The July 1872 Coup
President Jose
Balta
Source:Augusto Lostanau Moscol
Free Newscast.com
On Monday, July 22, 1872 , the Colonels Gutiérrez coup d'état
took place against the government of President José Balta y Montero
(1868-1872). Jorge Basadre indicates that Colonels Gutiérrez were four
brothers: Tomás, Silvestre, Marceliano and Marcelino, born in Majes-Arequipa.
From a very young age, Tomás (the eldest) dedicated himself to herding, which
allowed him to travel throughout the southern Peruvian Andes and, at the same
time, forge friendships with merchants and important residents of the cities and
towns of southern Peru. In this way, he became involved in political
events.Peru in the 19th century was characterized by political fragmentation in
regions where local power was -many times- more important than national power.
For many landowners and landowners, Lima was only the capital of Peru. But, the
power -the true power- was in the hands of the regional oligarchies.
Tomás -the most intrepid and determined of the brothers-
enlisted in the army of Ramón Castilla in the final years of the First Militarism
and the beginning of the Era of Guano or False Prosperity. His younger brothers
followed him and together they formed a unit that quickly gained strength in
the ranks of Castilla. For this reason, Basadre says, Mariscal Ramón Castilla y
Marquesado himself appointed him Colonel. But, Tomás was never alone in his
political adventures, he always took his brothers with him who, over time, were
also promoted to the rank of Colonel. Those were the years in which the Army of
Peru was -really- made up of groups of armed men and willing to fight on behalf
of a leader or caudillo who was seeking the Presidency of the Republic.
Plus, the Gutiérrez Colonels were made for war and politics
(both being an extension of the economy). Despite the fact that Tomás Gutiérrez
became a deputy in 1858, he always remained close to the Executive Power, for
this reason, in 1865, President Juan Antonio Pezet Rodríguez de la Piedra
promoted him to General. Although, Pezet's promotions were annulled by Mariano
Ignacio Prado Ochoa. Despite this, the Gutiérrez brothers fought in the Combat
of May 2 showing courage and courage.
During the government of José Balta y Montero, Tomás Gutiérrez
began to gain notoriety for his political astuteness and shrewdness in
resolving the malaise of the regions. Thus, he became a trusted man of Vice
President Francisco Diez-Canseco Corbacho after visiting Chiclayo and Huancayo,
where he managed to calm the rejection of Balta. For this reason, he was
appointed Inspector General of the Army and proposed to be promoted to General,
although the Congress of the Republic ruled out the latter.
In the midst of the electoral political chaos due to the
candidacies for the next elections of 1872, where Balta was at stake for the
candidacy of Antonio Arenas, Tomás Gutiérrez was appointed Minister of War and
Navy (December 7, 1871), which was not to the liking of sectors opposed to
Balta, including Manuel Amunátegui of El Comercio and the members of the
Civilista Club. Tomás Gutiérrez gained a reputation for not being open to
dialogue and "to take arms". In addition, his three brothers always
accompanied him on his political and military adventures, which was the same in
those years.
Jorge Basadre says that at two in the afternoon on that
Monday, July 22, 1872, Colonel Silvestre Gutiérrez entered the Government
Palace with two well-armed companies. They were supposed to be relieved, but
they immediately went to the rooms of the presidential residence where they
captured Balta in front of his wife and his daughter Daria. Marcelino Gutiérrez
occupied the Plaza de Armas in Lima together with his troops and proclaimed
Colonel Tomás Gutiérrez Supreme Head of the Republic, being promoted to
General. When Balta was removed from the palace to the San Francisco barracks,
Colonel Pedro Balta y Montero (president's brother), head of the Callao
garrison, expressed his discontent. In addition, the rebels began the search
for Juan Francisco Balta y Montero, who was Minister of War and Navy
(1868-1871) and President of the Council of Ministers (1869-1871) because he
supported the members of the Civilista Club of Manuel Pardo y Lavalle. . It
should be noted that Colonel Pedro Balta y Montero was married to a Gutiérrez
sister.
The Senate of the Republic formed a commission to investigate
the events. The report indicated that those responsible were Colonels Gutiérrez
and that the country was calm. It was only in Lima where the actions had
altered the daily life of the citizens. In the middle of the congressional
session, a troop entered and evacuated the place.
Between July 23 and 25, many of the officers who had been
loyal to Tomás Gutiérrez and his brothers began to desert. There was less and
less enthusiasm in favor of the coup plotters and the demands to release Balta
intensified. On July 26, in the morning, Silvestre Gutiérrez was assassinated.
It is said that Marceliano Gutiérrez reacted to the news and shot Balta.
Citizens who found out about the news reacted violently and attacked Tomás and
Marceliano Gutiérrez, who were captured and assassinated. The corpses of the
brothers were mutilated and hung naked from the bell towers of the Cathedral of
Lima. It was the citizens of Lima who rejected the coup and acted violently in
defense of the President.
With affection,
Ruben
No comments:
Post a Comment