Republican Discourse on the Eve of Brazil’s Independence in the Journals Revérbero Constitucional Fluminense and Correio do Rio de Janeiro

Abstract

This article argues that, in the context of Brazil’s Independence, there existed a republican discourse that remains underexplored in the scholarly literature. To this end, the journals Revérbero Constitucional Fluminense (1821-1822) and Correio do Rio de Janeiro (1822-1823) were investigated. The methodological approach of the Cambridge School of linguistic contextualism was adopted, addressing both public debate and the reception of ideas. Two main lines of analysis are developed: 1) the appeal of authority in the reception of renowned republican thinkers and ideas, through both direct and indirect references compared with primary sources; 2) the concepts of citizenship and virtue associated with republicanism—such as the ideal of the citizen-soldier defending the nation, and individual selflessness in service of the public good. The article concludes that the concept of republican liberalism better captures the ideological orientation of these journalsthan radical liberalism or just republicanism , expressions recognized by specialized literature.

Keywords
Brazilian Independence; republicanism; Correio do Rio de Janeiro; Revérbero Constitucional Fluminense; liberalism