for it a
future of growing importance, lies in its extraordinary mineral
wealth, the productions of its mines in the year 1880 having been
nearly twice that of any other Territory, with a corresponding excess
in its total production, which had reached, on June 30, 1880, the
enormous total of over $53,000,000. Its mining industries represent
in the aggregate very large invested capital, and the increasing
products, with the development of new mines, are attracting
constant additions to its population, which in 1880 showed an
increase, as compared with 1870, of over 90 per cent. For particulars
see census tables in tabulated history.
Wyoming was constituted out of the Territory of Dakota, and
provided with territorial government July 25, 1868. Lying between
Colorado and Montana, and adjoining Dakota and Nebraska on the
east, it partakes of the natural characteristics of these States and
Territories, having a fair portion of land suitable for cultivation, a
large area suitable for grazing purposes, and a wealth in mineral
resources whose development, although of recent beginning, has
already resulted in an encouraging yield in precious metals. It is the
fifth in area.
Henry Randall Waite, in an able article in the March number of
the International Review (1882,) closes with these interesting
paragraphs:
“It will be thus seen that eleven States organized from Territories,
when authorized to form State governments, and the same number
when admitted to the Union, had free populations of less than
60,000, and that of the slave States included in this number, seven
in all, not one had the required number of free inhabitants, either
when authorized to take the first steps toward admission or when
finally admitted; and that both of these steps were taken by two of
the latter States with a total population, free and slave, below the
required number. Why so many States have been authorized to form
State governments, and have been subsequently admitted to the
Union with populations so far below the requirements of the
ordinance of 1787, and the accepted rules for subsequent action may
be briefly explained as follows: 1st, by the ground for the use of a
wide discretion afforded in the provisions of the ordinance of 1787,
for the admission of States, when deemed expedient, before their
population should equal the required number; and 2d. by the equally
wide discretion given by the Constitution in the words, ‘New States
may be admitted by Congress into this Union,’ the only provision of
the Constitution bearing specifically upon this subject. Efforts have
been made at various times to secure the strict enforcement of the
original rules, with the modification resulting from the increase in
the population of the Union, which provided that the number of free
inhabitants in a Territory seeking admission should equal the
number established as the basis of representation in the
apportionment of Representatives in Congress, as determined by the
preceding census. How little success the efforts made in this
direction have met, may be seen by a comparison of the number of
inhabitants forming the basis of representation, as established by the
different censuses, and the free population of the Territories
admitted at corresponding periods.
“At this late date, it is hardly to be expected that rules so long
disregarded will be made applicable to the admission of the States to
be organized from the existing Territories. There is, nevertheless, a
growing disposition on the part of Congress to look with disfavor
upon the formation of States whose population, and the development
of whose resources, render the expediency of their admission
questionable; and an increasing doubt as to the propriety of so
dividing the existing Territories as to multiply to an unnecessary
extent the number of States, with the attendant increase in the
number of Representatives in the National Legislature.
“To recapitulate the facts as to the present condition of the
Territories with reference to their admission as States, it may be said
that only Dakota, Utah, New Mexico and Washington are in
possession of the necessary population according to the rule
requiring 60,000; that only the three first named conform to the rule
demanding a population equal to the present basis of representation;
that only Dakota, Utah and Washington give evidence of that
intelligence on the part of their inhabitants which is essential to the
proper exercise, under favorable conditions, of the extended rights of
citizenship, and of that progress in the development of their
resources which makes self-government essential, safe, or in any way
desirable; and that only Dakota can be said, unquestionably, to
possess all of the requirements which, by the dictates of a sound
policy, should be demanded of a Territory at this time seeking
admission to the Union.
“Whatever the response to the Territorial messengers now waiting
at the doors of Congress, a few years, at most, will bring an answer to
their prayers. The stars of a dozen proud and prosperous States will
soon be added to those already blazoned upon the blue field of the
Union, and the term Territory, save as applied to the frozen regions
of Alaska, will disappear from the map of the United States.”
The Chinese Question.

Since 1877 the agitation of the prohibition of Chinese immigration


in California and other States and Territories on the Pacific slope has
been very great. This led to many scenes of violence and in some
instances bloodshed, when one Dennis Kearney led the
Workingmen’s party in San Francisco. On this issue an agitator and
preacher named Kalloch was elected Mayor. The issue was carried to
the Legislature, and in the vote on a constitutional amendment it was
found that not only the labor but nearly all classes in California were
opposed to the Chinese. The constitutional amendment did not meet
the sanction of the higher courts. A bill was introduced into Congress
restricting Chinese immigrants to fifteen on each vessel. This passed
both branches, but was vetoed by President Hayes on the ground
that it was in violation of the spirit of treaty stipulations. At the
sessions of 1881–82 a new and more radical measure was
introduced. This prohibits immigration to Chinese or Coolie laborers
for twenty years. The discussion in the U. S. Senate began on the
28th of February, 1882, in a speech of unusual strength by Senator
John F. Miller, the author of the Bill. From this we freely quote, not
alone to show the later views entertained by the people of the Pacific
slope, but to give from the lips of one who knows the leading facts in
the history of the agitation.

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