Benigno Ferreira
Encyclopedia
Benigno Asunción Ferreira (1846–1920) was President of Paraguay
November 25, 1906 - July 4, 1908. He was a member of the Liberal Party
.
The general and doctor Benigno Ferrerira was one of the main protagonists in the postwar period of' ‘70 and one of the most respected political leaders of his era.
Born in Tapuá Grande (nowadays Limpio
), January 13, 1846. Son of María Concepción Ferreira and Angel Joaquín Mora Coene. His brothers were: Susana (married to Silvestre Aveiro) and Mercedes
(married to Federico Guillermo Baez, former president of the Constitutional Convention of 1870).
, at the end of his life, to grant permission. Despite being a recognized son, Benigno chose to take the mother's maiden name.
The entry into Colegio de San Carlos of Asunción
was prevented to young Benigno, son of an opponent, by order of Don Carlos Antonio López, president of the republic.
Historian Manuel Pesoa mentions that his baptism godfather was the Argentine consul general Jose Tomas Ramirez, representing general Justo José de Urquiza
, who favored his godson with a scholarship at the College of Concepción Uruguay
in the province of Entre Rios
, Argentina
. There, Benigno Ferreira engaged relationship with other young Argentines and Paraguayans.
He later moved to Buenos Aires to begin his studies of Law at the University. His career was interrupted by the outbreak of war against Paraguay
1865.
was formed by families who had left their homeland for political reasons. In this midst of liberal ideas they criticized the authoritarianism of the Lopez and their cruel police procedures. A group of Paraguayan students began organizing a united front to fight the regime of Asuncion
.
They published articles in the press in Buenos Aires
and even signed manifestos. Ferreira was a full fledged liberal. His ideology was in line with that of other young people who encouraged principles of liberty.
All this activity was closely followed by Lopez’s agents, who took harsh reprisals against Benigno’s mother "due to the criminal conduct of his son." Mrs. Concepcion was seized and tortured to declare against her missing son.
Having noticed the pain in which his mother was put in, he consolidated the intention to take a position that in the eyes of some Paraguayans was considered vile. Arturo Bray noted that Ferreira was a man of laws, but that the imperative of the facts made him assume positions such as enrolling in the ranks of the army. At age 19 he joined the Paraguayan Legion.
By knowing the secret Treaty of the Triple Alliance
, Benigno Ferreira would appear in person before General Urquiza
to convey the following: "We have been deceived. The treaty of alliance is a disgrace to the signatory governments, an insult to my homeland and a mockery to civilization." Ferreira resigned and returned to Buenos Aires to devote himself to journalism in the newspaper "La Republica", in whose columns continued to lambaste the Alliance.
Some modern historians argue that "the right attitude against the issue of legionnaires is to try to get in place of the exiles, observing his actions and his deeds in the light of the political principles and social force in his time."
After the occupation of Asuncion, Benigno Ferreira was appointed captain of the port of the capital. In September 1869 he joined the Freemasons.
The following month he was among the drafters of the newspaper "La Regeneración".
In 1870, he was elected member of the committee of “The Great People's Club” led by Facundo Machaín
and a few days later assumed command of a battalion of National Guard with the rank of Sergeant Major.
. In the troubled atmosphere of the reorganization of the Public State, he took over a bench in the Lower House and later served as minister of Justice.
He dealt with three armed revolts in the years ‘73 and ‘74. As a result of latter, he was forced to endure a long exile (1874-1895), a period in which obtained a doctorate in law in Buenos Aires.
He found upon his return a divided Liberal Party
, this time between civic and radicals.
He actively participated in the civil war in 1904 when the Pilcomayo Pact was signed. When the new government was installed, he went back to the position of minister of War and Navy and later became a member of the Superior Court.
On November 25, 1906, he took the first magistracy, being his vice president Don Emiliano González Navero
.
His Cabinet was composed of Don Emiliano González Navero as the vice-president and Adolfo R. Soler as Finance Minister. Manuel Brítez in the Ministry of Interior, Carlos L. Isasi in the Ministry of Justice, Guillermo de los Rios as Minister for Religious Affairs and Public Instruction, Manuel J. Duarte as Minister of War and Navy and Cecilio Báez
as Chancellor.
The civic were defeated and the general chairman Benigno Ferreira dismissed.
On the other hand, he settled a long conflict with the large railroad company, the Bank of the Republic was founded, the treaty Soler-Pinilla with Bolivia
, was signed, and warlike equipments were acquired from Europe
.
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
November 25, 1906 - July 4, 1908. He was a member of the Liberal Party
Liberal Party (Paraguay)
The Liberal Party , commonly known as the Blue Party was a political party in Paraguay, ruling the country for most of the period between 1904 and 1940.-References:...
.
The general and doctor Benigno Ferrerira was one of the main protagonists in the postwar period of' ‘70 and one of the most respected political leaders of his era.
Born in Tapuá Grande (nowadays Limpio
Limpio
The city of Limpio is located in the Central Department, Paraguay. It was founded on February 2, 1785, by the Friar Luís de Bolaños under the name of San José de los Campos Limpios de Tapúa....
), January 13, 1846. Son of María Concepción Ferreira and Angel Joaquín Mora Coene. His brothers were: Susana (married to Silvestre Aveiro) and Mercedes
(married to Federico Guillermo Baez, former president of the Constitutional Convention of 1870).
His Life
Born January 13, 1846 in Mora Cué, today Jurisdiction of Limpio, the former Tapuá. Son of Joaquin Angel Mora Coene and María Concepción Ferreira. This marriage could not be legalized because of the refusal of the dictator FranciaJosé Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia
200px|right|thumb|José Gaspar Rodríguez de FranciaDr. José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia y Velasco was the first leader of Paraguay following its independence from Spain...
, at the end of his life, to grant permission. Despite being a recognized son, Benigno chose to take the mother's maiden name.
The entry into Colegio de San Carlos of Asunción
Asunción
Asunción is the capital and largest city of Paraguay.The "Ciudad de Asunción" is an autonomous capital district not part of any department. The metropolitan area, called Gran Asunción, includes the cities of San Lorenzo, Fernando de la Mora, Lambaré, Luque, Mariano Roque Alonso, Ñemby, San...
was prevented to young Benigno, son of an opponent, by order of Don Carlos Antonio López, president of the republic.
Historian Manuel Pesoa mentions that his baptism godfather was the Argentine consul general Jose Tomas Ramirez, representing general Justo José de Urquiza
Justo José de Urquiza
Justo José de Urquiza y García was an Argentine general and politician. He was president of the Argentine Confederation from 1854 to 1860.He was governor of Entre Ríos during the government of Juan Manuel de Rosas, governor of Buenos Aires with powers delegated from the other provinces...
, who favored his godson with a scholarship at the College of Concepción Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
in the province of Entre Rios
Entre Rios
Entre Rios may refer to:*Entre Rios, Santa Catarina, a city of the Santa Catarina State, Brazil...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. There, Benigno Ferreira engaged relationship with other young Argentines and Paraguayans.
He later moved to Buenos Aires to begin his studies of Law at the University. His career was interrupted by the outbreak of war against Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
1865.
His political career
The Paraguayan colony in Buenos AiresBuenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
was formed by families who had left their homeland for political reasons. In this midst of liberal ideas they criticized the authoritarianism of the Lopez and their cruel police procedures. A group of Paraguayan students began organizing a united front to fight the regime of Asuncion
Asunción
Asunción is the capital and largest city of Paraguay.The "Ciudad de Asunción" is an autonomous capital district not part of any department. The metropolitan area, called Gran Asunción, includes the cities of San Lorenzo, Fernando de la Mora, Lambaré, Luque, Mariano Roque Alonso, Ñemby, San...
.
They published articles in the press in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
and even signed manifestos. Ferreira was a full fledged liberal. His ideology was in line with that of other young people who encouraged principles of liberty.
All this activity was closely followed by Lopez’s agents, who took harsh reprisals against Benigno’s mother "due to the criminal conduct of his son." Mrs. Concepcion was seized and tortured to declare against her missing son.
Having noticed the pain in which his mother was put in, he consolidated the intention to take a position that in the eyes of some Paraguayans was considered vile. Arturo Bray noted that Ferreira was a man of laws, but that the imperative of the facts made him assume positions such as enrolling in the ranks of the army. At age 19 he joined the Paraguayan Legion.
By knowing the secret Treaty of the Triple Alliance
Treaty of the Triple Alliance
The Treaty of the Triple Alliance was a treaty which allied Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay in the Paraguayan War. Signed at the beginning of the war, its articles prescribed the allies' actions both during and after the war.- Legal Restrictions :...
, Benigno Ferreira would appear in person before General Urquiza
Justo José de Urquiza
Justo José de Urquiza y García was an Argentine general and politician. He was president of the Argentine Confederation from 1854 to 1860.He was governor of Entre Ríos during the government of Juan Manuel de Rosas, governor of Buenos Aires with powers delegated from the other provinces...
to convey the following: "We have been deceived. The treaty of alliance is a disgrace to the signatory governments, an insult to my homeland and a mockery to civilization." Ferreira resigned and returned to Buenos Aires to devote himself to journalism in the newspaper "La Republica", in whose columns continued to lambaste the Alliance.
Some modern historians argue that "the right attitude against the issue of legionnaires is to try to get in place of the exiles, observing his actions and his deeds in the light of the political principles and social force in his time."
After the occupation of Asuncion, Benigno Ferreira was appointed captain of the port of the capital. In September 1869 he joined the Freemasons.
The following month he was among the drafters of the newspaper "La Regeneración".
In 1870, he was elected member of the committee of “The Great People's Club” led by Facundo Machaín
Facundo Machaín
Facundo Machaín was President of Paraguay. His period of government was short but very important for the political situation of the country at the time.-His life:...
and a few days later assumed command of a battalion of National Guard with the rank of Sergeant Major.
His government
Figure from an early age in national politics he became minister of War and Navy in 1871 during the government of Cirilo Antonio RivarolaCirilo Antonio Rivarola
Cirilo Antonio Rivarola Acosta was President of Paraguay March 1, 1870 - December 10, 1871. Before and during the War of the Triple Alliance, Rivarola was an opponent of dictator Francisco Solano López...
. In the troubled atmosphere of the reorganization of the Public State, he took over a bench in the Lower House and later served as minister of Justice.
He dealt with three armed revolts in the years ‘73 and ‘74. As a result of latter, he was forced to endure a long exile (1874-1895), a period in which obtained a doctorate in law in Buenos Aires.
He found upon his return a divided Liberal Party
Liberal Party (Paraguay)
The Liberal Party , commonly known as the Blue Party was a political party in Paraguay, ruling the country for most of the period between 1904 and 1940.-References:...
, this time between civic and radicals.
He actively participated in the civil war in 1904 when the Pilcomayo Pact was signed. When the new government was installed, he went back to the position of minister of War and Navy and later became a member of the Superior Court.
On November 25, 1906, he took the first magistracy, being his vice president Don Emiliano González Navero
Emiliano González Navero
Emiliano González Navero was Paraguayan politician of the Liberal Party, he served as President and Vice President on four occasions.-His life:He was one of the great survivors of the War against Triple Alliance...
.
His Cabinet was composed of Don Emiliano González Navero as the vice-president and Adolfo R. Soler as Finance Minister. Manuel Brítez in the Ministry of Interior, Carlos L. Isasi in the Ministry of Justice, Guillermo de los Rios as Minister for Religious Affairs and Public Instruction, Manuel J. Duarte as Minister of War and Navy and Cecilio Báez
Cecilio Báez
Cecilio Báez González was provisional President of Paraguay from December 8, 1905 to November 25, 1906. He was a member of the Liberal Party.-Early life and career:...
as Chancellor.
The civic were defeated and the general chairman Benigno Ferreira dismissed.
Government work
His government established new telegraph lines, the Normal Teachers School moved to Villarica and the number of primary schools increased. He also closed military courses and built barracks in the towns of the countryside as well as a building for the capital customs.On the other hand, he settled a long conflict with the large railroad company, the Bank of the Republic was founded, the treaty Soler-Pinilla with Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
, was signed, and warlike equipments were acquired from Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.