258 



WANDERINGS IN SOUTH AMERICA. 



how long will it be before they try to raise themselves 

 into independent states ? And if they should succeed 

 in crushing us in these our last remaining tenements, I 

 would bet ten to one that none of the new governments 

 will put on mourning for our departure out of the lSTew 

 World. We must well remember that our own govern- 

 ment w r as taxed with injustice and oppression by the 

 United States during their great struggle ; and the 

 British press for years past has, and is still teeming 

 with every kind of abuse and unbecoming satire against 

 Spain and Portugal, for their conduct towards the now 

 revolted colonies. 



France also comes in for her share of obloquy. Now, 

 this being the case, will not America at large wish most 

 devoutly for the day to come when Europe shall have 

 no more dominion over her 1 Will she not say to us, 

 " Our new forms of government are very different from 

 your old ones i We will trade with you ; but we shall 

 always be very suspicious of you, as long as you retain 

 possession of the West Indies, which are, as we may 

 say, close to our door-steads. You must be very cautious 

 how you interfere with our politics ; for, if we find you 

 meddling with them, and by that means cause us to 

 come to loggerheads, we shall be obliged to send you 

 back to your own homes, three or four thousand miles 

 across the Atlantic ; and then, with that great ditch 

 betwixt us, w r e may hope we shall be good friends." 

 He who casts his eye on the East Indies, will there see 

 quite a different state of things. The conquered dis- 

 tricts have merely changed one European master for 

 another; and I believe there is no instance of any 

 portion of the East Indies throwing off the yoke of the 

 Europeans, and establishing a government of their own. 



