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This paper describes the role played by Henrique Morize in the organization of the Brazilian expedition that went to Sobral in the state of Ceará to observe the total solar eclipse of May 29, 1919. This description is justified by the emphasis given to the event by Morize himself. For the Brazilian astronomer, what really was at stake was to show that his institution could perform ordinary scientific tasks, which was not always the case with the National Observatory, since the support of the federal government was not regular. In order to support this interpretation, various documents such as letters, articles and statements from Morize and colleagues will be quoted, in particular the report on that event. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]