Severo Fernández
Encyclopedia
Severo Fernández Alonso Caballero (1849 – 1925) was President of his country, Bolivia, from 1896 to 1899. He is best remembered as the last president of the 15-year period of Conservative Party hegemony (1884–99).
Like Baptista
, Fernández was a more conciliatory and legalist breed of Conservative
. Perhaps for that reason, it was his fate to preside over the collapse of Conservative Party
rule and its loss of power in the aftermath of the 1899 Civil War against the Liberal Party
. A disgruntled Liberal Party had become increasingly frustrated during the many years of Conservative dominance, often attained by electoral fraud
. After 1894, led by a new, combative leader, the former military hero (War of the Pacific) José Manuel Pando
, the Liberals' calls for anti-government rebellions became more strident, but they were always neutralized by a loyal military establishment.
All of this changed radically with the emergence of a new, and very polarizing, "wedge" issue: the simmering displeasure in Sucre
and Potosi
dating back to the days of Marshall Santa Cruz (1829–39), regarding the de-facto takeover by the city of La Paz
as the seat of the Bolivian government. The regional conflict also had much to do with the emergence of a new tin-mining elite based in La Paz and Oruro
to the detriment of the old silver-mining establishment based in Sucre and Potosi, as symbolized by Conservative leaders such as Arce and Pacheco (both silver tycoons). To add fuel to the fire, the Liberals called for a federal descentralization of power, thus garnering further support from outlying regions of the country.
Civil War (often called the "Federal Revolution") exploded when Chuquisaca and Potosi parliamentarians in Sucre passed a "Law of Confinement," which ordered the President to reside in Sucre and issue decrees from there, rather than from La Paz. For their part, La Paz-Oruro-Cochabamba lawmakers associated with Pando's Liberal Party introduced a motion calling for the official transfer of the seat of Government to La Paz, legalizing what had in fact been customary practice for decades. When this motion was prevented from being voted on by the Conservatives, the Liberal congressmen left Sucre and established themselves permanently in La Paz. At this point President Fernández himself led an army to La Paz, in order to "restore order." The ensuing bloodbath culminated in the crushing defeat of the Conservatives at the hands of General Pando, who emerged triumphant from the Battle of the Second Crucero, even taking President Fernández prisoner.
Subsequently, Fernández was allowed to go into exile in Chile, but returned to Bolivia in his declining years, where he died in 1925.
Like Baptista
Mariano Baptista
Mariano Baptista Caserta was President of Bolivia during the 1892-96 period. A member of the Conservative Party, he was renowned for his stirring oratorical style....
, Fernández was a more conciliatory and legalist breed of Conservative
Conservative Party (Bolivia)
The Conservative Party was one of two major political parties in Bolivia in the late 19th century. The other was the Liberal Party. Between 1880 and 1899, all of the Presidents of Bolivia were members of the Conservative Party....
. Perhaps for that reason, it was his fate to preside over the collapse of Conservative Party
Conservative Party (Bolivia)
The Conservative Party was one of two major political parties in Bolivia in the late 19th century. The other was the Liberal Party. Between 1880 and 1899, all of the Presidents of Bolivia were members of the Conservative Party....
rule and its loss of power in the aftermath of the 1899 Civil War against the Liberal Party
Liberal Party (Bolivia)
The Liberal Party was one of two major political parties in Bolivia in the late 19th century and the first half of the 20th century. The other was the Conservative Party. The Liberal Party was formally founded in 1883 by Eliodoro Camacho...
. A disgruntled Liberal Party had become increasingly frustrated during the many years of Conservative dominance, often attained by electoral fraud
Electoral fraud
Electoral fraud is illegal interference with the process of an election. Acts of fraud affect vote counts to bring about an election result, whether by increasing the vote share of the favored candidate, depressing the vote share of the rival candidates or both...
. After 1894, led by a new, combative leader, the former military hero (War of the Pacific) José Manuel Pando
José Manuel Pando
José Manuel Inocencio Pando Solares was President of Bolivia between October 1899 and August 1904. Born in Luribay , he studied medicine, joined the army during the War of the Pacific against Chile , and later dedicated himself to exploring his country's vast and thinly populated lowland forests...
, the Liberals' calls for anti-government rebellions became more strident, but they were always neutralized by a loyal military establishment.
All of this changed radically with the emergence of a new, and very polarizing, "wedge" issue: the simmering displeasure in Sucre
Sucre
Sucre, also known historically as Charcas, La Plata and Chuquisaca is the constitutional capital of Bolivia and the capital of the department of Chuquisaca. Located in the south-central part of the country, Sucre lies at an elevation of 2750m...
and Potosi
Potosí
Potosí is a city and the capital of the department of Potosí in Bolivia. It is one of the highest cities in the world by elevation at a nominal . and it was the location of the Spanish colonial mint, now the National Mint of Bolivia...
dating back to the days of Marshall Santa Cruz (1829–39), regarding the de-facto takeover by the city of La Paz
La Paz
Nuestra Señora de La Paz is the administrative capital of Bolivia, as well as the departmental capital of the La Paz Department, and the second largest city in the country after Santa Cruz de la Sierra...
as the seat of the Bolivian government. The regional conflict also had much to do with the emergence of a new tin-mining elite based in La Paz and Oruro
Oruro, Bolivia
Oruro is a city in Bolivia with a population of 235,393 , located about equidistant between La Paz and Sucre at approximately 3710 meters above sea level. It is the capital of the department of Oruro....
to the detriment of the old silver-mining establishment based in Sucre and Potosi, as symbolized by Conservative leaders such as Arce and Pacheco (both silver tycoons). To add fuel to the fire, the Liberals called for a federal descentralization of power, thus garnering further support from outlying regions of the country.
Civil War (often called the "Federal Revolution") exploded when Chuquisaca and Potosi parliamentarians in Sucre passed a "Law of Confinement," which ordered the President to reside in Sucre and issue decrees from there, rather than from La Paz. For their part, La Paz-Oruro-Cochabamba lawmakers associated with Pando's Liberal Party introduced a motion calling for the official transfer of the seat of Government to La Paz, legalizing what had in fact been customary practice for decades. When this motion was prevented from being voted on by the Conservatives, the Liberal congressmen left Sucre and established themselves permanently in La Paz. At this point President Fernández himself led an army to La Paz, in order to "restore order." The ensuing bloodbath culminated in the crushing defeat of the Conservatives at the hands of General Pando, who emerged triumphant from the Battle of the Second Crucero, even taking President Fernández prisoner.
Subsequently, Fernández was allowed to go into exile in Chile, but returned to Bolivia in his declining years, where he died in 1925.