Mr. Governor: I have the satisfaction of
informing your excellency that I have just arrived, and, according to
what has been agreed upon, I await your orders on hoard of the gunboat
Pilcoraayo. Till I see you, I am, very cordially and attentively, your
humble servant,
The interview as reported in the
Buenos Ayres Herald, May 11, 1880.
A few moments later Dr. Tejedor arrived alongside of the Pileomayo,
being received at the gangway by General Roca. The meeting was
cordial; they descended to the cabin, and the interview began by Dr.
Tejedor’s expressing himself in these terms: “I must recall events,
general, declaring to you that this interview has not been solicited
by me.”
“In my turn, doctor,” answered General Roca, “I must ask you to bear
in mind that when Dr. Pellegrini advised me of this meeting, and
asked me if I would have any objection to speak to you, I told him
that, on the condition it were understood that you were the
originator of the idea, I had no objection.”
Dr. Tejedor. “I must speak frankly,
general, and tell you this is a, fraud. I
have not asked for any such conference; I have nothing to say to you.”
“I am in the same circumstances,” answered the general, “and I have
not anything to say to you.”
Here the official conference ended.
A moment’s pause followed, and after looking at each other for a
moment, Dr. Tejedor said: “As we are both here now, I think we might
do something to prevent civil war.”
General Roca. “With great pleasure, doctor;
and what suggests itself to you as a means to that desirable end?
That we should both resign our candidatures and leave the people and
the parties to elect whom they will? But that will not answer,
doctor, for my part; I have neither my friends nor my party tied up.
I am rather dependent myself, seeing they have intrusted me with
their political interests, their tendencies, and their aspirations,
and I cannot cast these things aside like the unworthy manager of a
commercial house might do.”
Dr. Tejedor. “But remember, general, that
the population of Buenos Ayres and that of Corrientes, the two
provinces that oppose your candidature, represent half of the
population of the republic. This is what you ought to bear in mind
on adopting a revolution.”
General Roca. “But you forget. Dr. Tejedor,
that the statistical data you point out is not a sufficiently strong
argument against the express provisions of the constitution. Buenos
Ayres and Corrientes represent only 70 electors, and our
constitution requires 115 in order to be elected President of the
republic.”
Dr. Tejedor. “But your government is
impossible in Buenos Ayres, whereas my popularity is well known. I
have a large party under my orders.”
General Roca. “I do not deny your
popularity, and I know how to account for it, but that weighs
nothing against what I have pointed out.”
Dr. Tejedor. “And how will you enter Buenos
Ayres to take possession of the presidency?”
“I suppose you sufficiently amiable,” answered the general, “not to
oppose me in the performance of so high a duty.”
Dr. Tejedor. “No; I will not oppose you,
but the conciliated party are determined to oppose you. If they need
arms they will get them under the very nose of the national
Executive. I respect the President of the republic because he
represents the national sovereignty, but this will not prevent me
from doing what I consider my duty. The person of President
Avellaneda does not inspire me with the same feelings. I answer for
the life of the President, but it would not be strange if he were
maltreated. Be convinced, General Roca, you have great opposition in
Buenos Ayres. How are you going to govern?”
General Roca. “We shall see, Dr. Tejedor.
Having right and justice on my side, it is not difficult to foresee
that a great people like that of Buenos Ayres will respect the
decision of the nation.”
At this point of the conference Dr. Tejedor said, petulantly, “They
speak of Sarmiento.”
“Do you propose him to me?” asked the general.
Dr. Tejedor. “No; they are official voices
that proceed from the government house.”
The general shrugged his shoulders, and Dr. Tejedor continued: “You
spoke last time about Sarmiento.”
[Page 23]
General Boca. “I do not go back upon what I
said to Dr. Del Valle, in the belief that if we relinquished our
candidatures another one might appear.”
Dr. Tejedor. “And do you see no other
solution to all this?”
General Roca. “No, sir. After this, I see
no other way but abiding by the constitution and respecting the
result of the elections.”
Dr. Tejedor. “Could not some man of no
significance—some fool—be nominated?”
“No, sir,” answered General Roca; “the fate of the republic cannot be
intrusted to a fool. Have you nobody else to
propose?”
“Nobody,” answered Dr. Tejedor hurriedly; “I would not meddle with
that.”
After saying this, Dr. Tejedor stood up, saying: “I think we have
nothing useful to say to each other. We shall not meet again.”
