Luis Muñoz Rivera (July 17, 1859 – November 15, 1916) was a
Puerto Rican poet
A poet is a person who studies and creates poetry. Poets may describe themselves as such or be described as such by others. A poet may simply be the creator ( thinker, songwriter, writer, or author) who creates (composes) poems (oral or writte ...
,
journalist
A journalist is an individual that collects/gathers information in form of text, audio, or pictures, processes them into a news-worthy form, and disseminates it to the public. The act or process mainly done by the journalist is called journalism ...
and
politician
A politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politicians propose, support, reject and create laws that govern the land and by an extension of its people. Broadly speaking, a ...
. He was a major figure in the struggle for political
autonomy
In developmental psychology and moral, political, and bioethical philosophy, autonomy, from , ''autonomos'', from αὐτο- ''auto-'' "self" and νόμος ''nomos'', "law", hence when combined understood to mean "one who gives oneself one's ...
of Puerto Rico in union with Spain.
In 1887, Muñoz Rivera became part of the leadership of a newly formed Autonomist Party. In 1889, he successfully ran a campaign for the position of delegate in the district of
Caguas
Caguas (, ) is a city and municipality of Puerto Rico located in the Central Mountain Range of Puerto Rico, south of San Juan and Trujillo Alto, west of Gurabo and San Lorenzo, and east of Aguas Buenas, Cidra, and Cayey. Caguas was founded ...
. Subsequently, Muñoz Rivera was a member of a group organized by the party to discuss proposals of autonomy with
Práxedes Mateo Sagasta
Práxedes Mariano Mateo Sagasta y Escolar (21 July 1825 – 5 January 1903) was a Spanish civil engineer and politician who served as Prime Minister on eight occasions between 1870 and 1902—always in charge of the Liberal Party—as part of th ...
, who would grant Puerto Rico an autonomous government following his election. He served as Chief of the Cabinet of this government.
On August 13, 1898, the
Treaty of Paris Treaty of Paris may refer to one of many treaties signed in Paris, France:
Treaties
1200s and 1300s
* Treaty of Paris (1229), which ended the Albigensian Crusade
* Treaty of Paris (1259), between Henry III of England and Louis IX of France
* Trea ...
transferred possession of Puerto Rico from Spain to the United States and a military government was established. In 1899, Muñoz Rivera resigned his position within the cabinet and remained inactive in politics for some time. In 1909, he was elected as
Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico
The resident commissioner of Puerto Rico () is a non-voting member of the United States House of Representatives elected by the voters of the U.S. Commonwealth of Puerto Rico every four years, the only member of the House of Representatives ...
and participated in the creation of the
Jones-Shafroth Act, proposing amendments before its final approval. Shortly after, Muñoz Rivera contracted an infection and traveled to Puerto Rico, where he died on November 15, 1916. His son,
Luis Muñoz Marín
José Luis Alberto Muñoz Marín (February 18, 1898April 30, 1980) was a Puerto Rican journalist, politician, statesman and was the first elected governor of Puerto Rico, regarded as the "Architect of the Puerto Rico Commonwealth."
In 1948 he ...
would subsequently become involved in politics, becoming the first democratically elected
Governor of Puerto Rico
The governor of Puerto Rico ( es, gobernador de Puerto Rico) is the head of government of the Commonwealth (U.S. insular area), Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and commander-in-chief of the Puerto Rico National Guard.
The governor has a duty ...
.
Early life
![Casa Natal de Luis Munoz Rivera](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/41/Casa_Natal_de_Luis_Munoz_Rivera.JPG)
Luis Muñoz Rivera was born in
Barranquitas, Puerto Rico
Barranquitas (, ) is a small mountain town and municipality located in the Cordillera Central region of Puerto Rico, south of Corozal and Naranjito; north of Coamo and Aibonito; west of Comerío and Cidra; and east of Orocovis. Barranquit ...
, to Luis Muñoz Barrios and Monserrate Rivera Vazquez. He was the couple's first child and a banquet was offered in celebration. He came from a middle-class family and was not part of Puerto Rico's elite.
[Reynolds et al., p.33] His father came from one of the first patriarchal lines in Puerto Rico's politics.
His Paternal Grandfather Luis Muñoz Iglesias was from
Castile in central Spain who decided to make his career in the army and received several recognitions after participating against
Simón Bolívar
Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios (24 July 1783 – 17 December 1830) was a Venezuelan military and political leader who led what are currently the countries of Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Panama and B ...
during the
Admirable Campaign
The Admirable Campaign () was a military action led by Simón Bolívar in which the provinces of Mérida, Barinas, Trujillo and Caracas were conquered by the Patriots.Arana, M., 2013, Bolivar, New York: Simon & Schuster, Its objective was to fr ...
, and followed his commanding officer
Miguel de la Torre
Miguel de la Torre y Pando, conde de Torrepando (13 December 1786, in Bernales – 1843, in Madrid) was a Spanish General, Governor and Captain General, who served in Spain, Venezuela, Colombia and Puerto Rico during the Spanish American wars ...
to Puerto Rico. He settled in a farm in
Cidra, Puerto Rico
Cidra () is a town and municipality of Puerto Rico located in the central region of the island, north of Cayey; south of Comerío and Aguas Buenas; east of Aibonito and Barranquitas; and west of Caguas. Cidra is spread over 12 barrios and C ...
, married María Escolástica Barrios and fathered twelve children. He became the town's first
mayor
In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well a ...
from 1818 to 1820 and again in 1840 to 1850.
[Reynolds et al., p.36]
During Muñoz Rivera's childhood, Barranquitas was a small rural town. The family's house was moderately large for the time; it was built with wood and its roof was made with zinc.
[Reynolds et al., p.37] When he was four, his mother home-schooled him with books from a private library owned by his father. By the age of ten, Muñoz Rivera completed the education offered in the town's school, and finished first in his class.
[Reynolds et al., p.40] He was educated in
Spanish
Spanish might refer to:
* Items from or related to Spain:
**Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain
**Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries
**Spanish cuisine
Other places
* Spanish, Ontario, Cana ...
and
French, and took music classes with Jorge Colombani. His father hired private tutors to continue his instruction. Muñoz Rivera was a serious student with a strong interest in
Miguel de Cervantes
Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra (; 29 September 1547 (assumed) – 22 April 1616 Old Style and New Style dates, NS) was an Early Modern Spanish writer widely regarded as the greatest writer in the Spanish language and one of the world's pre-emin ...
' works, in particular ''
Don Quixote
is a Spanish epic novel by Miguel de Cervantes. Originally published in two parts, in 1605 and 1615, its full title is ''The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha'' or, in Spanish, (changing in Part 2 to ). A founding work of Wester ...
''.
[Reynolds et al., p.44] Other authors that he studied include
Fernando de Herrera
Fernando de Herrera (~1534–1597), called "El Divino", was a 16th-century Spanish poet and man of letters. He was born in Seville. Much of what is known about him comes from ''Libro de descripción de verdaderos retratos de illustres y memorable ...
,
Tirso de Molina
Gabriel Téllez ( 24 March 1583 20 February 1648), better known as Tirso de Molina, was a Spanish Baroque dramatist, poet and Roman Catholic monk. He is primarily known for writing ''The Trickster of Seville and the Stone Guest'', the play from ...
,
Luis de Góngora
Luis de Góngora y Argote (born Luis de Argote y Góngora; ; 11 July 1561 – 24 May 1627) was a Spanish Baroque lyric poet and a Catholic priest. Góngora and his lifelong rival, Francisco de Quevedo, are widely considered the most prominent ...
, and
Lope de Vega
Félix Lope de Vega y Carpio ( , ; 25 November 156227 August 1635) was a Spanish playwright, poet, and novelist. He was one of the key figures in the Spanish Golden Age of Baroque literature. His reputation in the world of Spanish literature ...
.
When Muñoz Rivera was twelve years old, his mother fell ill and died.
[Reynolds et al., p.45] By this time, the family had grown to include nine more siblings, whom he taught. By the age of fourteen, Muñoz Rivera was managing legal documents, working with the local church clergy, and helping in his father's store.
[Reynolds et al., p.46] There were no institutions of higher learning on the island at that time,
[Reynolds et al., p.39] and most families sent their children to Cuba (University of la Habana, founded in 1728), Spain or North America to complete their university education. Muñoz Rivera wanted to travel to Spain and study law, but his father wanted him to take care of the family's business.
Political career
Early involvement in politics and poetry
Early in his life, Muñoz Rivera began writing poetry. However, he did not publish any of his work until he was 23 years old.
[Reynolds et al., p.51] In 1882, Mario Braschi, an editor working for a newspaper named ''El Pueblo'', accepted to publish a poem titled ''¡Adelante!''. Braschi advised Muñoz Rivera to continue writing, urging him to concentrate on science and politics, instead of authoring love poems.
Muñoz Rivera then began writing about Puerto Rico's political status, promoting the necessity of an autonomous government.
Even though his father was a member of the
Conservative Party
The Conservative Party is a name used by many political parties around the world. These political parties are generally right-wing though their exact ideologies can range from center-right to far-right.
Political parties called The Conservative P ...
, Muñoz Rivera decided to follow his uncle, Vicente Muñoz Barrios ideals and in 1883 joined the
Liberal Party
The Liberal Party is any of many political parties around the world. The meaning of ''liberal'' varies around the world, ranging from liberal conservatism on the right to social liberalism on the left.
__TOC__ Active liberal parties
This is a li ...
.
[Reynolds et al., p.47] While working within the organization, Muñoz Rivera established a store along Quintín Negrón Sanjurjo, which had limited success.
[Reynolds et al., p.53] He gained the confidence of the Liberal Party and was named president of Barranquitas' committee and became a member of the municipal council.
In 1885, Muñoz Rivera ran for a position in the Juana Diaz district's representation in the Provincial Assembly, but he was not elected.
That same year, he began publishing his writings in newspapers and magazines, including ''El Clamor del Pueblo'', ''La Revista de Puerto Rico'' and ''El Pueblo''.
Other poems published by Muñoz Rivera were: ''Retamas'', ''Tropicales'', ''Horas de Fiebre'', ''El paso del déspota'', ''Minha terra'', ''Cuba rebelde'', ''A cualquier compatriota'', ''Las campanas'', ''Turba multa'', ''Alea jacta est'', ''Judas'', ''El general'', ''Abismos'', ''Patriota'', ''Himno'', ''Parias'' and ''Poemas Liricos''.
Establishing an autonomous government
In January 1887, members of the Liberal Party organized a convention in
Coamo
Coamo (, ) is a town and municipality founded in 1579 in the south-central region of Puerto Rico, located north of Santa Isabel; south of Orocovis and Barranquitas; east of Villalba and Juana Díaz; and west of Aibonito and Salinas. Coamo ...
where they discussed the reorganization of the party.
[Reynolds et al., p. 54] In this activity he met
Román Baldorioty de Castro
Román Baldorioty de Castro (23 February 1822 – 30 September 1889) was Puerto Rican abolitionist and spokesman for the island's right to self-determination. In 1870, he was elected as a deputy in the Cortes Generales, the Spanish parliament, ...
, who became his mentor, regarding Muñoz Rivera as a "disciple".
A new party called the
Autonomist Party
The Autonomist Party ( it, Partito Autonomista; hr, Autonomaška stranka) was an Italian-Dalmatianist political party in the Dalmatian political scene, that existed for around 70 years of the 19th century and until World War I. Its goal was ...
was created following this reunion, which also included
José Celso Barbosa
José Celso Barbosa Alcala (July 27, 1857 – September 21, 1921) was a Puerto Rican physician, sociologist and political leader. Known as the father of the statehood movement in Puerto Rico, Barbosa was the first Puerto Rican, and one of the ...
and
José de Diego
José de Diego y Martínez (April 16, 1866 – July 16, 1918) was a statesman, journalist, poet, lawyer, and advocate for Puerto Rico's political autonomy in union with Spain and later of independence from the United States who was referred to by ...
. The organization's ideology pursued the creation of a separate government for Puerto Rico, while keeping some relationship with Spain.
The Autonomist Party's base grew rapidly, in part due to Muñoz Rivera's writings and speeches directed toward the ''
jíbaro Jivaro or Jibaro, also spelled Hivaro or Hibaro, may refer to:
* Jíbaro (Puerto Rico), mountain-dwelling peasants in Puerto Rico
* Jíbaro music, a Puerto Rican musical genre
* Jivaroan peoples
The Jivaroan peoples are the indigenous peoples ...
'' population.
[Reynolds et al., p. 55] The Conservative Party considered this a threat and closed the newspapers where he published his work, sending part of their staff to jail in
Fort San Felipe del Morro
Castillo San Felipe del Morro, also known as El Morro, is a citadel built between 16th and 18th centuries in San Juan, Puerto Rico.[ww ...](_blank)
.
After Francisco Cepeda Taborcias, editor of ''La Revista de Puerto Rico's'' was jailed, the position was offered to Muñoz Rivera, who accepted it. After being released from prison, Cepeda criticized Baldorioty de Castro's policies. Cepeda was elected secretary of the party and Baldorioty de Castro was named honorary president. This action angered Muñoz Rivera, who challenged him to a duel. Cepeda originally accepted the challenge, but later declined the same once the preparations were underway, losing his position within the party's hierarchy.
[Reynolds et al., p.56-57]
As 1887 progressed, the conflicts between liberals and conservatives worsened, with governor Palacio ordering the arrest of more than a hundred liberals. The political tension increased and the year became known as "The Terrible Year".
Palavio also prohibited any person from leaving Puerto Rico with the intention of preventing any actions from Spain. However, the liberals were able to send Juan Arrillaga Roque to Madrid, where he made the situation public.
[Reynolds et al., p.60] Upon learning of this,
Alfonso XII
Alfonso XII (Alfonso Francisco de Asís Fernando Pío Juan María de la Concepción Gregorio Pelayo; 28 November 185725 November 1885), also known as El Pacificador or the Peacemaker, was King of Spain from 29 December 1874 to his death in 188 ...
replaced Palacio with Juan Contreras Martinez. In 1889, Muñoz Rivera was nominated as the Liberal Party's delegate for the district of Juana Diaz. However, his father was nominated for the same position by the Conservative Party and he moved his nomination to the district of
Caguas
Caguas (, ) is a city and municipality of Puerto Rico located in the Central Mountain Range of Puerto Rico, south of San Juan and Trujillo Alto, west of Gurabo and San Lorenzo, and east of Aguas Buenas, Cidra, and Cayey. Caguas was founded ...
out of respect.
He won the election, which was admitted with the conservatives' opposition.
[Reynolds et al., p.61]
On July 1, 1890, he founded the party's newspaper, ''La Democracía'', in
Ponce, Puerto Rico
Ponce (, , , ) is both a city and a municipality on the southern coast of Puerto Rico. The city is the seat of the municipal government.
Ponce, Puerto Rico's most populated city outside the San Juan metropolitan area, was founded on 12 August 1 ...
. The publication was mostly directed towards politics, but it also included poetry and stories published by Puerto Rican artists.
The newspaper brought immediate controversy, which eventually led to Muñoz Rivera's arrest. Protest were organized throughout Puerto Rico and he was released after his father paid 15,000 pesetas as bond.
[Reynolds et al., p.62] Muñoz Rivera sold his half of the store, in order to raise funds for the publication's establishment.
In 1893, he married Amalia Marín in a ceremony that took place in
Ponce Cathedral
Ponce may refer to:
*Ponce (surname)
*
*Ponce, Puerto Rico, a city in Puerto Rico
** Ponce High School
** Ponce massacre, 1937
* USS ''Ponce'', several ships of the US Navy
*Manuel Ponce, a Mexican composer active in the 20th century
* British sla ...
.
Later that year, he traveled to Spain to learn about its political system. There he realized that
Práxedes Mateo Sagasta
Práxedes Mariano Mateo Sagasta y Escolar (21 July 1825 – 5 January 1903) was a Spanish civil engineer and politician who served as Prime Minister on eight occasions between 1870 and 1902—always in charge of the Liberal Party—as part of th ...
, president of the
Fusion Party
Fusion Party is a name for multiple political parties in United States history and more recently a Federal political party established in Australia. The different parties that used the name don't share any particular political positions; instead ...
, was the better option to help in this task.
[Reynolds et al., p.64] While in Spain, Muñoz Rivera received notice that his father had died, which heavily affected him.
Upon returning to Puerto Rico, he published an article about his father in ''La Democracia''. He subsequently noticed that his travel had caused controversy within the Autonomist Party, which became divided between followers of Barbosa and Muñoz Rivera, with the two factions becoming known as ''Muñocistas'' and ''Barbosistas''.
Barbosa's group opposed allying with Sagasta, claiming that he was a monarchist while they were supporting the establishment of a republic. Meanwhile, Muñoz Rivera participated in the writing of the ''Plan de Ponce'' which proposed administrative autonomy for the island. After several debates, the Autonomist Party agreed to send four men to reunite with Libera Fusion Party in the organization's behalf, including Muñoz Rivera.
Sagasta proposed that if he won the premiership of Spain, Puerto Rico would receive a Chapter of Autonomy which would give it the same degree of sovereignty that the
Spanish provinces
A province in Spain
* es, provincias, ; sing. ''provincia'')
* Basque (, sing. ''probintzia''.
* Catalan (), sing. ''província''.
* Galician (), sing. ''provincia''. is a territorial division defined as a collection of municipalities, ...
had.
[Reynolds et al., p. 65] Upon learning of this, most of the ''Barbosistas'' resigned, forming a new institution named the Orthodox Autonomist Party. Sagasta became Spain's prime minister following the power vacuum that occurred after the assassination of
Antonio Cánovas del Castillo
Antonio Cánovas del Castillo (8 February 18288 August 1897) was a Spanish politician and historian known principally for serving six terms as Prime Minister and his overarching role as "architect" of the regime that ensued with the 1874 restor ...
, and in December 1897 he granted the promised autonomous government. Muñoz Rivera changed the party's name to Liberal Party of Puerto Rico and served as Secretary of Grace, Justice and Government and Chief of the Cabinet for the independent government of Puerto Rico.
American invasion and military government
On February 18, 1898, Muñoz Rivera's son,
Luis Muñoz Marín
José Luis Alberto Muñoz Marín (February 18, 1898April 30, 1980) was a Puerto Rican journalist, politician, statesman and was the first elected governor of Puerto Rico, regarded as the "Architect of the Puerto Rico Commonwealth."
In 1948 he ...
, was born. By this time the family had moved to
Old San Juan
Old San Juan ( es, Viejo San Juan) is a historic district located at the "northwest triangle" of the Isleta de San Juan, islet of San Juan. Its area roughly correlates to the Ballajá, Old San Juan, Ballajá, Catedral, Old San Juan, Catedral, Ma ...
, where Luis was born. On February 16, 1898, Barbosa rushed to Muñoz Rivera's home.
[Reynolds et al., p.66] He had just learned that the American vessel
USS Maine
Four ships of the United States Navy have borne the name USS ''Maine'', named for the 23rd state:
* , was a battleship whose 1898 sinking precipitated the Spanish–American War.
* , launched in 1901, was the lead ship of her class of battleships ...
had sunk off the coast of Cuba, which would most likely spark a war between Spain and the United States. Barbosa expected the American government to grant Puerto Rico autonomy if they gained control. However, Muñoz Rivera was saddened by the news, knowing that the United States was planning to build a
canal in Panama, and that Puerto Rico would be a strategic location to protect the structure.
[Reynolds et al., p.68] Barbosa insisted that this would not happen, continuing his support towards a military operation.
On May 12, 1898, the
United States Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...
bombarded San Juan, initiating the
Puerto Rican Campaign. Initially, the Liberal Party supported the Spanish government, although several members agreed with Barbosa.
Muñoz Rivera took possession of Chief of the Cabinet's position for the Autonomous Government on July 21. Four days later, on July 25, the
United States Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...
landed in
Guánica led by
Nelson A. Miles
Nelson Appleton Miles (August 8, 1839 – May 15, 1925) was an American military general who served in the American Civil War, the American Indian Wars, and the Spanish–American War.
From 1895 to 1903, Miles served as the last Commanding Gen ...
, beginning the land offensive. On August 13, the signing of the
Treaty of Paris Treaty of Paris may refer to one of many treaties signed in Paris, France:
Treaties
1200s and 1300s
* Treaty of Paris (1229), which ended the Albigensian Crusade
* Treaty of Paris (1259), between Henry III of England and Louis IX of France
* Trea ...
was made public, bringing a halt to all military offensives in Puerto Rico. As part of this amnesty, Spain ceded Cuba and Puerto Rico, converting the archipelago into a possession of the United States under military governorship. The ''Barbosistas'' welcomed the American government, but Muñoz Rivera expected them to keep Puerto Rico as a possession.
[Reynolds et al., p.69] He refused to cooperate with the military government and returned to Barranquitas, where he wrote a poem titled ''Sísifo'', comparing Puerto Rico's political situation to
Sisyphus
In Greek mythology, Sisyphus or Sisyphos (; Ancient Greek: Σίσυφος ''Sísyphos'') was the founder and king of Ancient Corinth, Ephyra (now known as Corinth). Hades punished him for cheating death twice by forcing him to roll an immense bo ...
' punishment.
[Reynolds et al., p.70] He subsequently returned to San Juan, accepting a request made by
John R. Brooke
John Rutter Brooke (July 21, 1838 – September 5, 1926) was one of the last surviving Union generals of the American Civil War when he died at the age of 88.
Early life
Brooke was born in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, and was educated in nearby Coll ...
to continue in his office within the new cabinet. Muñoz Rivera assisted in establishing an insular police. Brooke was replaced by
Guy Vernon Henry
Guy Vernor Henry (March 9, 1839 – October 27, 1899) was an American military officer and Medal of Honor recipient who served as military governor of Puerto Rico.
Biography
Henry was born in Fort Smith, Indian Territory (now Arkansas), the s ...
as military governor. Following this change, both men began having violent discussions, with each one trying to push their positions.
[Reynolds et al., p.71] Muñoz Rivera would vocally debate several of Brooke's decisions, with both communicating via an interpreter.
On February 4, 1899, he resigned from the position of president of the Council of Secretaries. Puerto Rico was experiencing a serious economic crisis, many problems arising from the population's inability to communicate with the Americans.
[Reynolds et al., p.72] Universal election suffrage was canceled, reducing the voting population by more than 85%.
[Reynolds et al., p.73] Henry eventually dissolved the Cabinet, removing the final remnants of recognition of the autonomous government established under Spanish rule. Muñoz Rivera opposed the military structure and promoted autonomy. Later that year, he founded the newspaper ''El Territorio'', which voiced the concerns of landowners that were being affected by a blockade imposed by the United States. On April 12, 1900,
William McKinley
William McKinley (January 29, 1843September 14, 1901) was the 25th president of the United States, serving from 1897 until his assassination in 1901. As a politician he led a realignment that made his Republican Party largely dominant in ...
signed the
Foraker Act
The Foraker Act, , officially known as the Organic Act of 1900, is a United States federal law that established civilian (albeit limited popular) government on the island of Puerto Rico, which had recently become a possession of the United State ...
, which proposed the end of the military government and the establishment of a civil government. A Supreme Court was created with five members, all of which were American functionaries appointed by the
United States President
The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States of America. The president directs the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United State ...
.
[Reynolds et al., p.74] The position of
Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico
The resident commissioner of Puerto Rico () is a non-voting member of the United States House of Representatives elected by the voters of the U.S. Commonwealth of Puerto Rico every four years, the only member of the House of Representatives ...
was also enacted.
The ''Barbosistas'' considered this law an advance, eventually creating a new institution named the
Republican Party of Puerto Rico
The Republican Party of Puerto Rico ( es, Partido Republicano de Puerto Rico) is the local affiliate of the national United States Republican Party in Puerto Rico. The affiliation started in 1903. The party does not participate in the November ...
.
Muñoz Rivera published heavy criticism towards them in ''El Diario'', which angered the members of the new organization.
Rumors of an assassination attempt became widespread, and several of his friends visited his house armed. A discussion between both sides concluded with gunfire, leaving no one injured, some of the perpetrators escaped.
[Reynolds et al., p.76] Muñoz Rivera and those present were arrested and charged with "armed assault", but the charge was dropped when he established that he acted in self-defense.
The Foraker act failed to prevent the monopolization of land, and allowed four American corporations to control of most of Puerto Rico's agricultural terrains.
Last years and death
![Luis Munoz Rivera statue](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4f/Luis_Munoz_Rivera_statue.jpg)
The United States eventually designed a program to "Americanize" Puerto Rico. One day while working for an article in ''El Diario'', a friend of Muñoz Rivera brought a newspaper informing that all education in Puerto Rican public schools would be taught in English.
[Reynolds et al., p.78] He was surprised by the announcement, expressing that the plan would fail due to lack of teachers with knowledge in the language. Muñoz Rivera began publishing articles directed towards the ''jíbaro'' population, in which he promoted self-government for Puerto Rico.
[Reynolds et al., p.79]
In 1901, a group of statehood supporters broke into the ''El Diario's'' building, vandalizing most of the equipment.
[Bernier-Grand et al., p.8–9] Following this incident, the family moved to
Caguas
Caguas (, ) is a city and municipality of Puerto Rico located in the Central Mountain Range of Puerto Rico, south of San Juan and Trujillo Alto, west of Gurabo and San Lorenzo, and east of Aguas Buenas, Cidra, and Cayey. Caguas was founded ...
where he reopened ''La Democracia''. After receiving further threats from the statehood movements, Muñoz Rivera decided to move to
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
, not before leaving the paper's editing in charge of one of his followers.
There he founded the bilingual newspaper ''Puerto Rico Herald'', in which he heavily criticized the United States' stance on Puerto Rico.
[Reynolds et al., p.84] During the following years, the family constantly traveled between both locations.
[Bernier-Grand et al., p.10–11] Muñoz Rivera, together with
Rosendo Matienzo Cintrón
Rosendo Matienzo Cintrón (April 22, 1855 – December 13, 1913) was a Puerto Rican lawyer and politician, a member of the Puerto Rican House of Representatives, and a lifelong political contrarian. He favored Puerto Rican autonomy when Puerto Ric ...
,
Antonio R. Barceló
Antonio is a masculine given name of Etruscan origin deriving from the root name Antonius. It is a common name among Romance language-speaking populations as well as the Balkans and Lusophone Africa. It has been among the top 400 most popular mal ...
,
José de Diego
José de Diego y Martínez (April 16, 1866 – July 16, 1918) was a statesman, journalist, poet, lawyer, and advocate for Puerto Rico's political autonomy in union with Spain and later of independence from the United States who was referred to by ...
and Juan Vías Ochoteco founded the
Union of Puerto Rico party, which won the election in 1904. Following the party's victory, he was selected as a member the House of Delegates.
In 1910, Muñoz Rivera ran for Resident Commissioner in the
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the Lower house, lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the United States Senate, Senate being ...
representing the
Union of Puerto Rico party, and served from 1911 to 1916. After spending nearly a year perfecting his English, Muñoz Rivera began forming friendships with some congressmen.
[Reynolds et al., p.85] Among these were Henry L. Stimpson and
Felix Frankfurter
Felix Frankfurter (November 15, 1882 – February 22, 1965) was an Austrian-American jurist who served as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1939 until 1962, during which period he was a noted advocate of judicia ...
. In 1915 Muñoz Rivera proposed granting Puerto Rico greater autonomy without requesting independence from the United States, and equal rights without becoming a state. His proposal was greeted by opposition from many members of his party including José de Diego. Still in the end, his party agreed on his proposal.
On March 2, 1917, the
Jones-Shafroth Act was signed, granting United States
citizenship
Citizenship is a "relationship between an individual and a state to which the individual owes allegiance and in turn is entitled to its protection".
Each state determines the conditions under which it will recognize persons as its citizens, and ...
to Puerto Ricans and creating a bicameral
Legislative Assembly.
[Reynolds et al., p.88] Still, he was not pleased with the Jones Act since the judicial and executive branches were still controlled by the United States. On March 16, 1916, he gave a speech in the house floor that seemed to argue in favor and against American citizenship. He declared that if the earth were to swallow the island, Puerto Ricans would prefer American citizenship to any citizenship in the world. But as long as the island existed, the residents preferred
Puerto Rican citizenship
Puerto Rico is an island in the Caribbean region in which inhabitants were Spanish nationals from 1508 until the Spanish-American War in 1898, from which point they derived their nationality from United States law. Nationality is the legal mean ...
.
Shortly afterwards, he became ill and returned to Puerto Rico to recuperate.
[Reynolds et al., p.89] In late 1916,
Eduardo Georgetti
Eduardo Georgetti (October 11, 1866 – 1937), was an agriculturist, businessman, philanthropist, and politician. Georgetti, who came from a family of landowners, became one of Puerto Rico's wealthiest sugar barons and benefactors. In 1917, he be ...
, a friend of the family, summoned his wife and son to Puerto Rico and informed them that he was suffering from an infection that had begun in the
galbladder, before expanding throughout his body.
[Bernier-Grand et al., p.22] Luis Muñoz Rivera died on November 15, 1916 in the town of
San Juan, before the Jones Act was enacted into law. When he died, the town's bells were tolled and ''
La Borinqueña
"" (from the native name of Puerto Rico, ''Borinquen'' or ''Boriquen''), ) is the official anthem of Puerto Rico.
After Puerto Rico became known as "The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico" in 1952, the first elected governor, Luis Muñoz Marín, sig ...
'' was sung by those present.
The funeral procession began five days after his death It traveled throughout Puerto Rico and was attended by thousands of people along the way. Some ''Jíbaros'' traveled between municipalities to attend more than one part of the activity.
[Bernier-Grand et al., p.23-25] Muñoz' remains were buried at the Muñoz Rivera Family Mausoleum in
Barranquitas, Puerto Rico
Barranquitas (, ) is a small mountain town and municipality located in the Cordillera Central region of Puerto Rico, south of Corozal and Naranjito; north of Coamo and Aibonito; west of Comerío and Cidra; and east of Orocovis. Barranquit ...
.
Legacy and honors
*Muñoz Rivera's son,
Luis Muñoz Marín
José Luis Alberto Muñoz Marín (February 18, 1898April 30, 1980) was a Puerto Rican journalist, politician, statesman and was the first elected governor of Puerto Rico, regarded as the "Architect of the Puerto Rico Commonwealth."
In 1948 he ...
, also became an important figure in politics, taking part in the founding of the
Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico
The Popular Democratic Party ( es, Partido Popular Democrático, PPD) is a political party in Puerto Rico that advocates to continue as a Commonwealth of the United States with self-governance. The party was founded in 1938 by dissidents from the ...
. He was elected in 1948 as the first democratically elected
Governor of Puerto Rico
The governor of Puerto Rico ( es, gobernador de Puerto Rico) is the head of government of the Commonwealth (U.S. insular area), Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and commander-in-chief of the Puerto Rico National Guard.
The governor has a duty ...
.
*In 1923, the municipality of Ponce erected
a statue in honor of Munoz Rivera and renamed the northern plaza of the city's main square
Plaza Muñoz Rivera
Plaza Muñoz Rivera, formally Plaza Luis Muñoz Rivera, is the smaller of the two plazas at Plaza Las Delicias in the city of Ponce, Puerto Rico. It is located on the north side of Plaza Las Delicias, north of the larger southern Plaza Degetau ...
for him.
Ponce: La Capital del Sur de Puerto Rico.
*Sixteen Puerto Rican schools were named for Muñoz.
See also
* History of Puerto Rico
The history of Puerto Rico began with the settlement of the Ortoiroid people between 430 BC and AD 1000. At the time of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the New World in 1493, the dominant indigenous culture was that of the Taínos. The Taín ...
* List of Puerto Ricans
* Luis Muñoz Rivera Park
The Luis Muñoz Rivera Park (or Parque Luis Muñoz Rivera in Spanish) is a 27.2 acre (110,000 m2) recreational public space located in Puerta de Tierra in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The park was named in honor of Puerto Rican statesman Luis Muñoz ...
* Politics of Puerto Rico
The politics of Puerto Rico take place in the framework of a Democracy, democratic republic form of government that is under the jurisdiction and sovereignty of the United States Congress as an Territories of the United States, organized uninc ...
* List of Hispanic Americans in the United States Congress
This is a list of Hispanic and Latino Americans
Hispanic and Latino Americans ( es, Estadounidenses hispanos y latinos; pt, Estadunidenses hispânicos e latinos) are Americans of Spanish and/or Latin American ancestry. More broadly, these ...
*
* Luis Muñoz Rivera (Ponce statue)
References
Further reading
*
*
*
External links
Entry at the Library of Congress
{{DEFAULTSORT:Munoz Rivera, Luis
1859 births
1916 deaths
19th-century American politicians
People from Barranquitas, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rican people of Spanish descent
Puerto Rican journalists
Puerto Rican male writers
Puerto Rican poets
Puerto Rican Roman Catholics
Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives
Resident Commissioners of Puerto Rico