Page:Mexico (1829) Volumes 1 and 2.djvu/143

MEXICO. Ill but, far from this, the great object of every Junta throughout America, appears to have been, to extend its own authority, and its own creed as to the abstract rights of man, on the plea of the public good. In it, as in the natural diversity of opinions, which prevailed, where no previous understanding existed, and no fixed principles were known, we find the real cause of that protracted struggle, by which the country was desolated : Buenos Ayres wished to proscribe laws for Monte- video and P6t5si, — Caracas for Santa Fe, — Chile for Peru. Each district, and family, again, sought to extend its juris- diction, or influence : none would recognize any sort of supe- riority on the part of the others : the sword was the universal arbitrator in every difference: predatory bands were orga- nized, and lived at large upon the country : the common cause was lost sight of amidst these interminable disputes, while the common enemy, whose object was, at least, clear and well defined, took advantage of them to re-establish an authority, which, under other circumstances, must have sunk at once. Such are the general features of the contest between Spain and her former Colonies. To throw off" the yoke, in the first instance, was a task comparatively easy ; but to re-organise society after the dissolution of all earlier ties, to curb pas- sions once let loose, to give to any party, or system, a decided ascendancy, where claims (or pretensions) were equal, and superior talent rare, — this was an art that nothing but expe- rience could teach ; that nothing, at least, but the most bit- ter experience has ever been known to teach, in the annals of mankind. Fourteen years of anarchy and bloodshed, have brought the Americans to something more like vmity of plan, and will, probably, give stability to the system which they have, with some modifications, universally adopted. With regard to their Independence, the question has long been decided ; differences of opinion may exist upon other points, but upon