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La Columna De La Independencia

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La Columna De La Independencia Producción: Editorial Jilguero S.A. de C. V/ Méxi<o Desconocido. Coordinación Editorial: Leonor López Domínguez. Diseño: Rodo Mireles Gavito. Primera edición 1990 D.R.C. Editorial Jilguero S.A. de C.V. México, D .F. ISBN-968--6520-00-7 La presente edición es producto del esfuerzo y el trabajo de un equipo humano profundamente comprometido con México. Su edición e impresión han sido patrocinadas por las empresas de: Holding Fiasa Mexival Sector Marftimo Casa de Bolsa Sector Turfstico Seguros Sector Automotrfz Arrendamiento Financiero Casa de Cambio Factoraje HOLDING FIASA ANGEL 1 AOORIGUE.Z SAEZ Con profundo agrado, Holding Fiasa ofrece a sus amigos y clientes esta edición, única en su género, alusiva al monumento de los Héroes de Independencia. Con esta obra, estamos contribuyendo a cumplir con el gran compromiso que tenemos hacia nuestro país y que hemos heredado del sentimiento nacionalista del fundador del Grupo Holding Fiasa, Don Isidoro Rodríguez Ruiz. A lo largo de esta publicación, el lector no sólo conocerá la visión histórica de los aspectos políticos y sociales, que culminan con el movimiento revolucionario y el nacimiento de nuestra actual Nación; sino también los aspectos anecdóticos y las vicisitudes de la construcción de uno de los monumentos más representa­ tivos de nuestro país que, sin duda alguna, es el sello distintivo de la Ciudad de México. Esperamos que esta edición sobre la Columna y el Angel de la Independencia, sea de su agrado y que su lectura le resulte útil para mayor conocimiento de nuestra c1udad y nuestro país. Presidente del Consejo de Adm1n1stración. LA COLUMNA DE LA INDEPENDENCIA Texto: Alicia Sánchez Mejorada de GiL. Fotografía: Héctor Vela.Jco Facio. 1 ASÍ COMENZÓ IODO 6 • EL SUEÑO DESANTAANNA 12 • UN MONUMENTO POSTERGADO 17 11 PREPAUIIVOS PAU LA LLEGADA 20 • PRUDENCIA, FE Y ENERGÍA 28 • EL PROYECTO DE ORSINI 31 • LA ERA DE LA "LA PAZ" 34 111 LLEGó Y SE POSÓ 40 • SE INICIA LA CONSTRUCCIÓN 54 • LAS FIESTAS DEL CENTENARIO 61 • EL DÍA SEÑALADO 67 IV VUELOS AL PASO DEL TIEMPO 72 • LUZ PARA RECORDARLOS 82 • EL ANGEL CAÍDO 88 • UNA CIUDAD CON ANGEL 91 ASÍ COMENZÓ T O D O uropa vivía inmersa en el Siglo de las Luces, cuyo resplandor lograba traspasar fronteras y atravesar océanos. Para no ir más lejos aquí en la Nueva España, tuvieron lugar durante esos años los cambios políticos y sociales que marcarían en forma indeleble nues­ tra historia y que darían lugar al perfil del México que hoy en día conocemos. El más importante de estos suce­ sos, la Independencia, aconteció en el primer cuarto del siglo XIX. Pero el tiempo seguía su marcha, y México su carrera hacia la ma­ durez. Así, sobrevinieron a la In­ dependencia, el imperio de un antiguo insurgente: Agustín de 1turbide; la guerra de Texas - léa­ se la pérdida de más de la mitad de nuestro territorio-; las idas y ve­ nidas a la presidencia de Antonio López de Santa Anna; el estableci­ miento de un segundo imperio, esta vez bajo el patrocinio de Napoleón III y el mando del archiduque Maximiliano de Habsburgo; la tan controvertida por varios gobernantes de México. En 1822, siendo emperador Agustín de lturbide, se levantó en la ciudad de Celaya, Guanajuato, el primer monumento del país dedicado a celebrar nuestro rom­ pimiento con la metrópoli hispana. La obra estuvo a cargo del célebre arquitecto Francisco Eduardo Tres Reforma, madre a su vez de nu­ guerras, quien proyectó una co­ merosas luchas internas y el triun­ lumna corintia emplazada sobre fo de la República. Al fin, en 1876 un pedestal cuyo remate era la todos estos movimientos al pare­ escultura de un águila devorando cer cesaron por completo con la una serpiente. subida al poder de Porfirio Díaz, Se sabe que el primer gobernador quien prolongó su estancia dicta­ de Guanajuato, Carlos Montes de torial por más de tres décadas. Oca había firmado un decreto en Durante el lapso transcurrido 1824 para levantar un monumento entre la Independencia y el Por­ en la congregación de Dolores firiato se concibieron obras cívicas reconociéndola como villa. Este y proyectos arquitectónicos que proyecto no se llevó a cabo; sin reflejaban las cambiantes circuns­ embargo, un año después, en sep­ tancias del país y el consecuente tiembre de 1825 se conmemoró en clima tan propicio para el desa­ la Ciudad de México por primera rrollo de las artes y el seguimiento vez el aniversario de la proclama­ de proyectos a largo plazo. ción de la Independencia, esta cele­ Erigir un monumento para honrar bración tuvo lugar en un templete la Independencia era una vieja idea colocado para ese fin en la Plaza de acariciada a lo largo de los años Armas de la Ciudad de México. EL SUEÑO DE SINTIINNI Más tarde el general Antonio L6pez y esbelta columna de homenaje a la de Santa Anna, en una de sus tan­ Independencia. El sueño de u su tas gestiones como Presidente de alteza serenísima" no llegó a ser la República, pensó nuevamente realidad a causa de la inestabilidad en erigir un monumento a la Inde­ política reinante, aunque los pendencia. preparativos para construirlo sí se Cuentan que a menudo se asoma­ llevaron acabo. SantaAnna mandó ba por los balcones del Palacio tirar el mercado y, además, en Nacional a contemplar la plaza, 1843, después de emitido el decre­ 1 Como.-~ la convoca­ entonces ocupada por el mercado to que ordenaba la reorganización toria del concurso publi­ cada elll de julio de 1843. del Parián; fue tal vez en una de de la desaparecida Academia de atemdiendoa un decreto del 27 de junio del mismo año. esas ocasiones cuando tuvo la vi­ San Carlos (establecida en México ' Salvador Novo. Lo; pa­ .-.1 ík 14 CW3U ík Mt.xico. sión de una plaza despejada en cu­ desde 1783 por cédula del rey Mb:ico, Fondo de Cultura Económica, 1980. yo centro destacara una hermosa Carlos III de España), convocó a VIJta ~ 14 Gran Plaza de Mé:cico <~egún el proyecto de Don Lorenzo de 14 HWalga. Lilogra/Úl de Pedro Gu.a/Ji. 184J. un concurso para construir un de caracol hasta la estatua; y en las "monumento que recuerde las caras del pedestal, bajorrelieves acciones heroicas y campañas re­ con temas de las acciones que con­ lativas a la Independencia mexi- dujeron a la lndependencia''2. Así, 1 cana" • abrió el concurso en el que hubo 12 La Academia de San Carlos fue la participantes y se fijó en 300 pesos encargada de verificar el concurso el premio al mejor proyecto. y calificar los proyectos. Los pro­ Los académicos otorgaron el fesores acordaron en junta cómo primer premio al arquitecto francés debía ser el monumento: "una co- Enrique Griffon; el segundo al lumna honoraria colocada sobre arquitecto de nacionalidad hispana, un pedestal, revestida de mármol, pero casado y radicado en nuestro con adornos de bronce dorado; y país, Lorenzo de la Hidalga y el coronando el todo, una escalera tercero al también arquitecto y agrimensor Vicente Casarín. Santa trucción de un buen teatr o: el 4 Anna no estuvo de acuerdo con el Teatro Santa Anna" • resultado del concurso por lo que De acuerdo con el proyecto de las autoridades se declararon in­ Lorenzo de la Hidalga de qu1en conformes. Poco después y me­ alguna vez se dijo que le había diante otro decreto, el presidente "devuelto su grandiosidad a la General Antonio López de Santa Anna. provisional de México Valentín arquitectura de México", el monu­ En Úl. página opuu ta: ElevllCwn íJel Monu11~e~1to Canalizo decidió otorgar los 300 mento a la Independencia se le­ a Úl. 1n dependencia o~egw1 el proyecto del art¡uitecto pesos como indemnización al vantaría sobre un zócalo en el Lore11zo íJe Úl. HiJa~t¡a. Litografúz Je Peoro proyecto ganador pero encargó su centro de la Plaza de Armas, frente Gua/di. J84J. construcción al arquitecto De la a Palacio Nacional y constaría de Hidalga. 11 Se criticó el proyecto de dos partes principales. La primera,. Griffon por colocar una estatua octagonal, estaría decorada con ecuestre como remate ala columna, guirnaldas de laureles y tendría en a una altura considerable, y el el frente principal una puerta de adornar su fuste con las armas y acceso a la galería o panteón. Ahí los nombres de las naciones reposarían los restos de los europeas" 3 . primeros héroes de la Indepen­ Al parecer algo había de razón en dencia con sus respectivos bustos las críticas y en favorecer a De la e inscripciones. En el centro, una Hidalga ya que como artista "era escalera espiral conduciría a la bueno: tan bueno como ese Tolsá tribuna de discursos. En cada de quien tanto hablaban; y prac­ ángulo, un pedestal serviría de ticamente, mexicano. Al pueblo le sostén a la efigie de algún caudillo caería bien que se prefiriese a un insurgente. mexicano. El había construído aquí La segunda parte, de planta cua­ 3 Al fonso Alcacer. lA Co­ lumna ue ÚJ. lnuepenuencia. nomás, a la vuelta, la cúpula de drada, tendría en sus ángulos sen­ México. Ediciones de la Delegación Cuauhtémoc, Santa Teresa la Nueva. Y el pre­ das estatuas representando la s/f. pág. 8 • Salvador Novo. Op. cil. sidente le había encargado la cons- Justicia, la Ley, la Fuerza y la Vigilancia (el autor consideraba que estas cuatro virtudes consti­ tuían el sostén moral de la inde­ pendencia de los pueblos). Sobre esta parte del monumento se le­ vantaría la gran columna con su pedestal ornamentado con cuatro bajorrelieves de bronce para re­ cordar el Grito de Iguala, el de Dolores, la Entrada del Ejército Triunfante y la Batalla de Tampico.
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