Félix Varela: The One Who Taught Cubans To Think
A painting of Felix Varela by artist Orlando Quevedo.
Cubans know Félix Varela as, "The one who taught us to think." This phrase was coined by José de la Luz y Caballero, a student of Varela’s, and is based on the widely-asserted claim that Varela introduced Cuba to the principles of scientific thought, the first independence ideals, and the pursuit for national identity.
Born in Havana on November 20, 1788, Varela’s mother passed at childbirth, which led to Varela being raised by his grandfather, a military man, in St. Augustine, Florida. When Varela was encouraged to join the military at 14 years old, Varela replied, "I want to be a soldier of Jesus Christ. My plan is not to kill men, but to save souls."
Varela then returned to Cuba, where he studied to become a priest at San Carlos and San Ambrosio Seminary and also studied at the University of Havana. Within a year of his ordination, he joined the seminary faculty teaching philosophy, physics, and chemistry. Varela taught many influential Cubans, including José Antonio Saco, Domingo del Monte, José de la Luz y Caballero, and Felipe Poey. Additionally, “The one who taught us to think” is an acclaimed author and published Miscelánea Filosófica, a popular book on philosophy, and establishing a literary society (all before he was 30 years old.)
The San Carlos and San Ambrosio Seminary where Varela studied.
At the end of the eighteenth century and the beginning of the nineteenth century, Cuba was in the grip of political influence from Spain, commercial and economic influence from the United States, and cultural influence from Europe. Meanwhile, the tension between Cuba and Spain intensified at the beginning of the nineteenth century as landowners experienced a loss of power due to Spain’s commercial restrictions on the colony. Inspired by the ideals of the French Revolution, the Enlightenment, and the American Revolution, many Cubans began to develop nationalist thinking and rejected colonial power over the island. At this time, Reformists sought to negotiate terms with Spain. Annexationists sought to hand Cuba over to the United States’ control, and Varela fell into the third camp — a path for independence and self-governance.
Varela saw independence from Spain as the only way forward for the nation. His call for independence was radicalized as it was believed Spain would never accept this demand. Varela stated, “I am the first to be against the union of the Island with any government, and I would like to see the Island in politics as it is in nature [...]”
He also vehemently spoke out against slavery, “I am against slavery […] I would work to suppress it. I learned to hate her since I was a child, and I cannot conceive the sacrilegious fallacy with which white men try to subdue the black, affirming that they constitute a cursed and brutalized race […]”
In 1822, Varela shared his “Draft Decree on the Abolition of Slavery on the Island of Cuba” with the Spain government, which served as a precedent for the process of abolishing slavery on the island. Because Varela’s position was contrary to the most influential elite’s interests, Varela was forced into exile. Varela stated, “My separation from the homeland is inevitable, and in this, my most faithful friends agree. Was it my fault that I loved her too much? But here is only one fault that I do not regret."
In Cuban history, Varela is recognized as the first great exile. It is important to note that exile is symbolic throughout Cuba's struggle for independence. During his exile, two important Cuban independence wars erupted, including in 1895 led by the national apostle, José Martí, and in 1952 led by Fidel Castro.
Following his exile, Valera spent most of his life in the United States, unable to materialize Cuban independence, but this did not deter his adamant belief.
Varela founded the first newspaper for exiles in Florida, "El Habanero," published in Philadelphia (1824-1825) and New York (1825-1826). In "El Habanero," Varela wrote about the need to raise awareness for Cuban unity, political opportunism, the mercantile mentality, and above all, the lack of patriotism.
Varela founded El Habanero, the first newspaper in the United States for exiles in Florida.
Aside from advocating for Cuban independence, Varela undertook other pursuits. He led three parishes in New York, founding an orphanage, school, and church for immigrants in New York, filing patents as an inventor, and creating a sewing association for women to market their designs to earn their own money.
It was proposed for Varela to be the Bishop of New York at one point, but the Church and Spanish government prevented this. He did act as the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of New York from the 1820s until he died in 1853. Since then, the United States Postal Service issued a series of stamps with his name on September 15, 1997, acknowledging his role in social reform.
Varela never did return to Cuba. He lived out his final days in the United States. Many believe Varela was unjustly exiled as a rebellious priest, enemy of scholasticism, and radical opposer of the Church. However, what’s more widely accepted today is that Varela never lacked his faith and was passionate about the ethics of truth and goodness in the world.
Today, many remember him as a pedagogue, philosopher, professor, politician, and proponent of both science and religious faith. Varela perpetuated progressive concepts that could be considered far ahead of his time, such as religious freedom, education for all, abolishing slavery, and calling for independence. Due to his influence in establishing Cuban national identity, Varela will always be remembered not only for his push towards a more progressive world. But also for his incomparable contribution to Cuban national culture and history.