Page:The World's Famous Orations Volume 9.djvu/88

THE WORLD'S FAMOUS ORATIONS In contemplating the great struggle in which Spanish America is now engaged, our attention is fixed first by the immensity and character of the country which Spain seeks again to sub- jugate. Stretching on the Pacific Ocean from about the fortieth degree of north latitude to about the fifty-fifth degree of south latitude, and extending from the mouth of the Rio del Norte (exclusive of East Florida), around the Gulf of Mexico and along the South Atlantic to near Cape Horn, it is nearly five thousand miles in length, and in some places nearly three thou- sand in breadth. Within this vast region we be- hold the most sublime and interesting objects of creation, the richest mines of the precious metals, and the choicest productions of the earth. "We behold there a spectacle still more interesting and sublime — the glorious spectacle of eighteen millions of people struggling to burst their chains and to be free. When we take a little nearer and more detailed view, we perceive that nature has, as it were, ordained that this people and this country shall ultimately constitute several different nations. Leaving the United States on the north, we come to New Spain, or the viceroyalty of Mex- ico on the south ; passing by Guatemala, we reach the viceroyalty of New Granada, the late cap- tain-generalship of Venezuela, and Guiana, lyiug on the east side of the Andes. Stepping over the Brazils, we arrive at the united provinces of La Plata, and crossing the Andes we fiend Chili on 78