History of Central America, Volume 3, 1801-1887 / The Works of Hubert Howe Bancroft, Volume 8

by Hubert Howe Bancroft

[XX-37] The power of the church had been almost as great as that of the government. Under the constitution the church nominated a number of deputies to the assembly, and was the only one recognized or tolerated. Its influence in the assembly had been large, and its interests were well represented. Crosby's Statement, MS., 91, 110-11. This influence had always been exercised to uphold the despotic sway of the oligarchs.

[XX-38] The rebels were routed Sept. 24th at Santa Rosa by the forces under Barrios, and again the 28th at Jalapa. They lost their artillery, other arms, and much ammunition. Guat., Recop. Ley., Gob. Democ., i. 13-15; Nic., Gaceta, Nov. 4, 1871; El Porvenir de Nic., Oct. 1, 1871.

[XX-39] Id., Nov. 26, 1871; Guat., Recop. Ley., Gob. Democ., i. 24-5.

[XX-40] Decree no. 59, in Boletin Ofic., no. 52. The order had been removed from Guat. by command of King Cárlos III., in 1767, its members leaving the capital on the 1st of July for the coast, and being embarked for Spain. Hist. of Mex., iii. 432-3, this series. But a law of June 7, 1851, sanctioned by the assembly Nov. 5th, authorized their permanent reëstablishment, revoking all other laws or decrees to the contrary, notably one of 1845, notwithstanding the many protests made against the measure. The most plausible pretext for the restoration of the jesuits had been the alleged scarcity of competent priests for the work of spreading the gospel; which was equivalent to saying that the 300 priests living in the republic were both insufficient and incapable. The real object of the hasty reintroduction of the order was said to be the aggrandizement of the house of Canon Juan José Aycinena, closely connected by family ties with Manuel F. Pavon and Luis Batres. Aycinena had pledged himself to bring the order in, and in exchange for this service it was to influence his appointment as archbishop of Guatemala. It was a well-understood bargain. Guat., Carta al Ilmo. Sr. Arzob. por un Catól. Apostól. romano, Guat., Aug. 20, 1851, in Cent. Am. Pamph., v. no. 12.

[XX-41] Report of the comandante of San José, in Boletin Ofic., Sept. 25, 1871; Guat., Recop. Ley., iii. 290; Id., Gob. Democ., i. 89-90; El Porvenir de Nic., Oct. 22, 1871; Costa R., Gaceta, June 9, 1885; Mex., Diario Ofic., Oct. 15, 1871.

[XX-42] The jesuits fared no better in Salvador, where the constituent assembly, being consulted as to whether they should be allowed to enter, resolved that their presence in the country would not be beneficial. Only four votes were cast in their favor. El Porvenir de Nic., Oct. 1, 1871. A few who lived in Salv. were made to depart in 1872, and forbidden to reënter. A treaty was made with Guat., under which neither government was ever after to allow jesuits to reside within their respective territories. Id., March 24, 1872; Ore. Uana, Refutacion, 1-11.

[XX-43] The decree was issued with the clause that any deficit experienced by the archdiocese in consequence should be covered out of the pub. treasury. Decree of Dec. 22, 1871, in Guat., Recop. Ley., iii. 290; Id., Gob. Democ., i. 23-6, 70-1.

[XX-44] The decree contained nine articles, and regulated the manner of disposing of the property which had belonged to these associations. The religious orders thus suppressed were those of the Franciscans, and recollects, dominicans, mercedari, clergymen of the oratory of Saint Philip de Neri, jesuits, paulists, and lastly the capuchins, otherwise called bethlehemites. These capuchins were natives of Spain, most of whom had been partisans of the pretender called Cárlos V. They occupied a convent which had belonged to the bethlehemites, when they were taken by a military guard to the coast and shipped away, with orders never to return. They had made themselves particularly obnoxious, and not being citizens of the country, the gov. was free to make them leave. Friars who were natives of Cent. Am. were permitted to remain, and given a monthly allowance for their support; but forbidden to show themselves in public with their habits on. Nic., Semanal Nic., July 4, 1872; Id., Gaceta, Aug. 3, 1872; El Porvenir de Nic., July 14, 1872; Guat., Recop. Ley., iii. 290-1; Id., Gob. Democ., i. 91, 101-2; Peatfield's Glimpse, in S. F. Overland Monthly, xiv. 159; S. F. Post, July 2, 1872.

[XX-45] With toleration of all religious sects throughout the republic. This subject was being discussed in the constituent assembly, with much opposition to the clause being inserted in the fundamental law. The govt then cut the gordian knot. Later other decrees were passed, further curtailing eccles. jurisdiction, including the secularization of cemeteries. Guat., Mem. Sec. Gob., Justicia, etc., 1880, 2-5; Id., 1882, 11-12; Guat., Recop. Ley., Gob. Democ., i. 159-61; El Porvenir de Nic., Apr. 27, 1873.

[XX-46] Placing a notice on the convent door that any one entering it without permission of the ecclesiastic authority would be excommunicated. The nuns had been kept away from intercourse with their relatives, and the civil authorities had been debarred access to them. The official journal said, March 6th, that history and indisputable facts proved they had not always been the abode either of justice, morality, or true religion. The removal of the teresas, capuchinas, and claras to the Santa Catarina was made under the personal inspection of the jefe político of the department. Their number was about 126, and most of them were natives of the other Cent. Am. republics. Pan. Star and Herald, March 24, 1873.