La familia enferma first appeared in 1860 under a pseudonym. Sixty percent of it is a catalogue of alleged atrocities committed between March 1, 1854, and December 31, 1859, by the liberals (who are the “sick family” of the title). No indication is given as to how the compilation of robberies, rapes, assassinations, forced loans, desecration of temples, burning of houses and haciendas was made. The author’s word is the only evidence offered. The day-to-day list has no unity, no analysis whatsoever, and never mentions any negative aspects on the conservative side. The themes which emerge are (1) that the liberals were blood-thirsty anticlerics; (2) that they incited a race war; (3) that they favored socialism but really only practiced robbery; and (4) that they were so unpatriotic they were willing to sell much of Mexico to the United States.
By far the best part of this work (about one-fifth of the bulk) is that in which Aguilar uses his considerable talents as a satirist. His sword thrusts are as lethal in prose as they are in verse. Melchor Ocampo, Ignacio Comonfort, Santiago Vidaurri, and Benito Júarez (whose nicknames are conveniently identified by the editor) receive their share of wounds. But Aguilar reserved his really mortal lunges for Santos Degollado (Don Quijote de la Garra), Epitacio Huerta (Sancho Pitacio) and Juan José Baz (el Héroe del Jueves Santo; Monseñor el Delfín). The themes in these sections are the same as those indicated above. Even the victims must have appreciated Aguilar’s dexterity with the pen.
The remaining fifth of the book is made up of two appendices. The first one is a delightful satirical poem, “La Batalla del Jueves Santo,” which attacks Juan José Baz, the governor of the Federal District who attacked the atrium of the cathedral because the members of the cathedral chapter would not receive him at the main entrance to the temple. The second appendix is the report of the five-man committee appointed by the Assembly of Notables in July, 1863, to decide the form of government which Mexico was to adopt definitively. According to Victoriano Agüeros’ biography of Aguilar (taken from Antonio García Cubas’ Diccionario Geográfico, Histórico y Biográfico, and reprinted in this work as a 17-page prologue), the report was written by Aguilar. Gone is the satirist but not the literary artist. Aguilar’s analysis of Mexico’s ills is difficult to dispute, and perhaps Mexico would have fared better under a monarchy.
It is hoped that Editorial Jus will continue to publish the works of Aguilar y Marocho, a prominent conservative lawyer who served in Santa Anna’s government, was appointed to offer the crown to Maximilian in Europe, served as ambassador to the Holy See and to Spain, and who continued to expound his conservative, Catholic philosophy as a journalist until his death at the age of 70, in 1884. His writings reflect a well thought-out, conservative philosophy and are valuable both as literature and history. The calendar of atrocities which formed the bulk of this work was not the best choice, but Aguilar’s other writings should be made available.
