Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-01-14

Importance OF gaining dominion in the new world
In 1893 Pope Alexander the 9Th issued the famous
bull by which he granted to the united crowns OF
Ferdinand and Isabella all lands discovered and to
be discovered beyond line drawn from pole to
pole three hundred miles west of the Azores, Spain
being considered the most faithful son and ally of
the Supreme Pontf. The Portuguese navigators,
then highly successful among the nations OF Eu-
rope in the splendid maratime discoveries on both
sides OF the globe respected the rights of Spain and
did not seek gain territory west ofth line defined
by the Pope. AS the sea coast of Brazil was east
of said line the Portuguese having first taken pos
session Of that vast country, the Spanish sovereign
did not dispute the Portuguese claim, and thus
these two monarches seemed to regard the new
world as belonging to themselves. In one lmpor-
tant respect spain and Portugal as well as France
and England agreed, involving an incredible
amount OF human woe and shame-that of disrc-
gardIng the rights of the native inhabitants OF the
newly discovered countries. The lecturer careful
" described the logic and the method by which the
European monarchs arrived to this inhuman and
startling conclusion, and how it became an estab-
lished maxim OF European policy and law. The
rigid Interpretation and execution which the Span
ards gave to this bloody legal fiction was clearly
presented, and was given a condensed statement
of the terrible scenes and consequences OF It's en-
inrcement on the natives Of the West Indies and
south America. Reliable historic computation as
that by the sxteth year alter they had taken
possession of the countries in America, the Span
ards became the destroyers of no less than twelve
millions ofpeople.
The discovery of the Orinoco, the Pearl Coast
Daren, Peru Chill, and the character of the Span
ish colonization and rule were described. The dis
ceVery in 1912, of the Rio de la Plata by John Diaz
soils, placed that vast system OF rivers draining
more than twelve hundred thousand square miles
Of rich territory under the control of the Spanards
The Argentine Republic now possesses large por.
ton of this domain, having an area larger than
France, Germany, and Great Britain united, en-
bracing nearly every variety of soil and tempera-
ture, with rivers navigabe from the spurs OF the
Andes to the shores of the Atlantic, has popula
ton of only two millions, though it has resources
capable of sustaining sixty millions. Uruguay
one of the finest pieces of territory in the world
every square league being capable of cultivation,
with climate equal to the finest in Italy, with six
hundred miles OF deep water frontage tor large yes
sells, possessing striking advantages of commercial
position, was settled and well known to the Span
iards and Portuguese nearly century earlier than
the settlement of New England, yet has a popula
ton to-day not exceeding halt million, though 1t
has natural capabilities for ten millions OF people.
Though Brazil was first seen by an European
Vinccnte Pincon, companion OF Columbus, In
January 1900, its full discovery was made by Pc
dro Cabal, a Portuguese navigator, who took for
nal possession of the country in the name of his
sovereign, in April of the same year.
In 1904 the Portuguese established colony on the
coast, and subsequently others at different points
and thus Portugal became the possessor of that
vast territory fifteen times the present area of the
German empire, and nearly eight times as large as
France and Germany united. In 1856 and 1857, un
der the direction of Admiral Coiign the great Pro-
testant leader of France, ten thousand French
Huguenots established themselves at Rio Janeiro
to escape Catholic persecution in their own coun
try. But owing to the treachery and pertidy Of
those who had invited them to their new homes
they were nearly all compelled to return to Eu
rope. The Dutch established colony at Pernam
buco having no special regard to the line CT the
Pope running from pole to pole; but this settle
ment was finally broken up. Had Brazil continued
be the YUM of the prosecuted Huguenots, and
the Protestants been able to hold Pernambuco
what would have been the influence on that vast
and luxuriant country is an interesting subject OF
reflection.
For three hundred and fifty years the Spanish
and Portuguese people and the Roman Catholic
religion have maintained complete sway over South
America, and its present population and intellect
ual and moral condition were the product of the
Spain and Portugal of the days of Charles the
Fifth and Phillip the Second. For three hundred
the best thoughts that Spain and Portugal could
produce Those proud Latin sons carried with
them to their new homes the books and the arts
the civil and military culture of the Roman world
The lecturer divided the men who now control
the affairs OF South American countries into four
classesthe lawyer, the priest the soldier and the
Gaucho, the latter two often blending in one. Each
of these carefully described and their charac
terstics infinitely painted. The primal type Of the
lawyer was found in the description given by
Gibbon OF the legal profession in the Roman en-
pire the days ofConstantne the Great Careless
Of fame and Of justice they are described for the
conducted their clients through maze ofeXpense,
of delay and disappointment, from whence after
tedious series of years, they were at length dis
missed when their patience and fortune were al.
most exhausted"
The priest might be native of the country, prob.
ably educated at some Jesuit school, perhaps n
native of Spain, not unfrequenty of Italy. lie is
likely to be person of agreeable manners afable,
worlds affairs. He has 1t in his power to exert
| much influence in political and military affairs.
| is often deep in the intrigue,s and conspir-
iracies of revolution. The history Of the south
American countries from the days of Pizarro
to this time had tended to make the profess onal
| soldier prominent. Epaulets, bright buttons, and
gold lace had potential sway. If the deeply laid
plot is the product of the political lawyer he knows
well that the General or Colonel will be his second
in the attempt to make the plot fact lul
revolution, though the men who take the perls and
| strike the blows are likely to be the European
| mercenary, or the Gaucho of the plains.
] The Gaucho was fully sketched and presented as
| a veritable child ofthe wind and the pampG-the
Arab of South America, perhaps of less courage in
| earnest warfare than the African son of Ishmae
but like the Arab in swtness of horse and in those
1.-the, facile, dashing apttudes which certain poetic
minds delight to picture as the luxuriant frutage
| of free, virgin nature.
| The swift riders of the pampas are rapidly gath.
cred into rude cavalry and used by the political
leaders of the cities MS the scourging arm, the ma
cfa force, for the work of rev Olution and govern
| ment change. 1t was an improving sign that the
influence of the Gaucho is lcssening. He has a
mortal dread of infantry armed with breachoad-
| ers a square of which OF few hundreds standing
| firmly will scatter thousands OF Gaucho cavalry
The infantry armed with Remmingtons are trans
mitted by the railroad to the focus of revolt before
the party OF revolution can concentrate us forces
| and thus steam beats the horseman of the plains
and the railroad becomes a benefcent agency OF
government peace, and order. Next after Protest
| ant Christianity and Free schools, the railroads
| are the hope for order and good government in
South America. In the construction of these iron
bands for the crushing ont of revolution and disor
der and the welding together of national unity cit
izens OF the United States are taking the lead The
| lecturer paid fitting tribute to Wheelwright, who
built the first railroad the Pacific coast and af-
| forwards WAS the leading spirit in building the
railroads of the Argentine Republic, which has
\ more miles in operation than any other South
American country-to the marvellous energy of
| Meigs who is pushing railroads in Chilli and Peru
| on an extensive scale-and to Church, who is en-.
| raQel the gigantic scheme of turning the
| merce of Bolivia from its old channels by the way
of the Pacific. down the Amazon and thus shorten.
ing the commercial transit of two millions ofpeo-
pie five thousand miles.
| The area and productive power OF South
| America and North America were compared.
Statistics were made the mathematical scales
| by which to weigh the two Americas as
| they are to day represented by their respect
| i've civilizations, their populations, commercial
marine, exports and imports naval and military
power, schools, colleges, effective teachers news.
papers, periodicals, valuable publications, and
i was shown the immense preponderance in favor OF
North America, especially of the United States
Mr.. Stevens evidently regards the theory of Mr..
| Buckle not sustained by South American history,
but expressed his conviction that IDEAS moral
truths, Christian principles, are the true forming
| and guiding influences of men and nations. lie
maintained that the Bible, the book of all the
| ages, interpreted by free Intelligence the Divine
| Christ and the Paternal God, are the mpera-
tive need of all the countries from the Rio
| (,rando q the Straits of MAGELLAN. and warmly