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Dr. Domingo Mairena Hernández resigns
his commission in the EDSN
a.jpg)
"Rash, fruitless, and harmful." That
is how the medical doctor Domingo Mairena
Hernández described Sandino's plans to continue
rebelling against the Marines and Nicaraguan
government after Moncada's election. In
this letter to the guerrilla chieftain, penned
from exile in Tegucigalpa, Mairena resigned his
commission in the Defending Army. Having
served with evident enthusiasm for most of 1928
as the only medical doctor in Sandino's jungle
camps, in early 1929 Dr. Mairena gave up the
fight. He pleads with Sandino to lay down
his arms. His beloved homeland of
Nicaragua now has a legitimately elected
government, he proclaims. Continuing the
struggle is pointless. (Photos of
Sandinista rebels, n.d., from the collection of
Walter C. Sandino)
Dr. Mairena's
change of heart is puzzling, for in
December 1928, after the elections, he proclaims
his enduring commitment to the cause. To help
curious readers puzzle it out, his letter of
resignation is accompanied by several ancillary documents:
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1
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A 5 Dec. 1928 open letter by his
comrade, Mexican
José de Paredes, to Mexico City's
El Universal, which says that Dr. Mairena
lost an eye in 1922 from a US bullet.
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2
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Dr. Mairena's 22 August 1928 letter to a
colleague, Dr. Miralda of Tegucigalpa,
describing his steely resolve to continue the
fight.
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3
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Mairena's 8 December 1928 letter to
the
Salvadoran newspaper Diario de
Ahuachapán, affirming his commitment
to Sandino's cause.
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4
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Mairena's November 1928 appointment by Sandino
as the Defending Army's Special Delegate
to Pedro José
Zepeda in Mexico City.
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5
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Mairena's
July 1929 letter to
El Centroamericano
of León, describing his dismaying
encounter with Froylán Turcios in Tegucigalpa
and his disillusionment with Sandino's cause.
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6
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Biographical sketch of Dr. Mairena by
Sergio Ramírez (1984), who sees Mairena
as a sellout & traitor.
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.jpg) Dr.
Mairena's letter of resignation and the
accompanying documents illustrate several
broader themes
— including the exceptionally
difficult straits the rebel movement
found itself in early 1929, and the challenges
Sandino faced in retaining the allegiance of
liberal-minded professionals and educated elites
who sympathized with his goals but disagreed
with his means.
Why did Mairena
quit? My own sense is
that he grew weary of the physical hardships of
living in the bush, yearned for a more
comfortable life, and found Sandino's autocratic
style increasingly hard to stomach. He
probably wanted to get the hell out of what he
saw as the endless maze of rude jungle camps
called El Chipotón and return to something he
recognized as civilization. Clearly he was
torn. But maybe
there's more.
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Tegucigalpa, Honduras
February
1st, 1929
General A. C. Sandino
His Encampment
My distinguished General:
It is with the interest you know I have put forth towards
serving the Cause that I am addressing you the present in
which I hope there is a reflection of the sincerity with
which I have served you and the will that prompts me.
You have fought like a true patriot during 21 months but now
that the government of General Moncada has been recognized
by all the world -- even by those governments who had
retired their representations in the times of Adolfo Diaz,
to keep the same idea at this time it is rash, fruitless,
and harmful. To say the least, if the Army was called
Dignified, under the present circumstances will be
considered by all as disturbing of the public order and in
view of this Honduras and Costa Rica, the neighbors with
whom we could count upon, will have to leave us out for
international morality of their sisterly frontiers.
The situation, therefore, for you and your Army, is now
difficult, if not impossible to maintain. Besides,
talking to Dr. Ulises Irias, Secretary to the Nicaraguan
Mission, I have been convinced that the situation of the
country, with our systematic attitude, makes it go round in
a vicious circle: because you say you will not quit
whilst the Americans are in National territory, and they say
that while you maintain such purpose they will not leave.
That is to say, My General, that while you are in your idea,
the invaders are in theirs also. In such predicament,
does it not seem to you that the prudent, just, and
patriotic thing for you to do is to stop your purpose?
Once the present government of Nicaragua is recognized, the
[Invict] Legion is no longer bearer of the National dignity;
in view of this I comply with the duty of insinuating that
in order that the glory of your rebelliousness is not lost
in the chaos of appreciations which would rise from your
stubbornness in maintaining your attitude, already censored.
So that the sublimity of that rebellion is not lost, you
must quit with a gesture of convincement, leaving history to
justify you when it will say that you did what you could to
have the ghost of brutal intervention disappear in your
country and let the responsibility fall on those who were
indifferent to your call, permitting the shackles of
Sovereignty. This is patriotic and dignifying not to
be rashly killed and letting the interest and holy rights of
the Country be lessened.
Another thing: Your life is precious to the country,
it demands you to sacrifice it if possible but with the
hopes of a fruit. Is it not better, General Sandino,
that your energies should be put to the service of the
Country, trying to obtain through reasonable means what is
useless to ask from a stubborn fight in which your legions
are engaged? When I was in the mountains I could not
tell you this, my soul was strangled by rage in the face of
the merciless invasion, and blind as our eyes are there; but
fortunately I left and I see the truth of things which was
never told to you by those who should have done it, but
rather prompted you knavely, it is then when I have to quit
dreaming and tell you frankly what is going on. Will
you attend to me? Let us hope so for the profit of our
beloved country and for your welfare and that of the Army.
I expect it.
I, although fearing I will be called a traitor, I want to
put my last effort for the benefit of our Cause which was
accepted by my soul with the greatest enthusiasm and good
faith. Failing in my purpose, I shall be satisfied for
having contributed until my efforts could to [lead to] the
libeation of the Country.
At least the above good intentions will remain stagnant in
the hands of a representative who kept the communications
which were sent to you a long time ago from many Nicaraguans
who tried to arrange the national problem with you.
Wishing you good health as well as to your companions of the
[Inviet] Legion, I am yours devoted as ever,
Country and Liberty
/s/ D. Mairena H.
M.D. of the Army
English Only.
IR29.02.12: 11-12
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Ancillary Documents
1. José de Paredes to El Universal, Mexico City, Dec. 5, 1928
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What a Young
Mexican Says, Ex-Secretary of Sandino.
The young man, José de Paredes, gave to the
Universal de Mexico information where he states
he was with Sandino, acting as his private
secretary, until he was seriously wounded by a
bullet received from the American troops
operating in Las Segovias against the rebel
chief. Sailed from San Francisco,
California in the SS City of Panama landing in
Salvador on Feb. 14 last and Dr. J. Jesus Zamora
recommended him to Froylán Turcios in
Tegucigalpa, Honduras and the latter showed him
how he could reach the rebels' settlement and he
found on his way to the border line a patrol
commanded by the Honduran Colonel Ramon Mondragon, who took him as a suspicious
character, in view of being dressed with
breeches, strong boots, and raincoat. He
took him to Santa Maria and delivered him to
Capt. O'Day of that place. It was on May
10th and that night, taking advantage of four
soldiers asleep under whose custody he was, he
could escape, take a bag of mail for Sandino and
passed the Hondo River, he crossed it . . .
A Sandinista Colonel, Pastor Ramírez, helped him
and furnished him with a guide. His woman
who accompanies him is called Teresa Espinal [Villatoro],
a brunette with ardent eyes, as his wife Blanca
Arauz the telegraph operator of San Rafael del
Norte is in her home, inasmuch as his matrimony
was only a gesture of the General who wanted
thus to quiet down the gossip as he visited,
every time he could, the beautiful Blanca Arauz.
But the other one, Teresa Espinal [Villatoro],
is the one accompanying him through the dangers.
She has in the forehead a big scar, caused by
one of the 75 mm shells thrown by the planes of
the US aviators. They appear in really big
flocks. At 9:45 exactly they propeller's
noise can be heard and hell starts then.
Almost touching the tree tops they open machine
gun fire and drop bombs, and it is necessary to
hide, leave the encampment alone, to reorganize
again, gather the wounded, who never remain in
the field, and fight against the first patrol to
appear. . . .
Air raids were every day until I took part in
the Lobo contact, where I was wounded. I
fell with a bullet wound and General Sandino
ordered my being picked up. They
took me in arms to the encampment where
Dr.
Domingo Mairena Hernández
who lost one eye
in 1922 by a US bullet. He cured me with
hot water only and a bad bandage. . . . I went
from there to La Union, a port in the Fonseca
Gulf . . . About the death of the Manager of
Bonanza, La Luz, and Los Angeles Mines, Mr. Geo.
B. Marshall, what can you tell us? The
General had a great regard for him. He
called him familiarly Don Marcial; but due to
military reasons those mines were destroyed and
he was made a prisoner. He could never get
used to the food consisting of wasted meat and
stewed plantains and he fell sick with dysentery
on June 26, surrounded by us who wished to show
him always we were his friends. He was
buried in Matiguas. . . .
RG127/206/Misc-1928
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El Chipoton
Wed, August 22, 1928
To Dr. Miralda
Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
Sir:
I am a soldier who, in the hour of danger takes
his rifle and his post in the ranks of the
liberators. After the battles and in the days of
trial, I am the Surgeon-Doctor who devotes
himself to attending to my sick and wounded
comrades. If this data is not enough it suffices
[to say] that I form part of the Army in Defense
of the National Sovereignty of Nicaragua, whose
prowess will certainly be admired in future
centuries more earnestly than it is venerated
today. With these preliminary remarks I come to
the matter that moves me to write.
On the 18th of this month the General Staff,
with its protecting columns, halted its march
toward the west of this country, toward which
region it was moving to attack the pirates in
the strongholds ceded to them by the soldiers of
their country -- halted for the purpose of
receiving an emissary coming from your republic
to discuss certain matters with the bandits. The
emissary presented himself at 11:47 a.m.
We had expected to hear from this envoy, the
young man Constantino Tenorio, something in
praise of the Cause, and that might be
uplifting. But we were greatly disenchanted to
hear verbally the conditions of the Yankee
proposal, just as though they owned the Nation
whose Army of Honor rejects them with loathing.
And when we learned that you -- a citizen of the
fatherland of Bonilla -- were the means of
enabling this emissary to reach us, even
prudence could hardly restrain our indignities.
If it had not been for Tenorio's know record he
would have been placed under arrest immediately,
tried by a Council of War as a traitor, a
coward; if you had been one of our group, you
would at that instant have been hurled out of
our communion. However, as general conditions
are not unfavorable to you, I tell you this:
1st: Tenorio remains with us, because he desires
to rectify his unpardonable mistake; 2nd: That
we do not care to treat with the Yankees, nor
with Diaz, nor with Moncada, nor with any of
their crew.
Some time ago General Sandino made known the
conditions under which he would suspend his
activities: Immediate withdrawal of the
invaders; a National Government. Whoever thinks
he is going to deviate from this had better
understand that ours is not a revolution in
favor of some particular leader, who drops his
plans when they meet his price and pay his men.
No. Ours is the hurricane that is going to tear
up the forest by the roots and level right down
to the floor the temples of corruption, in order
to sow and build anew and let the sun's rays
fall on a purified landscape. If we do not
succeed in this, the price we of the Holy War
are prepared to pay is Death, with the eternal
smile of satisfaction.
So, Doctor Miralda, your solicitude and that of
all the others who think as do the assassins of
my country, does nothing more than provoke the
anger of the Army, and in the future you can
deal with such matters with our Representative,
Don Froylan Turcios -- so vilely dealt with by
your Government in the suppression of our
[publication] Ariel, for it is he who will hear
any proposals concerning agreements with us --
if such agreements are in any way honorable.
The Supreme Commander of this war for autonomy
will soon let it be known how little he cares
for such insolent, meddling politicians; he will
soon explain, to any who may doubt, his final
determination; I, interpreting the sentiments of
the Army, send you this, urging you to devote a
little more effort for Honduras, the next to be
delivered to the Medusa, the insatiable devourer
of our peoples.
In the name of the Liberty of the Continent, I
am yours very truly,
Patria y Libertad,
(signed) Domingo Mairena Hernandez.
IR28.10.08: 12-13. 43A/3RG127/212/1
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3.
Domingo Mairena Hernández, Open Letter to
Diario de
Ahuachapán, San Salvador, Dec. 8, 1928
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After the
Electoral Farce
Dr. Domingo Mairena Hernandez says:
In spite of our strong desire we could not do
what we wanted to do because of the maneuvers we
were developing and certain works which I keep
to myself now. There have come to our hands
leaflets proposing that we lay down our arms,
offering us guarantees and remuneration as if we
were like those who gave their arms for ten
dollars and which were sacred arms because they
had been gotten with blood and struggle. General
Sandino's reply has been his usual one, which is
that the day he sees his country free of the
invaders, then he will quit fighting, as well as
all those who are accompanying him, who are not
all Nicaraguans, otherwise he will be always in
his post. Afterwards there have been many
letters from those who pretend to be his friends
speaking about the legality of the farce.
Against all of the above he is always strongly
opposed.
The Conservatives, thinking we are spurious like
themselves, and that we are fighting for
ambition of power to empty the national
treasury, have made us proposals and a few days
ago a fellow was shot who came to make us
similar proposals because we do not traffic in
the National Honor and do not want to see our
country in a more ruinous condition.
Lately, through our secret service in different
parts of the country, we have learned that a
peace mission was coming and that the father of
General Sandino, Sr. Gregorio Sandino, wanted to
have an interview with his son. Our chief went
to a suitable place and sure enough a powerful
Fokker flew near one of our sectors against
which we did not fire because of special orders
given to us by the General. The next day the
plane came nearer and we believe the plane did
not see us in the jungles but they did throw
leaflets in many places, bleating a lot.
In these leaflets they talked about the desires
of the father and about other things, tending to
make us quit the arms, because, the leaflets
said, there were big preparations to finish us.
These are the threats we have heard since a year
ago. Besides, in small leaflets signed by
Sandino's father, he spoke of the sickness of
Sandino's mother, Sra. Margarita Calderon de
Sandino, who wants him to go and see her before
she dies.
In view of the failure of their efforts, the
plane left. Surely they will now say we are
finished, because they did not see us and that
means to them the end of our activities.
It must be understood that those who are here
are conscious, that we know what we are doing
and that it is not possible to judge us
hurriedly; either our redeeming purposes will
triumph or we will die.
We have all made up our minds on this. I made my
last will and testament some time ago. In it, it
says what I was and how I fought to regain
possession of the Homeland.
I cannot tell you any more because big
happenings are coming. If Sra. Margarita's
sickness is true we shall know about it. And, if
it is so, we are sure that the General can go to
see her and feel the vigilance as he has done on
many occasions.
We are always firm.
Patria y Libertad,
(Signed) Domingo Mairena Hernandez
Surgeon of the Army.
IR28.12.31: 3-4. RG127/209/11
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... face to face with the results of the Yankee
interference in the presidential elections of
the 4th of this month ... I have decided to
invite the Liberal Republican and Laborite
parties and the Solidarity group to unite their
activities with those of our army. ...
I have
named Dr. Domingo Mairena Hernández
as our special delegate to Dr. Pedro Jose
Zepeda, resident in Mexico, D.F., for the
purposes indicated ... and to take steps
concerning matters about which I have given him
precise and positive instructions, ... his trip
should not be delayed at any transit point, and
I am confident that he will make every effort to
reach Mexico quickly, even to the extent of
making a forced march. ... .
Patria y Libertad, (seal and signature)
A. C. Sandino
REC 211-12. ASG 109-10.
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León, Julio 23 de 1929.
Sr. Director de "El Centroamericano." Pte.
Muy Sr. Mio:
El 26 de Noviembre del año pasado salí de las
Pampas de Oconguas con diez dólares en el
bolsillo, de los cuales dí cinco, conforme
instrucctiones, a otro Coronel de Ejército
Libertador, quien debia separárseme, en el lugar
que estimara conveniente a la misión que
llevaba. Enfermo, descalzo, a pié, con todo el
entusiasmo que embarga mi corazón cuando adopto
una "Causa", y burlándome de las consiguientes
penalidades, llegué a Danlí, Honduras, el 11 de
Diciembre, donde tuve que esperar tres días al
primer encargado por el Jefe Autonomista para
entregarme el necesario dinero, a fin de llegar
a México, D. F., antes del 1o. de Enero del año
actual, época en que, de acuerdo con el Dr.
Pedro José Zepeda y otros simpatizadores de la
causa nicaragüense, había de lanzarse el
Manifiesto de desconocimiento del actual
Presidente de Nicaragua, de la proclamación del
que hubiéremos convenido, y de la continuación,
por consiguiente de la lucha libertaria en mi
país. Y, habiéndoseme dado el encargo a que hice
referencia, con cinco pesos plata hondureña,
(dos y medio dollars), salí de Danlí en la
mañana del 16, para llegar a Tegucigalpa el 17 a
las 3 de la tarde.
Ahí, inmediatamente hice llegar noticias de mi
presencia al poeta Froylán Turcios,
"Representante del Ejército en el Continente",
y, cuya voz, como cabeza de la "Causa" (el brazo
era el Gral. Sandino, palabras de éste) se oía y
acataba siempre. Y bien que yo traía
instrucciones de pasar sobre cualquier objeción,
al hecho de que Turcios no me diera el dinero
necesario para mi viaje, por no tener dinero del
Gral. según su propio decir, y porque informado
por las copias, de la documentación que me
llevaban a la capital azteca, no estuvo conforme
con ella, me dijo que esperara la vuelta de un
correo a mata caballo hacia Sandino, a cuyo
regreso, si el Gral. no le atendía sus
indicaciones, no sólo no me daba el dinero, que
el Jefe Supremo del Ejército Libertador le
indicaba, sino que inmediatamente dimitiría de
la "Representación" (sic.) En tales condiciones,
señor Abuanza [Director of El Centroamericano],
estaba o no cohibido para salir en marcha?
Seguramente de que a pié y enfermo como llegué a
Tegucigalpa no llegaría oportunamente a México.
No hice la sandez de marchar, y si dediqué la
estadía para trabajar por la "Causa", como lo
probarán cartas dirigidas a Juan Felipe Toruño,
Director del "Diario de Ahuachapán" y a Salomón
de la Selva, si es que las recibieron, y las
declaraciones, mejor dicho, rectificaciones pro
Sandino, que hice publicar en "El Sol", de
Tegucigalpa.
De ésto, a la venta que se dice hice, hay una
gran diferencia; y sin haber atentido las
indicaciones de Turcios, de Humberto Sosa, de
los doctores Julián y Ulises Irías, más otros
nicaragüenses, para mejor procurar interponer
más insinuaciones a fin de que el Gral. Sandino
cesara en una lucha que a la Patria sólo le
aportaba aniquilamiento y ruina sin haber visto
mejor, entonces que podía justipreciar las cosas
sin el embotamiento de la montaña, ni el odio de
bregar obstinado; si esto es crimen, traición o
lo que se quiera, acepto gustoso el tildado del
ex jefe y compañero.
Pero no; yo no soy bandido, ni traidor. Lo que
sucede es que el Gral. Sandino entre su ejército
logró imponer su voluntad, de manera que no sólo
el que no estaba con el era su enemigo, sino
también el que no pensaba u optaba por su
razonamiento. Esto es lo justo.
Por lo demás, si no quise atender la indicación
de algunos amigos, de audienciarme con el Pdte.
Moncada, conformándome con su telegrama de
garantías dirigido a Choluteca, y las reiteradas
del Jefe Político de León, Dn. Luis A.
Balladares Torres y el Secretario de la
Comandancia Gral. Anastasio Somoza, ni con esto
me siento satisfecho lo suficiente para el que
quiera trabajar, si hay lugar, de otro modo, en
la liberación de la Patria; bien se ve que el
asiento de Oficial Mayor de Gobernación, es un
decir necio, ya que no se puede decir otra cosa.
Con muestras de mi mejor estima y aprecio, quedo
de Ud. Sr. Director, su muy Atto. y s. s.
/s/ Domingo Mairena Hernández
Ex-Cirujano-Médico del Ejército
Defensor de la Soberanía de Nicaragua
ASG 138-39.
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6. Sergio
Ramírez on Domingo Mairena Hernández (1984)
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Mairena Hernández,
Domingo: Pasante de medicina,
de filiación liberal. El general Sandino le
encomienda cumplir una misión en el exterior, en
1929. Irresponsablemente, Mairena traciona la
confianza en él depositada. Se le ordena el
regreso a Nicaragua, en donde rehúye enfrentarse
a la justicia sandinista. Posteriormente se
vende, por un puesto público, al régimen pro
norteamericano de José María Moncada.
PV2 504.
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