La Legión Paraguaya
En cualquier lugar del mundo la palabra "legionario" puede remontar en primera instancia a las formidables legiones romanas o quizás a la Legión Extranjera Francesa.
En el Paraguay, incluso actual, para la mayoría de la población esa palabra es sinónimo de traición, y no cualquier traición, si no la peor de todas; la traición a la patria.
El 18 de diciembre de 1864 se fundó en Buenos Aires la Legión Paraguaya, una Asociación de emigrados paraguayos destinada a unificar los trabajos tendientes "a la regeneración del Paraguay". Según el acta de fundación, los propósitos de la asociación eran:
"Rescatar la patria de las guerras del tirano que la ha convertido en patrimonio suyo. Darnos una Constitución cual corresponde a un pueblo que ha adoptado la forma republicana, que establezca y regle los altos poderes del Estado. Elevar al Gobierno hombres que nos traigan la consideración y aprecio de todo gobierno oculto y que merezca la confianza de los gobiernos vecinos. Depuestos los LÓPEZ del poder serán juzgados ante la ley. Echar un velo sobre la época anterior en todo lo que sea de un carácter puramente político. El resumen de nuestros propósitos es hacer la luz en las tinieblas; que la civilización mate a la barbarie".
Esta Legión llegó a Corrientes con las fuerzas que comandaba el general Wenceslao Paunero, jefe del primer cuerpo del Ejército argentino y muy pronto se vio dividida por graves desavenencias de sus dirigentes.
Muchos se retiraron de la Legión al conocer los tratados "secretos" de la Triple Alianza.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Paraguayan Legion
In any part of the world the word "legionary" can go back in the first instance to the formidable Roman legions or perhaps to the French Foreign Legion.
In Paraguay, even today, for the majority of the population that word is synonymous with betrayal, and not just any betrayal, if not the worst of all; treason.
On December 18, 1864, the Paraguayan Legion was founded in Buenos Aires, an Association of Paraguayan emigrants destined to unify the work aimed at "the regeneration of Paraguay." According to the founding act, the purposes of the association were:
"Rescue the homeland from the wars of the tyrant who has made it his patrimony. Give us a Constitution that corresponds to a people that has adopted the republican form, which establishes and regulates the high powers of the State. Elevate to the Government men who bring us the Consideration and appreciation of any hidden government that deserves the confidence of neighboring governments. Deposed the LÓPEZ of power will be tried before the law. Throw a veil over the previous era in everything that is of a purely political character. The summary of our purposes is to make light in the darkness; that civilization kills barbarism".
This Legion arrived in Corrientes with the forces commanded by General Wenceslao Paunero, head of the first corp of the Argentine Army, and very soon it was divided by serious disagreements among its leaders.
Many withdrew from the Legion upon learning of the Triple Alliance's "secret" treaties.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A Legião Paraguaia
Em qualquer parte do mundo, a palavra "legionário" pode remontar em primeira instância às formidáveis legiões romanas ou talvez à Legião Estrangeira francesa.
No Paraguai, ainda hoje, para a maioria da população essa palavra é sinônimo de traição, e não qualquer traição, senão a pior de todas; traição para a pátria.
Em 18 de dezembro de 1864, a Legião Paraguaia foi fundada em Buenos Aires, uma Associação de Emigrantes Paraguaios destinada a unificar a obra voltada para a “regeneração do Paraguai”. De acordo com o ato fundador, os objetivos da associação eram:
"Resgata a pátria das guerras do tirano que a fez seu patrimônio. Dê-nos uma Constituição que corresponda a um povo que adotou a forma republicana, que estabelece e regula os altos poderes do Estado. Elevar ao Governo os homens que traga-nos a consideração e o apreço de qualquer governo oculto que mereça a confiança dos governos vizinhos. Deposto o poder da LÓPEZ será julgado perante a lei. Jogue um véu sobre a era anterior em tudo que é de caráter puramente político. O resumo de o nosso propósito é iluminar as trevas; que a civilização mata a barbárie”.
Esta Legião chegou a Corrientes com as forças comandadas pelo General Wenceslao Paunero, chefe do primeiro corpo do Exército Argentino, e logo se dividiu por graves desentendimentos entre seus chefes.
Muitos se retiraram da Legião ao saber dos tratados "secretos" da Tríplice Aliança.
It's cool and all, but you're not giving the full picture. You say "A Paraguayan patriotic group from the 1860's, calling itself 'Legion', today is associated with treason. They formed to bring progress and democracy to Paraguay, but soon became internally divided as many of its members disagreed over 'secret treaties'". What 'secret treaties'? Sure, we can look this up ourselves, but I'm just saying that if you begin to give context, you should actually give it. What was so terrible about these secret protocols that divided the members of the Legion? Who were the persons that negotiated these secret protocols? How have they done in without the other prominent members of the Legion? Why did the other members just leave the alliance instead of kicking out the plotters? And most importantly, what did the plotters manage to achieve that was so bad as to mar the name of the 'Legion' for all of history? We need information!
You're right, but part of that context is explained here on the main page:
Buenos Aires, May 1, 1865.
Rufino Jacinto de Elizalde stares into the eyes of his interlocutors and asks: is everyone in agreement with this?
Carlos de Castro affirms without looking back, while Octaviano de Almeida Rosa stands up impatiently and expresses himself: "I hope your president fulfills his promise."
A few days before, the President of the Argentine Republic, General Bartolomé Mitre, had harangued the crowd gathered in front of his Buenos Aires residence:
"In 24 hours to the barracks, in fifteen days in Corrientes, in three months in Asunción!"
It would be the secret articles (for a few months) of this treaty that would seal the fate of that part of the continent, in what would be the bloodiest, most ruthless and cruel conflict in its history, since they would force the Paraguayan people to fight now, not out of fear or loyalty to its president-marshal Francisco Solano López, but for its very survival as a Nation. This treaty would be remembered as the Treaty of the Triple Alliance, or as a brilliant Argentine thinker, Juan Bautista Alberdi, said, the "Treaty of the Triple Infamy".
Why did the other members just leave the alliance instead of kicking out the plotters? And most importantly, what did the plotters manage to achieve that was so bad as to mar the name of the 'Legion' for all of history?
They leave because the articles of the treaty.
Very briefly, the treaty said that they were fighting against the Paraguayan government and not against its people, that their independence, sovereignty and territoriality would be respected. But then in other articles the allies described how the Paraguayan territory would be divided between Argentina and Brazil, in addition to paying expensive war taxes that the new governments (which in theory were not their enemies) should pay.
The treaty itself, which explains what you need, is very long and I don't know if everyone is interested. I thought that if there was someone interested in digging deeper they would look for answers on the internet.
What those who continued in the legion did "bad" is to fight against Paraguay under the Paraguayan flag, to see and accept how their allies killed, looted and raped their compatriots.
Thank you.
In any case you are right, in several articles I have not given the full context because it is too long and I do not know if most people are interested. In addition to the fact that I have little time, I try to give indications for each one to tie up the loose ends and investigate a little. Thanks for your comment!