Porfirio Diaz and the Celebrations of the Centenary of the Independence

Javier Gómez Alvarez Tostado.

The Celebrations of the Centenary of Independence represented the pinnacle of Diaz

Regime. ‘Las Fiestas del Centenario, were designed, above all, as a lavish celebration of

the political, economic, cultural and diplomatic achievements of the regime’ (1).

Mexico’s prosperity was something to be seen by the international community, the

Country was a ‘gleam’ of progress, peace, stability and opportunities for investments and

good revenue. The Celebrations intended to show ‘most significantly the achievements

of Mexican foreign policy to attract overseas investments’ (2). Mexico was incorporated

in the international economy as exporter of minerals, oil, agricultural commodities, and

also, as importer of technology and capital.

Amidst the inevitable rise of the Revolution just few days after the celebrations, the event

was foremost a demonstration of progress, we should clarify, hand by hand with

inequality, labor exploitation, and social injustice. According to Cosio Villegas, ‘Porfirio

Diaz’ raised the banner of material progress…(while) failing to secure, and even

sacrificing political freedom’ (3).

The big event, ‘the fantasy’, was the perfect alibi to attract through positive publicity

investment capital. ‘Attracting ever-increasing investment capital to fuel industrial and

agribusiness expansion was ever more important as a result of the Dublán Convention

that mortgaged the nation’s future’ (4).

For such political moment, and as part of the Celebrations, Monuments and buildings

were inaugurated all over the country: the trans-Isthmus Tehuantepec railway, bridges,

schools, hospitals, markets, parks, museums, archeological sites, and roads. The

Celebrations were the perfect marketing apparatus, to confirm the success of thirty-four

years of the positivist-liberal regime. Foreign representatives from all over the world

were invited. And to celebrate the foreign-relations, monuments to: Washington, Isabella

I of Spain, Pasteur, and a Japanese garden and exhibition were also inaugurated.

A military parade took place in September 16th. Including representatives of armed forces

from Brazil, Argentina, Germany, and Spain. The Mexican Army lavishly uniformed,

‘proudly displayed their new German spiked helmets’ (5). A wacky idea from the Minister

of War, Bernardo Reyes that intended the short and chubby militia to look as Prussian

soldiers.

The Mexican history was represented in elaborated parades; with traditional colonial

floats as ‘el Paseo del Pendón’, Aztec warriors and Spanish conquerors, headed by a
portrayal of Hernán Cortés, celebrated the surrender of the City of Tenochtitlán in August

13 of 1521.

Franciscan friars and Tlaxcalteco Indians, Pedro de Alvarado, and the Aztec Emperor

Moctezuma seated in his throne in a fully decorated float. Military bands, triumphal

arches, a huge monument or “catafalque” in the courtyard of National Palace, and

thousands of light bulbs, were part of the spectacular imagery.

Moctezuma’s float.

Photo: Memorias del Centenario.

On April 1st 1907 the Minister of State and the Office of Interior, following presidential

instructions, published the magnum event’s affidavit: ‘Nearby to celebrating the first

Centenary of the Independence proclamation, (September 16, 1910), the President

considers of National interest, that these transcendental celebrations should be done with

all solemnity and splendor’ (6). For such, a National Commission was established:

Guillermo de Landa Escandón was the President. Board Members included: Francisco D.

Barroso, Serapión Fernández, Romualdo Pasquel, Fernando Pimentel y Fagoaga, Eugenio

Rascón, Rafael Rebollar, Carlos Rivas, Manuel Vázquez Tagle, and José Casarín as

Secretary. Then after, Porfirio Parra substituted Vázquez Tagle after his resignation.

The commission was formed by conservative aristocrats in advanced age: Carlos Rivas,

Francisco D. Barroso, Serapión Fernández, and substitute Pedro Rincón Gallardo, all died

during the preliminary works.

‘Each state had its own commission, as did every municipality in the republic’ (7).

It is important to mention, that the affidavit, intended to be inclusive with lower classes,

and to fulfill such intentions, the event was spread throughout the entire Country.

Multiple infrastructures were built for the occasion. ‘The Celebration of the Centenary

had to be popular and national, including the patriotic demonstration of all social strata’

(8). Tax exemption was granted to all participants and donors.

As part of the program, the wealthy and aristocratic ladies were asked to teach the

illiterate. The mint engraved a special coin, and a competition for an anthem was

established, although, with more than one hundred applicants the jury proclaimed the

prize deserted. There were no lyrics that could represent the grandeur of the festivities.

Every day of September there was an official event, (9) remarkable dates were:
On September 1st. the construction of the Archaeology and Fine Arts Museum began, the

first stone was placed in the land that belonged to an old Hospice. (10)

The lack of identity in the Mexicans required a look for support from its own history,

recognizing the past and its reconciliation was an endeavor for Diaz regime.

On September 2nd, exhibitions on Health and Fauna were also inaugurated.

The fountain where Hidalgo was baptized was displayed in the National Museum. The

old museum located in the former Mint, contained a disordered mix of exhibitions from

all over the Country, from pre-Columbian times to the eighteen hundreds.

During Diaz’s regime, instructions were given to classify and organize its content.

On September 3rd, Diaz inaugurated the Asylum for the insane. The huge complex was

designed by Salvador Echegaray in 1909, and built by engineers Porfirio Diaz’s son, and

Ignacio de la Barra. Its layout with separated pavilions for men and women was a symbol

of modernity and convenience.

For generations after the Revolution, this rundown institution was known as the infamous

hospital for the insane, and lots of creepy stories were everyday gossip in the

neighborhood. The ‘Manicomio de la Castañeda’ was finally demolished it in the sixties,

and the catholic order of Legionaries of Christ purchased the leftovers including the

façade. The building was rebuilt, and transformed into a monastery. Stone by stone, the

building was moved to Amecameca, in the outskirts of the Popocatepetl volcano.

Ramón Corral inaugurated another infamous building during the Celebrations of the

Centenary, the penitentiary of Lecumberri.

The Prison, initiated in 1885 with drawings by Antonio Torres Torrija, was an exemplary

building on its time, (Other architects and engineers included: Miguel Quintana from

1885 to 1895, Antonio M. Anza, from 1892 to 1897, and José Serrano).

As many other iconic buildings inaugurated at the same time, it was built with American

steel.

With a modern panoptical floor plan, that included a hospital and a section for women,

the model Prison had room for 15,000 interns.

The penitentiary was a conclusion of years of research, studies and discussions.

Criminologists, bourocrats and engineers participated in such endeavor. Their intention

was to create ‘a model prison, that would redeem the interns through technical training in

competitive professions’ (11). Diaz officially inaugurated the prison in September of

1900.

A good number of dark stories are told about that reformative institution. Infamous

criminals, politicians, intellectuals, artists and even one of its architects inhabited the

prison; names included Pancho Villa, David Alfaro Siqueiros, Ramon Mercader, and José

Revueltas. The prison received the popular name of the “Black Palace”.

As told by Jorge L. Medellin, architect responsible for transforming the jail into the

National Archives, when renovations began in the 1980’s, a full year was not enough to

kill the thousands of “rats” that inhabited the place.

On September 4th, a parade with floats sponsored by banks, the industry and commercial

firms took place.

September 4th. Parade

Photo: Memorias del Centenario.

On September 5th, the Seismologic laboratory was inaugurated. Today, half of the

building remains with the same use, and the other half, is a library that contains

extraordinary collections of maps from all Mexico.

On September 6, 38,000 children pleaded their respects to the Mexican flag. Highly

emotive, for many was most certainly, the best part of the celebrations.

On September 7th, two elementary schools were inaugurated. An impressive parade and

reception with the Spanish ambassador Marques de Polavieja also took place. The foreign

representative, in another emotive occasion, turned back to Mexico a uniform worn by

the insurgent Jose Maria Morelos y Pavón.

On September 8th, the amphitheater for the National Preparatory was inaugurated (the

same auditorium, that later was decorated with fresco murals by Diego Rivera).

A demonstration, in honor of the niños heroes, (cadets that fought to the American Army

in 1847) took place. President Diaz, ministers and foreign representatives participated.

Also, in the same day, the new building for the Ministry of Foreign Relations was

inaugurated.
On September 9th, the first stone for the monument dedicated to Isabel I was laid. A

school for female teachers was also inaugurated.

On September 10th, an impressive reception at National Palace was offered to important

guests. Also the ‘Americanism’ Conference took place.

National Palace courtyard

Photo: Memorias del Centenario.

On September 11th, first stones, for monuments to Washington and Pasteur, were laid.

The Building for the Ministry of War and Marine was inaugurated.

On September12ve, the male teachers school was inaugurated.

On September 13th, the statue for the traveler and German Baron, Alexander Von

Humboldt was uncovered.

On September 14th, A Reception on the City Hall was offered to important guests,

citizens brought flowers and pleaded respects at the Monument of the Independence.

On September 15th, the traditional Ceremony of Independence was celebrated; President

Diaz and his family participated by repeating the speech of Proclamation of

Independence and by ringing the Independence Bell from the main balcony of National

Palace.

On September 16th, President Diaz inaugurated the Monument of the Independence.

The magnificent column designed by Antonio Rivas Mercado became the symbol not just

for the Independence but also for the City of Mexico. In the top, a golden female victory

supports a crown aligned to the head of Miguel Hidalgo’s sculpture that stands below.

Insurgents Hidalgo, Morelos, Allende, Guerrero, Mina, Aldama, Bravo, Jiménez,

Matamoros, Leona Vicario, and first President Guadalupe Victoria, were buried

underneath. The female victory was sculpted by the Italian artist Enrique Alciati, and not

by Rivas Mercado as many believe. There is also a popular misbelieve that Rivas

Mercado’s daughter Antonieta was the model for the sculpture. The controversial lady,

who was lover of the later Minister of Education José Vasconcelos, became very famous

after committing suicide in Notre Dame in Paris.

Rivas Mercado’s grandchildren, claim that their grand father nicknamed “the bear”

(because of his huge complexion) never was paid for such commission.

The original Angel plunged in the earthquake of 1957; its remains are displayed at the

house of Heras Soto in Downtown Mexico City.

 The monument to Independence

Photo: Memorias del Centenario.

On September 17th a popular party in Balbuena Park took place.

On September 18th a monument dedicated to Benito Juárez was inaugurated in the

southern border of Alameda Park. The Monument, criticized because its bad proportions,

was designed by Guillermo Heredia, with sculptures by Concetti and Tabachi.

On September19th, Porfirio Diaz received the “Orden Carlos III”medal, an important

recognition from the Spanish monarchy.

On September 20th the Conference on Education and pedagogy began.

On September 21st, Mexico City’s Potable water system, designed by the talented

engineer Norberto Rodriguez was inaugurated.

On September 22nd, the National University was inaugurated, soon after, the National

Autonomous University, became the number one institution for professional education in
all Latin America. This Institution established in 1551, was also the first University in

the American Continent.

On September 23 a Grand Gala Ball and dinner party took place in National Palace, a

band of one hundred and fifty musicians performed.

Also, the first stone for the Legislative Palace was laid. The impressive structure

designed by the French Architect Emile Benard, was intended to be the greatest

manifestation from Porfiriato, although, never completed, the remaining structure ended

being transformed into the Monument for the Revolution in 1932. The architect that

designed the monument in Art Deco style was Carlos Obregón Santacilia.

Other events included were as follow:

September 24th, a breed cattle exhibition,

September 25th, military demonstrations,

September 26, Mexico City’s sewage system Inauguration,

September 27, The Congress announces President Diaz reelection, and Ramon Corral’s

appointment as Vice President,

September 28, Inauguration of a powder house in Santa Fe,

September 30th, Reception, and closure, of the National Celebrations.

Every town, and municipality, of the country also participated in such big event, “while

Mexico City received the bulk of these construction projects, every region and state were

included… From a modest fountain in Sana María, del Oro, a water pipe in Tonalá, a

canal in Ciudad Ocampo, to a more impressive palacio municipal in Córdoba,

innumerable local and regional construction projects, were made to re-shape the image of

developing Mexico.

Everything appeared to be changing rapidly for the better. New streets, bridges, civic

monuments, markets, and bandstands popped up throughout the republic, (12).

In some cases, the agenda, no matter what, was to inaugurate something. Empty façades

of huge structures with no building behind were inaugurated and displayed with the same

pride as with finished buildings.

Other buildings, intended to be Icons from the Porfiriato, did not get completed, because

of the outcome of the Revolution. The Fine Arts Palace in Mexico City was in the top of

the list. Once demolished the existing 18oo’s National Theatre, to open a street, the task

to design the Grand Theater was given to the Italian architect Adamo Boari in 1901. The

huge and heavy building was made of American steel and marble. Sculptors Agustín

Querol (Spanish), and Leonardo Bistolfi (Italian), together with the Hungarian artist Geza

Marotti, intended to build an Opera House as impressive as Guimard’s Opera House in

Paris. With the Revolution the construction stopped, and the Palace became a lot for

used cars, until Federico Mariscal completed the interiors in 1934.

Adamo Boari’s project for the Fine Arts Palace

Photo: INAH- Mexico.

Also, by Boari, and nearby to the Fine Arts Palace, the Post Office was completed in

1907. Critics admit that the Gothic Revival structure is far more interesting than the

Opera House.
Post Office by Adamo Boari

Photo: Memorias del Centenario.

Another great building inaugurated during the Celebrations was the Chopo Museum, the

magnificent structure of glass and steel that was completed between 1909 and 1910 by

Luis Bacmeister, together with Aurelio Ruelas and Hugo Dorner. Originally the building

was the German Pavilion for an Industrial exhibition. Later became the Natural History

Museum, for decades housing a collection of dinosaurs.

Porfirio Díaz

Photo: La Prospérité du Mexique

“The contrast between the regime’s portrayal of its achievements in the Fiestas del

Centenario of 1910 and the social, economic and political realities of late Porfirian

Mexico on the eve of the Revolution could not have been greater” (13), the spectacle, was

perfectly orchestrated. National and foreign, performers and observers, all believed in

the miracles of modern México. Although the Country was in the threshold of an

enormous disaster and few months after the spectacular celebrations, revolts in Cananea

and Rio Blanco began a long lasting conflict that changed politics, culture and thinking of

millions of Mexicans. For decades after the Revolution, Porfirio Diaz has been seen as a
dictator that supported the wealthy with the work of the peasants, and political parties

have been refusing the core of his intentions, for the sake of political and social stability.

Although, contrary to previous statements, actual governors still look for same neo-

liberal strategies that supported Diaz political and economical plans.

Diaz created an extraordinary apparatus full of imagery that brought modernity and

progress together with inevitable social instability. President Salinas de Gortari, after

naming his son Emiliano (in memory of Zapata) stood in the Presidential Palace with a

revolutionary shield, that ended being more propaganda than flagship agenda. Within a

neo-liberal political agenda, Salinas created the same imagery as Diaz. The Country’s

economy and social stability collapsed once again.

After one hundred years, Porfirio Diaz political agenda is again under review, Paul

Garner explains the three different facets of how historians have been defining the

Porfiriato: Porfirismo, where Diaz was seen as wise patriarch, republican patriot and

positivist statesman, the “Master Builder of a Great Commonwealth”, as refereed by the

Mexican Diplomat Manuél Godoy in 1910.

The Anti-Porfirismo, ‘for the outside world, Diaz was portrayed as a ruthless tyrant, the

most colossal criminal of our times… the central prop of the system of slavery and

autocracy’ (14).

Anti-Porfirismo came as a natural reaction just after the Revolution, during the 1920’s.

Local and external critics included Filomeno Mata, John Kenneth Turner, Luis Lara

Pardo and Ramón del Valle Inclán.

And finally Neo-Porfirismo, a ‘revisionist’ history where Porfiriato is once again

recognized.
Enrique Krauze, Francisco Bulnes, Angel Taracena, and Fernando Orozco Linares,

transformed the image of Diaz from diabolical dictator to that of a patriot. Krauze

explains that ‘the (post)-Revolutionary regimes cannot condemn Díaz without

condemning themselves’ (15 ).

After the fall of the Revolutionary Party, the Right wing party PAN, struggles with the

leftist PRD party that continuously blocks any attempt for a neo-liberalism Risorgimento.

“Diaz regime’s growing international respectability was a vital factor in consolidating

domestic stability. Most significantly, the achievements of Mexican foreign policy had

helped to restore Mexico’s international credit, and to attract overseas investment, one of

the central components of the regime’s economic strategy” (16),

Mexico has commercial and free trade agreements with many countries of the first world;

the plan intends to attract foreign investments, and to develop the Mexican industry.

Conditions resemble those from September of 1910, and as never before, Mexico today

faces a dramatic contrast between classes. Yesterday were emblematic buildings, today

is Santa Fe shopping center and administrative skyscrapers.

Yesterday was the Union strikes in Cananea; today is the rising of crime in Mexico City.

Carlos Fuentes explains that Mexican Revolution is not concluded yet, social, political,

economical conditions are still clashing, and the fire is still burning.

Notes and quotes:

(1) P.158 Garner Paul, Porfirio Diaz, profiles in Power, Pearson Education, London 2001.
(2) P.159 ibid.
(3) Cosio Villegas (ed.), Historia Moderna de Mexico, Vol X., 1955-72.
(4) P. 208 McLachlan, Colin M. El Gran Pueblo, A History of Modern Mexico, second
edition, Prentice Hall, US, 1994.
(5) P.159 Garner Paul, Porfirio Diaz, profiles in Power, Pearson Education, London 2001.
(6) P.1 Memoria, Comision N. del Centenario de la Independencia, Imprenta del Gobierno
Federal, Mexico 1910.
(7) P.208 McLachlan, Colin M. El Gran Pueblo, A History of Modern Mexico, second
edition, Prentice Hall, US, 1994.
(8) P, 1 Memoria, Comision N. del Centenario de la Independencia, Imprenta del
Gobierno Federal, Mexico 1910.
(9) I found three different versions of the program, and tried to find the must accurate one,
(mainly used the official memories) although in some cases it was an impossible task,
two programs were made and sponsored by private companies, and are full of
inaccuracies.
(10) I have no recall of the museum.
(11) P. 1649 Cuadriello, Jaime, Historia del. Arte Mexicano, Editorial SEP-SALVAT,
Tomo III, segunda edición 1986. México.
(12) P. 209 McLachlan, Colin M. El Gran Pueblo, A History of Modern Mexico, second
edition, Prentice Hall, US, 1994.
(13) P.159 Garner Paul, Porfirio Diaz, profiles in Power, Pearson Education, London
2001.
(14) p5 Paul Garner, Porfirio Díaz Profiles in Power,
(15 ) E. Krauze, Diez mentiras 1992.

Bibliography:

Garner Paul, Porfirio Diaz, profiles in Power, Pearson Education, London 2001.
McLachlan, Colin M. El Gran Pueblo, A History of Modern Mexico, second edition,
Prentice Hall, US, 1994.
Memoria, Comision N. del Centenario de la Independencia, Imprenta del Gobierno
Federal, Mexico 1910.
Historia del. Arte Mexicano, Editorial SEP-SALVAT, Tomo III, coordinador: Jorge
Alberto Manrique, segunda edición 1986. México.
Katzman, Israel Arquitectura Contemporánea Mexicana, INAH-SEP, México 1963.
Trentini, Françoise La Prospérité du Mexique, edition illustrée en Française, Paris 1908.
Del Valle-Arízpe, Artemio, Por la vieja Calzada de Tlacopan, Colección Valle de
México, segunda edición 1954.
Booligny & Schmidt, Sucs. México y las Colonias Extranjeras en el Centenario de la
Independencia, México 1910.
Rondero y Treppiedi S. en C., Recuerdo del Primer Centenario de la Independencia
Nacional, México 1910.
Cover photo: Book Cover, La Prospérité du Mexique.