The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-09-28
GARCIA NJ D RENO
President of the Republic of Ecua-
dora Soldier and Statesman
Devout Catholic-His Assassina-
tion-His Monument.

dora Soldier and Statesman
Devout cathoIic-His Assassina-
tion-His Monument.
Ecuador, "The Republic of the Sa-
cred Heart" was saved from internal
revolution by the heroism of it's Catho-
lie President, Garcia Moreno. His
biography is inspiring reading-valu-
able as history, and absorbing as a
recital of political situations, Masonic
intrigues, and splendidly brave resis-
lance offered by Moreno to the mach
nations of his enemies. It fell to him,
writes James Reddick in the "Colum-
called it, "The model of a Christian
State"
Gabriel Garcia Moreno was born at
Guayaquil, December "a, 1921, and be-
longed to an old family. He was the
the last of eight children, and shortly
after his birth his father suffered a
reverse of fortune. The friendly inter-
est of monk, Father Betancourt, and
his own mental gifts and application
to study, enabled the boy to enter on
a scholastic career. He took up a
course comprising philosophy, mathe-
matics, and natural sciences, and
showed such superiority that the gov
eminent placed free burse at his
disposal. He was deeply religious, and
was always keenly interested in every
thing which might contribute to the
glory of God. At this time he fancied
that he was called to the ecclesiastical
state and went so far as to receive
minor orders, but an all-absorbing pas
sion for science took the place of his
ecclesiastical pre-occupation. He lived
the life of student, his only relaxa-
ton being the study of modern Ian
guages, French and English especially.
This excessive application caused
loss of sight and failure of health at
the end of his university career, when
he was twenty years of age. Having
to choose profession, he determined
to study law, and at twenty-three had
obtained the rank of doctor and was
called to the bar. He did not practice
long, as public affairs soon engrossed
his attention.
A crisis had come in the affairs of
the young republic, and Garcia Moreno
could not remain passive looker-on.
He quickly gathered around him a
group of young men of the best fami-
lies, and prepared them for active re-
sistance. The Government issued an
ukase, insisting on every one taking
an oath to the Constitution. Then civil
war broke out in reality. Garcia Nor
emo took leading part in this politi-
cal and religious drama, and success
fully performed difficult mission
for the Government, refusing all
payment for his services. Later,
corrupt election tactics so aroused
Moreno that he could not resist
the temptation to expose the ras-
cality of the ministers, and this
drew on himself the wrath of the Gov
eminent. Subsequent developments
convinced Garcia Moreno that the time
had come to act, to sacrifice all party
spirit and to unite as one man in de-
fence of the country against Spain
He therefore offered his services to
President Roca, who was only too
glad to accept them.
In the Service of. His Country.
Through his agency, also, interior in
surrection was suppressed at least for
a. time. Moreno sailed for Europe in
1S49, and travelled through England,
France and Germany, to study the
political state of these countries. After
six months in Europe he returned to
Ecuador. At Panama he met body
of Jesuits who had just been expelled
from Grenada by an irreligious gov
eminent, and he offered them a refuge
in his native land, where they were
enthusiastically received by the peo-
pie Urbina at once began to intri-
que for their Punishment The Free
masons published furious pamphlet
against the Society, to which Moreno
replied in rival pamphlet that 81
fenced the Freemasons.
j During the period of mis-rule, when
Urbina, having succeeded in installing
himself as President, gave way to
every abuse of Office, Garcia Moreno
had the courage to defy him, and
through his weekly paper, La Macion,
he exposed Urbina and his followers
Ia course of action that led to his
arrest and Punishment to Peru. He
then determined to cross the ocean