Rapprochement with the Jesuit debates in the village of Santiago de Cali. A study based on the press, 1849-1850

The objective of the article at hand is to show the opinion and controversy created by the arrival of the Society of Jesus to Santiago de Cali, expressed in articles which were published in the newspapers El Sentimiento Democrático and El Ariete. The text explains how the religious presence of the Jesuits served to revive the conflict among the liberal and conservative parties in 1849 and 1850. The author contextualizes the problem form the distinct political tendencies and the role of “order,” which were manifested during the liberal government of José Hilario López. In particular, the fear the liberal factions had with regard to the impact of the Society in politics, New Granada education, and society in general; likewise, the role and the position of the conservatives in defense of members of a religious order and with regard to the liberal reforms of the times. Finally, the author exposits what the role was of the parents with regard to the presence of the Jesuits and their compliant with reference to the direction of the Colegio de Santa Librada in Santiago de Cali and the reaction of some democratic societies and liberal factions in the locality.