... The Liberalist Era (1870-1890) ... The decade following the execution of President Mora was characterized by social and political unrest, where members of the oligarchy tried placing a representative that would benefit their economic and political interests. However, in 1870, General Tomas Guardia overthrew the government and ruled for a period of twelve years. Ironically, this dictatorial move proved favorable for the nation's approach to democracy.
Guardia's contributions to his country were numerous and categorize him as one of the most dynamic and reformist of Costa Rica's leaders. Although Guardia was a dictator, he abolished capital punishment and limited the use of the army, which had been abused by his predecessors. In matters of social reform, he established free and obligatory primary education for both sexes. He also improved and transformed his nation's roads, and was the first president to suggest the construction of a railroad that would connect the Central Valley with the Atlantic, and thus with foreign commerce. Guardia promoted this idea because of the logical ramifications that it would have for the export of coffee. The official onset for Costa Rican democracy dates to 1889 after the rule of President Bernardo Soto. Many historians consider this to be the first true election, devoid of fraud and corruption. In this election, Jose Joaquin Rodriguez, and not Soto won, but the latter's government refused to accept these results. The people however, organized into mobs, supported their chosen candidate, so Soto had to withdraw from power. This incident marked if not the definitiveness of democracy, the desire by the people for its country to head in this direction. The twenty years between Guardia's rule (1870-1882) and his predecessor, Soto (1882-1889) mark the liberalist era or of the "Olimpo" (Olympus). The Olimpo consisted in a group of rather arrogant people who intended to reform the government and to "civilize" the populace. The members of the group, who were intellectuals, scientists and political leaders, encouraged agrarian reform, capitalism, bureaucracy and free and obligatory primary education. This group favored science and attacked religion and the Church as an institution, thus provoking a growing tension between government followers and religious supporters. While the liberals promoted the heroic nature of the Battle of 1856 (where Costa Rica defeated an American filibuster) and its hero, Juan Santamaria, the church advocated for the people's cult of the Virgin of the Angels. Therefore, each band had its symbol which they promoted in order to awaken people's solidarity and loyalty as well as their resistance against the other group's power. As far as the populace went, the Church won. The Liberal project failed to find supporters in the common people that it was supposed to "reform" because of its attacks against many customs, including the religious ones. Even the founding of free public education angered "Ticos" because it meant a decrease of children's help in their parent's farms. This discontent served as the background for the public show of rebellion in the 1889 elections. The liberal leaders, specifically Bernardo Soto, had to step down and allow the people's choice to rule the country. Regardless of their political failure, the Liberal group's attempt to gain support through the promotion of a national identity left many cultural legacies for the country. |
