The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-09-28

to France, where he arrived in 1854.
The study of chemistry and the public
questions that agitated France en-
gagged his attention, and he resumed
all his old pious habits, thus preparing
himself for the great work he was to
accomplish in his own country.
At the end of 1856 friends asked
President Roblez who had succeeded
Urbina, for a safe conduct pass for
one who had been so long exiled
from his family and country Roblez
granted it, thinking to gain the hearts
of the people of Quito.
Honors were heaped upon Moreno
and in the election of 1858 he was re-
turned as the head of a new independ-
ent party. In the first session of the
new Congress he interviewed in three
matters of capital importance-the
capitation tax on the Indians, which
he abolished; the closing of the Mas
onic lodges in Guayaquil; and the re-
traction of the powers previously given
to Urbina's government.
AS warrior Moreno proved him
self as efficient as in administering
affairs of state-and ably directed the
army of the republic that he had
placed under "Our Lady of Mercy"
But the revolutionary element de-
tested all these reforms, and again
the republic was convulsed by strife,
Moreno again gaining the victory.
Moreno, on the 10th of January, 1863,
wearied of public Office, announced his
intention of retiring to private life,
but Congress unanimously refused to
accept his resignation, and Ecuador
would not hear of a change of Presi-
dent So his enemies resolved to as
sasinate him. The plot was discover
ed, and the conspirators were par
doned by Moreno.
Again, in 1865, danger arose between
Spain and the South American repub-
lies. Moreno was implored to take
command of the army of the Ecuador
The new President decided to send
him as Minister to Chilli, because the
Radicals were opposed to him. Once
more they determined to take Moreno's
life. He had a narrow escape from
the assassin's bullet in Lima.
Elected President.
Moreno was considered a man neces-
sary to the safety of the republic, and
repeatedly Office was forced upon him,
and he was obliged to accept. In 1869
he again took the oath as President
and once more entered on the perform
ance of his duties with energy and
ZEAL He was determined to give his
people a Christian constitution, and
the Constitution was ratified unani-
mously by the votes of the nation. An
other attempt was made on his life,
| but it failed. A complete calm fell Oh
the country. He reduced the strength
of the army and established school
for cadets. He provided chaplain
for every regiment, who gave the men
religious instruction besides saying
Mass. He made the criminal code
more stringent =,
His efforts for education were no
less energetic In 1871 he introduced
the compulsory education bill. Second
airy education was equally considered,
and he built at Quito magnificent
college for the Jesuit Fathers, from
which professors were sent to open
schools throughout the different pro-
vinces. He re-opened the university
at Quito, and thoroughly equipped it
for the purpose of scientific instruc-
ton. Schools for the study of medi'
cine and the fine arts were estab-
lished within it's walls, under the dir
ection of enthusiastically German
Jesuits,-and he established near
Quito an observatory. In six years
Moreno had accomplished for civiliza.
ton what the Freemasons and revolu-
tionists could not do in fifty years. He
also reformed the prison system, and
his charity was unwearying. People
imagined he must be saving money,
but after his death it was found that
the whole of his official income had
been devoted to works of charity,
Even the wife of Urbina, his mortal
enemy, had received monthly pen
sion from Garcia Moreno. He com
pletely transformed the town of Quito
by improvements, and through good
government and honest administration
was enabled to double the revenue OF
the state.
! His Character.
In carriage he was noble and digni-
fed; his white hair, broad forehead,
and large eyes gave him look OF dis
tinction, and every feature denoted
an inexorable will. He never coveted
power for his own sake, and when the
revolutionary papers were filed with
calumnies against him, he would say
calmly that he was ''too happy to be
treated like Jesus Christ and His
Church" The routine of his daily life
affords an admirable example in the
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