Nicaragua
“A mere delegate of the people, I do not recognize party colors”
Inaugural speech by Fernando Guzmán Solórzano,
President of the Republic of Nicaragua,
Masaya, March 1, 1867.
Over a century and a half later,
his lofty words resonate and clash
with this political moment in Nicaragua.
Fernando Guzmán
Nicaraguans: Raised by your votes to the Presidency of the Republic and extremely grateful for the distinguished honor you have done me by putting the reins of your dearest interests in my hands, I find myself duty bound to reveal to you the standard of behavior I intend to follow, my opinions, desires and hopes. On commencing my administration I am truly very far from believing myself Head of the Nation with the right to command my countrymen. I am a mere citizen mandated with looking after the common happiness, a responsible and temporary governor with no more power or strength than the power and strength of my fellow citizens, with no other influence, no other prestige than that which, due to the legitimacy of my deeds, has earned me the love and sympathy of the Nicaraguan people.
I want to be a civil head of State above all, forever willing to bring people together, avoiding the clash of opposing interests. I want to be the link that unites the opposing parties, the petty rivalries of fiefdoms and the exaggerated passions that the party’s stubborn spirit places above all truly public interests. With a frankly conciliatory conduct I want to drown, if at all possible, the principal cause of all our misfortunes, the origin of our woes: that dark political intolerance that poisons the air of the homeland and declares the dissident brother an irreconcilable enemy.
“In the school of misfortune”If, as a private man, I can sympathize with any of the country’s political groups, as a public man I do not recognize party political colors. For me there is nothing more than brother Nicaraguans and in any circumstances during my administration the most worthy will always come before the most devoted. I know I address a people educated in the school of misfortune, but eternally disposed to work and make sacrifices and hence capable of great improvement in its present condition. I do not, however, want to flatter national pride by presenting a brilliant situation, a present devoid of obstacles, nor do I want to dazzle you with vain and pompous promises that rarely turn out to be more than a mirage of fanciful offers.
My idea is that the government cannot, nor should not, be more than one of very many elements, one of the most powerful, if you wish. When the State oversteps certain limits and brings its influence to bear on trade, agriculture, industry, all the branches that ultimately form the cultural elements of a country, it becomes protectionist and centralizing, feigns leadership when it is doing no more than sluggishly towing the nation, creates hideous monopolies and ends up clogging the sources of wealth with its dismal interference.
“Absolute independence for justice” I believe that what the Republic needs is to ensure solid foundations for its own tranquility. This outcome, as I understand it, can only be secured through the absolute rule of the Constitution and of law and I propose to bind myself most strictly to these.
In particular, the administration of justice and the public purse will occupy my attention: absolute independence for the first and all economy possible in the second. In my opinion, this is what Nicaragua needs in these branches. Increasing the magistrate’s power, municipal power, from the first to the last of its agents, the power of all those responsible for watching over the safety, honor, life and property of the Nicaraguan people. Learning and integrity in managing our meager treasury, doing away with any jobs I consider unnecessary. Order and excessive severity, even towards the merest shadow of impurity, in the administration of revenue. These are my opinions on these two matters.
I know very well that in the place where I sit, I shall be the target of harsh criticism for four years. But, before hearing it, I want on the contrary to listen continually to the legitimate and honest voice of the supreme judge of the era, the sovereign court of civilization, public opinion. Public opinion has its voice and that voice is the press. I love and venerate it and call on it to come to my aid; I want its advice, its severe statements. In summoning it to guide me on such a rocky path, I do not call on the servile sycophantic press, eternally sold to power, which wafts a dense cloud of incense before the eyes of the head of State, hiding from him the country’s suffering, needs and true aspirations. Republican by conviction and nature, I want to hear the counsel of the press that criticizes with moderation and independence, I want to hear its judgments no matter how severe they are. Never fear that a government agent might go forth armed with unjust laws of circumstances to lay his hand on the one who had enough energy and patriotism to censure the abuses and mistakes of power. Even calumny will find me unmoved. I will spurn it, but never persecute it.
Finally, I call upon all those men who, with their learning and intelligence, can help me in my task, on all upright men irrespective of political opinion who carry true sentiments of progress and patriotic love in their souls; I call upon the peace-loving and toiling people who want liberty and order, who love labor and in whom I will always see the best support for my government. I also want the active and enterprising foreigner, who desires to make ours his second homeland, to come and work with us for the common good. I will always be the first when it comes to bringing to Nicaragua the learning, the population and the enterprising spirit we need.
With this determined effort we must secure and nurture our foreign relations, principally with the great republic of the United States, with which we unfortunately do not have a single treaty to date. And not for one moment should we forget how necessary it is for the future of our homeland to bring our interests gradually closer to those of other Hispanic republics, especially our sister republics in Central America, today more than ever united by a shared destiny.
“The happiness of many” Fellow citizens: A mere delegate of the people, responsible for others’ interests that are so dear to me, I hope to return the power you entrust in me with the untroubled conscience of the upright man who wanted to fulfil his duty. The oath I have just sworn is my program. My most ardent desire is to procure the happiness of many, even in spite of opposition from the few. And the greatest of my aspirations, to take part as the latest but most determined man in the holy enterprise of making Nicaragua a true republic, where the constitutional regime reigns in all its purity, where liberty, security and order are not an illusion and where, finally, anyone, whoever he may be, can find among us a tranquil and hospitable refuge.
|
a monthly magazine of analysis on Central America