600 
them. As long as slavery existed in 
St. Domingo, immorality and ignorance 
were in proportion to the absolute® pri- 
vation of liberty. In the islands’ where 
slavery still exists, almost allthe mas- 
ters openly oppose the marriage of their 
slaves, their conversion to Christianity, 
and the establishment of schools to 
teach them to read. 
Since Haiti has become free, and the 
negroes, have been their own masters, 
their ardour for instruction has been 
even greater than was their ardour for 
emancipation. Twenty-five:years have 
been sufficient to transform those, whom 
we considered brutes, into a humane 
and civilized nation; where schools are 
opening in every part; where the mind 
is making rapid progress ; where, in spite 
of the climate, every year is marked by 
improvement, in manners, knowledge 
and industry; where crime is rare; 
where justice is administered with 
promptitude and impartiality; where 
agriculture and commerce prosper ; 
where riches are fast accumulating; 
where the population has doubled, even 
amidst the terrific wars which accom- 
plished and followed the most astonish- 
ing of revolutions. This is what eman- 
cipated negroes have done in twenty-five 
years; whilst, in the east of Europe, an 
all-powerful government, repelling the 
knowledge of its neighbours, and its 
own experience, has, during four centu- 
ries, held half its provinces in servitude, 
barbarism and poverty—because it will 
abjure all progress of improvement, al- 
though strength, riches and renown are 
proffered to the other half in dower. 
SOUTH AMERICA, 
But the most gigantic step which 
human nature bas made during the 
last few years, is the emancipation of five 
great republics in America—Coromsra, 
Burnos Ayres, Cuiti, Peru and Mrx- 
1co—each surpassing in extent the space 
occupied by the civilization of the an- 
cient world, three centuries ago. Alrea- 
dy, they begin to increase in power and 
riches,which may place them, ultimately, 
on a par with the first order of states. 
Tn these vast regions, which, from. 
mistaken policy, theirformer government 
retained in ignorance, barbarism and 
poverty, in order to ensure their obe- 
dience; every European, though of a 
country allied to Spain, who entered 
without permission, was declared guilty 
of a capital crime; every vessel in dis- 
tress, which, driven by* the- tempest, : 
sought an asylum in their ports, was- 
Retrospect of the last Twenty-five Years. 
confiscated, and its crew- thrown into 
dumgeons, whence they never’ returned. 
Now, the ports of both Americas, spread 
for four'thousand miles along’ the’ coast, 
are open to every nationy’ ‘The’ English 
and the’ North-Americans) avail’ them~- 
selves most of this hospitality, enjoying 
thence the advantages of'an extensive 
commerce, and spreading, in® return, 
arts, intellect and’ social knowledge. 
Formerly, an American could’ arrive at 
no power ; every place of honour, pro- 
fit, or confidence was scld'by auction at 
Madrid : now, every course is open, and 
places and promotion are given to those 
who make the ablest) efforts *to'' shew 
their title to the confidence‘ of their fel- 
low-citizens. Formerly, no university, 
no public schools were: allowed’; no 
book could be admitted without the 
preliminary sanction of the Inquisition ; 
and it is not five years since a father 
was excommunicated at Chili, for having 
taught his daughter French! Now, all 
kinds of studies are encouraged; the 
press is‘ free; every state and province 
rivals another, in the establishment of 
new schools.’Formerly, the cultivation of 
the vine and the olive were forbidden; 
and the manufacture of every article of 
merchandize which Spain could supply : 
now, every kind of industry and com- 
merce ‘is protected; the revenues are 
doubled and quadrupled every year. 
Formerly, bull-baitings and: the refine- 
ments of cruelty were encouraged by 
the governors, and indulged im all the 
principal towns, to an extent unprece- 
dented, even in Spain; and in 1820,' 
Lima still echoed with the mad exult-' 
ing cries of men, women ard children, 
at these spectacles of blood—mingled’ 
with the ~ agonizing shrieks of bulls 
and horses, and the Toreadors: -now, 
wherever the Patriots have been trium- 
phant, such savage an¢ brutifying pas- 
times are abolished. The slavery of the’ 
Indians and negroes, accustomed them to 
despise their fellow-men, and to-abuse- 
the advantage which their castes and’ 
classes gave them; but now, slavery is’ 
abolished in all the republics, and man-' 
kind have become one family. - $ 
Without doubt, there remains much 
to be done ‘towards maturing the orga- 
nization of these new’ republics; for 
neither was it praeticable nor desirable’ 
that every thing should be done: at 
once: and-it would: be unjust and ab- 
surd to expect a government to arrive 
at perfection in the very outset—to be~ 
mature at the hour of birth. All-we- 
ought to! expect is, that it is Phe 4 
s an 
