Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1826-05-13
81 EDWARDsyILLE, ILLINOIS, SATURDAY MAY 10,


mony with those OF their people, and
while forbearing, as their duties of neu-
trslity prescribed, from every measure
which could Justly be construed as hos
tile to Spain, they have exercised all the
moral influence which they possessed to
countenance and promote the cause OF
independence. So long as contest of
arms, with a rational or even remote
prospect OF eventual success was main
tanned by Spain, the United States could
not recognize the independence OF the CO.
lonies, as existing de lacto, without tres
passing Oh their duties 10 Spain, by as
Stunning as decided that question which
was precisely the question OF the war.
In the history Of South American in.
dependence, there are Two periods clear
| ~ dlstiDguishablel from each other The
iirsi that oil lis origin, wien II was rather
war oil Independence against France
lhan against Spain, and the second, from
the restoration OF Ferdinand the Seventh
in 1914. Since that period, the terrific
rles now constituting the Republic oil
Colombia have been The only theatre up
on which Spain has been able to main
ain the conhictoffensiveIy, with even
probable color of ullIb ate success. But
when in 1915, she made her greatest e.-
tort in the expedition from Csdlz, COM
msnded by Morijio, Mexico, Peru, and
Chm, were yet under her authority, aud
had She succeeded in reducing the coasi
oi Terrs Flrma and New Grenada,
provinces of La Plata, div ded among
themselves, aud weakened by The Portn-
suese Occupation OF Monte Fideo, would
probably not have held out against her
long This at Least was The calculation
other policy, and from the geographic.
cal position OF these countries, which
may be termed the heart oil SouIh Anne
rlca, the conclusion nigh well be drawn
that if the power of Spain could not be
firmly reseated there, it must be Oh her
part irui,less struggle to maintain her
supremacy in any part of the American
continent. The expedition of Morillo,
on lis first arrival, was attended with sig
|nai success-Csrthagena was taken.
The whole coast of Terra Firma was oc-
cupied, and New Grenada was entirely
,ubdued. A remnant OF patriots in Vene-
zueia, with their leader Bolivar, return
ing from expulsion, revived The cause oil
independence, and after the campaign Of
1919, in which they conquered the " mole
d New Grenada, the demonstration be
came complete, tina, every effort OF Spain
a.
nsDt must thenceiorward be desperate
waste OF her own resources, and that the
ruest friendship oi other nations to her
would consist in making her sensible
that Der own interest would be best con
sulted, by the acknowledgment Of thai
independence which she could no longer
effeclually dispute. l....
To this conclusion the Governrn ent OF
the United States had at an earlier pc
rod arrived. But from mat emergency,
the President has considered The question
OF recognition both in a moral and poll
tical view, as merely question of The
proper time While Spain could enter
ain reasonable hope Of mainiainng
The war, and of recovering her authority,
HE acknowledgment OF The Colonies IS
independent States, would have been u
wrong TO her; but she bad no right upon
he strength O! this principle 10 MAINTAIN
line preteuslon, after she was rpanliestly
disabled from attending the contest, and
by unreasonably Withholding her &C.
acknowledgement, TO deprive The ladepend-
ents of their right 10 demand the &C.
acknowledgement OF others. To fix upa..
the precise me,-when the duty 10 re.
spect the prior sovereign right OF SPAN
should cease, and that o! yielding 10 the
claim of acknowledgment would COM
mence, was subject of great delicacy,
and to the President, OF constant and
anxious solicilude. Itnaturaly became
in the tirst instance proper sublec, OF
consu l,ation, with other Powers, having
relations Of interests to themselves, with
The newly opened countries, as well as
Influence in the general affairs of Eu-
rope. In August, 1918, formal pro.
posai was made 10 the British Govern.
ment, for a coHcerled aud contemporary
recognition OF the independence OF Bue-
nos Ayres, then the only one Of the South
American States which, having declared
themselves independent had no SPANISH
force contending against it, within its
borders and where II therefore most I'M
equivocalIy existed in fact. The Bri-
fish Government, declined accepting the
proposal themselves, without however
expressing any disapprobation of it;
=. T.