The ashes of Ramón Emeterio Betances
Miller, Paul Gerard. Historia de Puerto Rico. Chicago: Rand McNally, 1922. 296.
One hundred years ago today … the remains of Ramón Emeterio Betances, a hugely influential figure in nineteenth-century Latin American politics, were in New York City. Betances (1827–1898), born in Puerto Rico when it was under Spanish dominion, spent his life in France and what is the modern-day Dominican Republic engaged in revolutionary politics. He attacked slavery and Spanish colonial rule in the Caribbean with both words and arms.
When Puerto Rico arranged for Betances’ ashes to be brought home from France, a stop in NYC was arranged. Bernardo Vega recounts the moment in his Memoirs, though he gets the date wrong:
In August 1920, at the behest of the Puerto Rican legislature, Alfonso Lastra Charriez stopped over in New York on his way home from France with the remains of Ramón Emeterio Betances. At the request of Dr. José J. Henna, the ashes of our illustrious patriot were placed in City Hall so as to give the Puerto Rican community an opportunity to pay their final tribute. (116)
The Sun and New York Herald, 9 July 1920, p. 6. Newspapers.com.
According to a letter to the editor by “D. Collazo” published in The Sun and New York Herald, Betances’ remains arrived in NYC before July 9, and were being kept at Henna’s residence, 24 West 72nd Street.
Collazo’s letter argues for local recognition of Betances’ presence, saying any attention would redound in favor of the “Americans”:
In assisting Cubans, Santo Domingans, and Porto Ricans to honor the remains of a man, who, like Dr. Betances, did so much for the advancement of their native islands, Americans will show they they are not indifferent to the beautiful characters in history irrespective of race, creed, or nationality.
Two weeks later, the urn containing Betances’ ashes would lie in state.
The Standard Union, 20 July 1920, p. 8. Newspapers.com.
The clip above reports that the ashes sat on Governor’s Island (which was then a military installation), other reports place them at City Hall as Vega recalls.
The quotation from Vega mentions “José J. Henna.” Henna, often referred to as “Julio J. Henna,” was also born in Puerto Rico, and also a momentous figure in Latin American politics. He lived in NYC for over fifty years. NY1920 returns to him in its August 5 post.
WRITTEN BY JONATHAN GOLDMAN, JULY 8, 2020.
TAGS: Puerto Rico, Cuba, Spain, Dominican Republic, colonialism, slavery, abolition, Carribbean, Latinx history, lying-in-state, revolution