Ponciano Leiva to Señor Soto, July 8, 1874
Señor Leiva to Señor Soto.
My Esteemed Friend: In the 25th number of the El Porvenir de Nicaragua was published a letter dated May 15, which it appears you sent to me by Señor Licdo Rosa, which I did not receive, as the said Señor returned from the journey when he found the mission was unnecessary.
A certain person, whose name is unknown to me, has procured its publication, asserting, with evil intent, that a copy had been sent from this capital.
You, to whom the Señor Rosa ought to have returned the original, will know if he has consented to the aforementioned publication; and if he has not, can find who the person is who has abused his confidence. However, in regard to the contents of said letter, it is satisfactory to me to believe that, by the facts, you will be convinced that the convention was not, as some suppose, an enraged body, with the sword of vengeance raised, and that, in respect to myself, I was not deceived in thinking myself of sufficient strength of will to be generous to the prisoner Arias, raising my sentiments above every miserable passion. I interested myself in his favor, even opposing public opinion, which was averse to him. The exile to which he has been condemned by the convention he would have had to endure of his own accord, as he could not have resided without danger in the country until some time had elapsed. By reason of this same decision, the judge of his conduct, it was necessary to order his detention, modifying the agreement of the surrender, which I ought to approve, as commanding general of the republic, under whose orders were the generals of the besieging forces.
There is an interest on the part of some false liberals of this republic to discredit my government, and for that purpose they write injurious falsehoods, which they publish in the El Porvenir de Nicaragua, a periodical that, with the stupidity of Pasquino, publishes everything. Bui I look with contempt on its calumnies, trusting in the good sense of the worthy Hondurans, who are the witnesses of my conduct favorable to the people who have trusted me with their destinies.
I have proposed to give freedom to liberal principles in Honduras, beginning by guaranteeing the free use of the right of suffrage, and through this there have appeared in the convention men of different political opinions; and on this account I use in the administration of public affairs citizens indiscriminately from parties that call themselves liberals or conservatives, without declaring myself the chief of either, and so far have had no cause to repent of pursuing such a course. If this course is approved by my fellow-citizens, if these same parties limit their desire for exclusiveness, there will result the maintenance of the peace of the republic, which is what I most earnestly desire. If I am deceived, and the result of this purely national course does not answer my hopes, and new disturbances arise in an evil hour to oppose the authors of these, I will have the sad reproach of knowing that in my country there are still men unworthy of the liberty the existing government offers to all.
I will write to you by the following mail, meanwhile awaiting your orders. I am, your obedient servant,