No. 98.
Mr. Scruggs
to Mr. Frelinghuysen.
Bogota, December 23, 1882. (Received February 1, 1883.)
Sir: It becomes my painful duty to announce the death of the President of the Colombian Union, Dr. Francisco Javier Zaldúa, which took place at the executive mansion in this city, at the hour of 1 p.m., on the 21st instant. The event was not unexpected. The deceased had reached the advanced age of seventy-three years, and had been in very feeble health for several months.
The funeral ceremonies took place to-day, and in the order set forth in the printed programme, of which I inclose a copy and translation. It was the first instance in the history of the Republic of a President of the Union dying in office, and this fact doubtless contributed to the solemnity of the occasion. The entire city was draped in mourning, and the funeral procession was unusually large and imposing.
Dr. Zaldúa was a man of fine abilities and rare attainments. A lawyer by profession, he had never made mere partisan politics a business. He had, however, at different times been called upon to discharge many important public trusts, and in all these he left a record and a name unsullied. He had none of the qualities of a great political leader, and none of the arts of the successful demagogue. But his marked abilities and sterling integrity of character made him a conspicuous figure among his countrymen, and his election to the presidency, like his previous elevation to the several posts of legislator, judge, and cabinet minister, seems to have been unsought, possibly unexpected by him.
The first Designado, or Vice-President of the Republic, ex-President Rafael Nuñez (now governor of Panama), being absent, the duties of the national Executive devolved upon the second Designado, Don José E. Otolara, who assumed charge on the 22d instant. Señor Otolara is a man about fifty-five years of age, and has had considerable experience in public life. He was at one time governor of the State of Boyaca, afterwards consul-general in London, and at the time of the death of President Zaldúa he was a member of the Colombian Senate.
The entire cabinet of the late President tendered their resignations, and their places have already been supplied by the following appointments, viz: To be secretary for foreign affairs, Señor Antonia Roldan; the interior, Don Buenaventura Reinales; of finance, Dr. Anibal Galindo; the treasury, Señor Alejandro Posada; of public works [Page 231] (fomento), Señor Laza Grau; of public instruction, Señor Apolinor Rueda; and of war, General Mateus.
The new cabinet is upon the whole a very good one, and, so far as I can judge, is likely to prove satisfactory to the country, or at least to the political party in power.
I have, &c.,