Luis Muñoz Rivera (July 17, 1859 – November 15, 1916) was a Puerto Rican poet, journalist and politician. He was a major figure in the struggle for political autonomy 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. Subsequently, Muñoz Rivera was a member of a group organized by the party to discuss proposals of autonomy with Práxedes Mateo Sagasta, 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 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 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 would subsequently become involved in politics, becoming the first democratically elected Governor of Puerto Rico.
Early life
Luis Muñoz Rivera was born in Barranquitas, Puerto Rico, 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 during the Admirable Campaign, and followed his commanding officer Miguel de la Torre to Puerto Rico.Luis Muñoz Iglesias (Spanish) He settled in a farm in Cidra, Puerto Rico, married María Escolástica Barrios and fathered twelve children. He became the town's first mayor from 1818 to 1820 and again in 1840 to 1850.Mayors/Alcaldes of Cidra 1818 – Present 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 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' works, in particular Don Quixote.Reynolds et al., p.44 Other authors that he studied include Fernando de Herrera, Tirso de Molina, Luis de Góngora, and Lope de Vega.
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, Muñoz Rivera decided to follow his uncle, Vicente Muñoz Barrios ideals and in 1883 joined the Liberal Party.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 where they discussed the reorganization of the party.Reynolds et al., p. 54 In this activity he met Román Baldorioty de Castro, who became his mentor, regarding Muñoz Rivera as a "disciple". A new party called the Autonomist Party was created following this reunion, which also included José Celso Barbosa and José de Diego. 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 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. 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 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 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.About La democracia. (Ponce, P.R.) 1890–1948. National Endowment for the Humanities: Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. U.S. Library of Congress. Washington, D.C. Retrieved 9 September 2012. 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. Later that year, he traveled to Spain to learn about its political system. There he realized that Práxedes Mateo Sagasta, president of the Fusion Party, 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 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, 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, was born. By this time the family had moved to Old San Juan, 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 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.