Until recently the government was monarchial

hereditary, constitutional, and representative. Since the overthrow of the empire in 1889 republican institutions have been established, each of the old provinces being now a State, whose internal affairs are administered without interference from the central federal government. At the head of affairs is a president, by whom, and the national! congre , legislation is carried on. The congre consists of a chamber of deputies and a senate, the former elected by direct vote as representative of the different States; while the senators are chose a by the State legislatures, three for each State for nine years. The executive authority is vested in the president. The aaa debt is now about $620,- 000,000, The annual revenue of the republic has latterly amounted to about $50,- 000,000, and has been generally exceeded by the expenditure. The army numbers over 28,000 men, including officers; there are also. about 20,000 gendarmes.