Member of the Salvadorean Academy of Letters and of the American Institute of International Law

TH

HE discovery of America was one of the most portentous events

in the history of humanity. Noble and generous Spain which, in the words of the East, is temperate and mild as Yeman, abundant in flowers and fragrance as India, closed the medieval period with strong hand and high soul and opened a new world to the labors of modern civilization, labors which have brought forth a beautiful blossoming of the spirit and a flourishing development of human society.

The unique act of discovery was followed by the immense work of conquest. With the redeeming cross of the missionary and the flashing sword of the soldier, in deeds which surpass the bounds of fantastic. legend, the conquest rescued from barbarism a group of peoples which to-day participate in progress and culture and welcome the prodigies of science, the wonders of industry, and the marvels of art.

But the task was not complete; with the passing of the years the wondrous sun of liberty illumined the pathway which the countries of Central America were to travel toward the heights of their great destinies.

The spirit of democracy, which had triumphed in the prosperous cis-Atlantic colonies of England and which had fought in France the absolutism of monarchs, passed with increased strength from Europe to the coasts of the Spanish colonies, and in a hundred battles in which heroes fought against heroes these colonies achieved the lasting victory of the ideals by which they were inspired.

To bring to a happy ending the great work of the political emancipation of America, there arose a group of illustrious citizens, men of high courage and clear vision, with hearts consumed by love of coun

try, who reckoned sacrifice for their cause a privilege and who saw in the difficulties which beset their path only a challenge to victory.

Among this notable group of men, who are to-day reverenced by America and admired by the world, the figure of Father José Matías Delgado stands forth with singular boldness of outline. This paladin of lofty and imperishable fame was of noble lineage. His father was Don Pedro Delgado, of the family of the Lords of Polán in Toledo, and his mother, Doña María Ana de León, daughter of an illustrious Salvadorean house, was a descendant of Don Sancho de Barahona, the first alcalde of Guatemala, who with Don Pedro de Alvarado conquered a great part of Central America.

Education had made little progress in the city of Guatemala in the last half of the eighteenth century, and if this was true in the capital of the Captaincy General, one may judge of its state in a provincial city such as San Salvador, where Delgado was born on February 24, 1767. On the completion of his primary instruction, he was sent to Guatemala, where he entered the seminary, thanks to a scholarship granted him by Archbishop Francos y Monroy. In that center of sound teaching and simple customs, he distinguished himself by his keen intelligence, rectitude of character, and exemplary behavior, winning the esteem of his fellow pupils and the praise and trust of his teachers. After obtaining the degree of bachelor of philosophy, he devoted himself to the study of theology and civil and canon law, with such marked success that because of his extensive knowledge he was often called upon to fill vacancies in the teaching staff created by the absence or illness of the professors. After fulfilling the necessary requirements, he received the degree of doctor of laws and was also ordained.

Shortly thereafter, he was appointed to a parish in San Salvador, his birthplace, which now became his residence. Here he labored indefatigably and with deep solicitude for the spiritual welfare of the people under his care. As a shepherd of souls he undertook his apostolic ministry with high devotion and evangelic abnegation; his ardent concern for the needy made him spend his personal fortune on their behalf, and so great was his sacerdotal zeal that to him came people of all classes of society in search of counsel in their difficulties, guidance in their affairs, and succor and refuge in their need.

Gifted with rare virtues, Father Delgado led a life which was a mirror of uprightness and a pattern of purity, as even his enemies could not but acknowledge. So considerable was his influence over his countrymen, and so great was his reputation for wisdom, that any decision of his was accepted as a judgment from which there could be no appeal. He was also characterized by an ardent patriotism, an unshakable love of liberty, and an untiring activity in the cause of freedom.

His firm conviction and singleness of purpose in regard to the political evolution of his country early decided him to labor energetically for independence. About 1811 his longing for liberty was intensified, and for the purpose of furthering the movement toward emancipation he joined Don Nicolás, Don Manuel, and Don Vicente Aguilar, three other priests of San Salvador, Don Manuel José Arce, who was destined to become the first president of the United Provinces of Central America, and other prominent citizens. This group organized a general insurrection of the province of San Salvador.

Everything pointed to the triumph of their efforts; at the head of the conspiracy was Delgado, with his great prestige among the lower classes, his eloquence, his gift of personal magnetism, his never-failing energy, and above all, the singular influence which his character, tempered like Toledan steel, exercised over all those who came into contact with him. Many of the more important centers of population were ready for revolution, and reliance was placed upon the sympathy of some of the other provinces of the Captaincy General. The excusable impatience of the conspirators, however, and a wellgrounded fear of the exposure of their plans to the authorities caused these knights of liberty to launch themselves prematurely into action. Success at first crowned the efforts of the patriots. At break of day on November 5, 1811, they took possession of the munitions found in the barracks; the authority of the Spanish commander, Don Antonio Gutiérrez de Ulloa, was set aside; Spaniards were removed from office, and national independence was proclaimed from the steps of the city hall of San Salvador by the illustrious patriot Don Manuel José Arce. This first effort toward our emancipation, this dawn of our independence, was the work of Delgado's great spirit.

The opposition of those elements in the population which were in favor of Spanish rule was responsible for a temporary setback to the work of the insurgents. The authorities in Guatemala, on hearing of the events in San Salvador, sent emissaries, whose efforts were at first thought to have been successful, as in appearance peace and tranquillity were reestablished.

As a precautionary measure, Delgado was transferred to Guatemala City, where he could be watched more closely. However, three years had hardly passed before a new insurrection broke out, and all evidence points to the conclusion that it was the constant activity of Delgado which once more gave a vigorous impulse to the revolutionary faction of 1811. Although living in the political center of the Captaincy General, he communicated frequently with the Salvadoreans and cultivated close relations with various inveterate opponents of the Spanish régime.

When the provincial committee was organized in Guatemala, he became a member of that notable body, which was composed of men

high in the social life of the country. Outstanding among them was Father José Simón Cañas, a famous citizen who in later years was responsible for the abolition of slavery in Central America.

The motions passed by the committee were varied and of farreaching importance. The resolution, however, which exercised the greatest influence on political and social life was that which induced the Captain General, Don Carlos Urrutia y Montoya, to invest the assistant inspector of the army, General Gabino Gainza, with the powers of government.

The new Captain General was of a fickle nature and was disposed to accept all of the resolutions passed by the committee which would

This historical painting depicts the group of revolutionists who, under the leadership of Delgado, organized the insurrection against Spain which began November 5, 1811.

permit him to continue in the enjoyment of the high office to which he had been appointed. Delgado, aware of this, induced his fellow patriots in San Salvador to write General Gainza urging him to proclaim independence, establish the republic of Central America, and assume the office of president, for which purpose the rich and populous province of San Salvador would immediately place herself at his command and contribute with all her resources to bring the great enterprise to a successful termination.

It is not presumptuous to suppose that such a flattering offer had a considerable part in inducing Gainza to assume an attitude favorable to independence.

At the meeting held on that memorable 15th of September, 1821, to consider the momentous subject of independence, those present divided into two parties, one which advocated a more or less lengthy postponement of definite action, and another which saw the necessity for prompt action and was impatient with any procedure involving delays or raising obstacles of any kind. To this second group belonged Delgado, and after an exchange of ideas, it was decided to proclaim immediately the independence of Central America.

The solemn document setting forth that vital decision bears, among others, the signature of the great protagonist of independence, Father Delgado, who on that day, after heroic sacrifices and constant effort through a long period of years, saw at last the realization of his patriotic desires and the consummation of his most cherished aims.

The happy news was received in San Salvador with great rejoicing. And this could not have been otherwise, for this province had been, as reported officially by Captain General Bustamente y Guerra to the Ministry of Justice in Spain, the first to lift the flag of revolt in the Captaincy of Guatemala; the region that even before September 15 was in agitation because of the delays placed by the Spanish authorities in the way of national emancipation; the province, in short, that initiated with glory, maintained with firmness, and defended with valor, republican principles and independence.

A few days after the events recorded above, a serious blow was dealt the movement in San Salvador as a result of the arbitrary action of the Intendant, Don Pedro Barriere, who threw the leaders of the independent party into prison and later sent them under guard to the jails of Guatemala. The provincial committee had no sooner learned of this action on the part of the Intendant than it sent Father Delgado to San Salvador, investing him with full authority in the hope that he might restore peace and quiet through the exercise of his well-known talents and influence.

One may well marvel that this occurrence in San Salvador, to all outward appearance of no great significance, probably the result of the youthful and feverish impatience of one party in the province and the conservative habits of another, had an unquestionably powerful influence on all future events concerning the political life of the confederation which came into being as the United Provinces of Central America.

Promptly on his arrival in San Salvador Father Delgado removed from their positions various individuals who were known to be hostile to the new régime, disbanded the company of volunteers, which had incurred the enmity of the people by its despotic proceedings, and called an election to the provincial committee.

The first acts of this committee, of which Father Delgado was made president, were to increase the public revenues, create primary schools,