Rafael Reyes
Encyclopedia
Rafael Reyes Prieto was Chief of Staff of the Colombian National Army and President of Colombia
(1904–1909).
, Boyacá
, Colombia
on December 5, 1849. He died in Bogotá
on February 18, 1921.
. As a young adult, he explored the Amazon jungle in search for a direct communication with Brazil
and finding ways to develop the Amazonia.
, and participates in the war against the revolutionary forces that had tried to overturn the government of Rafael Núñez
in 1885. He is decorated for his heroic performance in the battle field, and president Núñez appoints him as Chief of Staff of the Army.
Later, in 1895, Reyes he leads new military actions as General Commander of the Northern Army and obtains victories in the battles of Enciso and La Tribuna, on March 15. When he returns to Bogotá
he is received with a victory parade and president Miguel Antonio Caro
honors him with the highest military honor, the Commanding Batton of Mariscal Sucre. The people cheer and applaud him and, poets write odes and poems to honor his military success.
By 1904, Colombia was still hurting from the events of the civil "War of The Thousand Days”
and the loss of the Panama Canal
. The conservative party presented two presidential tickets, one with Rafael Reyes for president and Ramón González Valencia as vice-president, and the other with Joaquin Vélez for president and Alfredo Vásquez Cobo. The liberal party abstained from this election. The results of the election were too close and challenges were brought to court. The Electoral Court proclaimed Reyes as President and he was inaugurated on August 7, 1904.
The mottos of President Reyes’ administration were: “peace, harmony and work” and “less politics and more administration”. His first regulations were aimed at restoring peace and order. In a reconciliatory gesture towards the liberals, he offered them to share positions in his cabinet. The fact that Reyes had been away from the country during the years of civil war (1899–1902) gave him much credulity in the eyes of both parties.
Reyes was a professional administrator and social reformer, more than a politician. He sponsored the law to protect the rights of minority social groups; established the Ministry of Public Works; completed the Central Highway and the “Ferrocarril de Girardot”; built “el Capitolio” (the building of Congress or Capitol Hill); created a modern “Escuela Militar” (Military Academy) with the assistance of highly qualified Chilean officers; restored diplomatic relations with Venezuela
; implemented legislation to stabilize the currency and in 1905 created the “Banco Central” (central bank).
The administration of Reyes, thanks to the treaty of “Averbury-Holguín”, was able to restructure the nation’s foreign debt. As a result of this treaty, Reyes obtained substantial foreign aid and secured significant international loans to finance his plans of public works and infrastructure. His administration was very protectionist, fomented the industries of textiles and sugar. He expanded the operation of oil refineries, and the manufacturing of paper, glass and steel. Reyes also encouraged and promoted the growing of banana, coffee and cotton.
President Reyes, on December 12, 1904, received a letter from the Speaker of the House of Representative, Dionisio Arango, by which the President is informed that the House cannot carry on with its constitutional duties because of a permanent lack of quorum. Thus, President Reyes, under the authority granted to him by the Constitution, closed Congress. He convened a General Constitutional Assembly, integrated by members of both parties (conservative and liberal). The Assembly convened in Bogotá
on January 1, 1905, and its most significant pieces of legislation were: to reform and modernize the Constitution; extended the presidential term to 10 years, from January 1, 1905 to December 31, 1914; suppressed the vice-presidency; and suppressed the Council of State.
The State of Panama had seceded from Colombia on November 3, 1903, during the administration of President José Manuel Marroquín
. The Panamanian troops, aided by military advisers and troops from the United States of America, had declared their independence. This action was supported by President Theodore Roosevelt
, who had expressed interest in building an interoceanic canal in this strategic region. There had been a treaty between Colombia
and United States of America, the Hay–Herran Treaty, signed on January 12, 1903, by which the United States would finance, direct and supervise the construction of the canal.
Some members of the conservative party showed contempt for the way president Reyes had offered reconciliation toward the liberal party, mainly after the civil “War of the Thousand Days”. On February 10, 1906, during his daily morning coach drive through the neighborhoods of Bogotá
with his wife and daughter, they were victims of an assassination attempt. The attempt took place in the neighborhood of “Barrocolorado”. Fortunately, the first family escaped alive and unhurt. A few weeks later, the perpetrators and master minds of the assassination attempt were apprehended, tried and executed in the same place where the assassination attempt took place.
Due to the separation of Panamá
from Colombia, the relationship between Colombia and the United States of America were very tense and had deteriorated to a very low point. President Reyes, a true diplomat, had pushed towards a treaty of reconciliation to restore diplomatic relations. On January 9, 1909, his administration signed this treaty through his Secretary of State Enrique Cortéz, between Colombia
, Panamá
and the United States of America. In part, the treaty had a provision by which the United States would pay substantial monetary funds in compensation and restitution to Colombia for the loss of the Panamanian territory.
Reyes presented the 1909 treaty for ratification to the National Assembly. The Colombian people were outraged and infuriated by the terms of the treat and took to the streets in violent demonstrations. The Assembly rejected the treaty arguing that neither the President nor the Assembly had constitutional authority to sign or ratify said treaty, but only Congress could do it. Thus, Reyes convenes Congress on June 20, 1909, and he resigns as President. General Jorge Holguín assumes the presidency as Interim President, pending new elections, and General Reyes travels to Spain.
President of Colombia
The President of Colombia is the head of state and head of government of the Republic of Colombia. The office of president was established upon the ratification of the Constitution of 1819, by the Congress of Angostura, convened in December 1819, when Colombia was part of "la Gran Colombia"...
(1904–1909).
Biographic data
Rafael Reyes was born in Santa Rosa de ViterboSanta Rosa de Viterbo, Boyacá
Santa Rosa de Viterbo is a town and municipality in Boyacá Department, Colombia, part of the Tundama Province a subregion of Boyaca.Viterbite, not a mineral but a mixture of Allophane and Wavellite, occurs in and was named after this municipality....
, Boyacá
Boyacá Department
Boyacá is one of the 32 Departments of Colombia, and the remnant of one of the original nine states of the "United States of Colombia".Boyacá is centrally located within Colombia, almost entirely within the mountains of the Eastern Cordillera to the border with Venezuela, although the western end...
, Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
on December 5, 1849. He died in Bogotá
Bogotá
Bogotá, Distrito Capital , from 1991 to 2000 called Santa Fé de Bogotá, is the capital, and largest city, of Colombia. It is also designated by the national constitution as the capital of the department of Cundinamarca, even though the city of Bogotá now comprises an independent Capital district...
on February 18, 1921.
Early life
Reyes only completed his elementary education. From an early age he dedicated himself to commercial activities with his brothers, mainly in the trade of Peruvian bark or cinchonaCinchona
Cinchona or Quina is a genus of about 38 species in the family Rubiaceae, native to tropical South America. They are large shrubs or small trees growing 5–15 metres in height with evergreen foliage. The leaves are opposite, rounded to lanceolate and 10–40 cm long. The flowers are white, pink...
. As a young adult, he explored the Amazon jungle in search for a direct communication with Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
and finding ways to develop the Amazonia.
Military career
Reyes, after his renown expeditions to the Amazon jungle, enlists in the army. He joins the forces of General Eliseo PayánEliseo Payán
José Eliseo Payán Hurtado was a Colombian lawyer, politician, and military officer. Payán as Vice President of Colombia assumed the Presidency of Colombia due to the absence of President Rafael Núñez in 1887.- Biographic data :...
, and participates in the war against the revolutionary forces that had tried to overturn the government of Rafael Núñez
Rafael Núñez (politician)
Rafael Wenceslao Núñez Moledo was a Colombian author, lawyer, journalist and politician, who was elected President of Colombia in 1880 and in 1884. Rafael Núñez was born in Cartagena de Indias, on September 28, 1825. He died in Cartagena on September 18, 1894.-Early life:Little is known about the...
in 1885. He is decorated for his heroic performance in the battle field, and president Núñez appoints him as Chief of Staff of the Army.
Later, in 1895, Reyes he leads new military actions as General Commander of the Northern Army and obtains victories in the battles of Enciso and La Tribuna, on March 15. When he returns to Bogotá
Bogotá
Bogotá, Distrito Capital , from 1991 to 2000 called Santa Fé de Bogotá, is the capital, and largest city, of Colombia. It is also designated by the national constitution as the capital of the department of Cundinamarca, even though the city of Bogotá now comprises an independent Capital district...
he is received with a victory parade and president Miguel Antonio Caro
Miguel Antonio Caro
Miguel Antonio Caro Tobar was a Colombian scholar, poet, journalist, philosopher, orator, philologist, lawyer and politician.- Biographic data :Miguel Antonio Caro was born in Bogotá on November 10, 1845, and he died in the same city on August 5, 1909....
honors him with the highest military honor, the Commanding Batton of Mariscal Sucre. The people cheer and applaud him and, poets write odes and poems to honor his military success.
The Presidency
With the enormous prestige that Reyes was enjoying after his successful military campaign of 1895 in the North, it seemed obvious that we would be nominated by his party to run for president in 1900. But it did not happen. He would have to wait until four year later.By 1904, Colombia was still hurting from the events of the civil "War of The Thousand Days”
Thousand Days War
The Thousand Days' War , was a civil armed conflict in the newly created Republic of Colombia, between the Conservative Party, the Liberal Party and its radical factions. In 1899 the ruling conservatives were accused of maintaining power through fraudulent elections...
and the loss of the Panama Canal
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
. The conservative party presented two presidential tickets, one with Rafael Reyes for president and Ramón González Valencia as vice-president, and the other with Joaquin Vélez for president and Alfredo Vásquez Cobo. The liberal party abstained from this election. The results of the election were too close and challenges were brought to court. The Electoral Court proclaimed Reyes as President and he was inaugurated on August 7, 1904.
The mottos of President Reyes’ administration were: “peace, harmony and work” and “less politics and more administration”. His first regulations were aimed at restoring peace and order. In a reconciliatory gesture towards the liberals, he offered them to share positions in his cabinet. The fact that Reyes had been away from the country during the years of civil war (1899–1902) gave him much credulity in the eyes of both parties.
Reyes was a professional administrator and social reformer, more than a politician. He sponsored the law to protect the rights of minority social groups; established the Ministry of Public Works; completed the Central Highway and the “Ferrocarril de Girardot”; built “el Capitolio” (the building of Congress or Capitol Hill); created a modern “Escuela Militar” (Military Academy) with the assistance of highly qualified Chilean officers; restored diplomatic relations with Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
; implemented legislation to stabilize the currency and in 1905 created the “Banco Central” (central bank).
The administration of Reyes, thanks to the treaty of “Averbury-Holguín”, was able to restructure the nation’s foreign debt. As a result of this treaty, Reyes obtained substantial foreign aid and secured significant international loans to finance his plans of public works and infrastructure. His administration was very protectionist, fomented the industries of textiles and sugar. He expanded the operation of oil refineries, and the manufacturing of paper, glass and steel. Reyes also encouraged and promoted the growing of banana, coffee and cotton.
President Reyes, on December 12, 1904, received a letter from the Speaker of the House of Representative, Dionisio Arango, by which the President is informed that the House cannot carry on with its constitutional duties because of a permanent lack of quorum. Thus, President Reyes, under the authority granted to him by the Constitution, closed Congress. He convened a General Constitutional Assembly, integrated by members of both parties (conservative and liberal). The Assembly convened in Bogotá
Bogotá
Bogotá, Distrito Capital , from 1991 to 2000 called Santa Fé de Bogotá, is the capital, and largest city, of Colombia. It is also designated by the national constitution as the capital of the department of Cundinamarca, even though the city of Bogotá now comprises an independent Capital district...
on January 1, 1905, and its most significant pieces of legislation were: to reform and modernize the Constitution; extended the presidential term to 10 years, from January 1, 1905 to December 31, 1914; suppressed the vice-presidency; and suppressed the Council of State.
The State of Panama had seceded from Colombia on November 3, 1903, during the administration of President José Manuel Marroquín
José Manuel Marroquín
Jose Manuel Marroquin Ricaurte was a Colombian political figure and President of Colombia.- Biographic data :José Manuel Marroquín was born in Bogotá, on August 6, 1827. He died in the same city on September 19, 1908.- Early life :...
. The Panamanian troops, aided by military advisers and troops from the United States of America, had declared their independence. This action was supported by President Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
, who had expressed interest in building an interoceanic canal in this strategic region. There had been a treaty between Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
and United States of America, the Hay–Herran Treaty, signed on January 12, 1903, by which the United States would finance, direct and supervise the construction of the canal.
Some members of the conservative party showed contempt for the way president Reyes had offered reconciliation toward the liberal party, mainly after the civil “War of the Thousand Days”. On February 10, 1906, during his daily morning coach drive through the neighborhoods of Bogotá
Bogotá
Bogotá, Distrito Capital , from 1991 to 2000 called Santa Fé de Bogotá, is the capital, and largest city, of Colombia. It is also designated by the national constitution as the capital of the department of Cundinamarca, even though the city of Bogotá now comprises an independent Capital district...
with his wife and daughter, they were victims of an assassination attempt. The attempt took place in the neighborhood of “Barrocolorado”. Fortunately, the first family escaped alive and unhurt. A few weeks later, the perpetrators and master minds of the assassination attempt were apprehended, tried and executed in the same place where the assassination attempt took place.
Due to the separation of Panamá
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
from Colombia, the relationship between Colombia and the United States of America were very tense and had deteriorated to a very low point. President Reyes, a true diplomat, had pushed towards a treaty of reconciliation to restore diplomatic relations. On January 9, 1909, his administration signed this treaty through his Secretary of State Enrique Cortéz, between Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
, Panamá
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
and the United States of America. In part, the treaty had a provision by which the United States would pay substantial monetary funds in compensation and restitution to Colombia for the loss of the Panamanian territory.
Reyes presented the 1909 treaty for ratification to the National Assembly. The Colombian people were outraged and infuriated by the terms of the treat and took to the streets in violent demonstrations. The Assembly rejected the treaty arguing that neither the President nor the Assembly had constitutional authority to sign or ratify said treaty, but only Congress could do it. Thus, Reyes convenes Congress on June 20, 1909, and he resigns as President. General Jorge Holguín assumes the presidency as Interim President, pending new elections, and General Reyes travels to Spain.
External links
- Reyes in Sao Paulo in the New York Times
- Rafael Reyes at FlickrFlickrFlickr is an image hosting and video hosting website, web services suite, and online community that was created by Ludicorp in 2004 and acquired by Yahoo! in 2005. In addition to being a popular website for users to share and embed personal photographs, the service is widely used by bloggers to...