Mr. Beaupré to Mr. Hay.
Bogotá, March 22, 1902.
Sir: On Wednesday, March 19, 1902, at 4 o’clock in the afternoon, Dr. Manuel Antonio Sanclemente, titular President of the Republic of Colombia, died at his residence in Villeta, after nearly a century of existence. He was 93 years old.
He was buried quietly at Villeta and with little ceremonial, as he had requested. In this city the Government caused a salute to be fired, and the usual symbols of public mourning to be assumed. The flags of the different foreign legations and consulates were unfurled at half-mast for three consecutive days.
Dr. Sanclemente’s death was not a surprise, for it has been expected for a considerable time. His health had been failing rapidly, and for a month or more the end had seemed in sight.
In 1898 Dr. Sanclemente and Dr. José Manuel Marroquin were elected President and Vice-President, respectively, by the National party. The president took possession of his office, but it being speedily determined that he could not live in this climate, he did not remain in Bogotá more than a month, retiring to Anapoima, after obtaining leave of absence from the Senate. His physicians publicly declared at the time that he would never be able to return; and so it has been, he having continued to reside at Anapoima and latterly at Villeta. Notwithstanding his absence from the capital, Dr. Sanclemente continued to exercise the functions of his office until July 31, 1900, when Vice-President Marroquin, by a coup d’état, took possession of the Government and declared himself in the exercise of the executive power, and has so continued in possession to this date.
Dr. Sanclemente has long been a prominent figure in the affairs of Colombia. As a lawyer he was eminent, becoming a judge and then a magistrate of the supreme court. He was a member of the old provincial congresses, and afterwards a representative and a senator in the National Congress. He was active in politics, and was governor of the department before he was elected President.
While his death removes all question as to the legality of the Government, it will probably not have much effect on political conditions.
I am, etc.,