that province had installed an independent government which besought the Liberator to sustain its existence。 Prompt to avail himself of so auspicious an opportunity of uniting this former division of the viceroyalty of New Granada to his republic of Colombia； Bolivar appointed Antonio Jose de Sucre； his ablest lieutenant and probably the most efficient of all Spanish American soldiers of the time； to assume charge of the campaign。 On his arrival at Guayaquil； this officer found the inhabitants at odds among themselves。 Some； hearkening to the pleas of an agent of San Martin； favored union with Peru； others； yielding to the arguments of a representative of Bolivar； urged annexation to Colombia； still others regarded absolute independence as most desirable。 Under these circumstances Sucre for a while made little headway against the royalists concentrated in the mountainous parts of the country despite the partial support he received from troops which were sent by the southern commander。 At length； on May 24； 1822； scaling the flanks of the volcano of Pichincha； near the capital town of Quito itself； he delivered the blow for freedom。 Here Bolivar； who had fought his way overland amid tremendous difficulties； joined him and started for Guayaquil； where he and San Martin were to hold their memorable interview。
No characters in Spanish American history have called forth so much controversy about their respective merits and demerits as these two heroes of independenceBolivar and San Martin。 Even now it seems quite impossible to obtain from the admirers of either an opinion that does full justice to both； and foreigners who venture to pass judgment are almost certain to provoke criticism from one set of partisans or the other。 Both Bolivar and San Martin were sons of country gentlemen； aristocratic by lineage and devoted to the cause of independence。 Bolivar was alert； dauntless； brilliant； impetuous； vehemently patriotic； and yet often capricious； domineering； vain； ostentatious； and disdainful of moral considerationsa masterful man； fertile in intellect； fluent in speech and with pen； an inspiring leader and one born to command in state and army。 Quite as earnest； equally courageous； and upholding in private life a higher standard of morals； San Martin was relatively calm； cautious； almost taciturn in manner； and slower in thought and action。 He was primarily a soldier； fitted to organize and conduct expeditions； rather than； a man endowed with that supreme confidence in himself which brings enthusiasm； affection； and loyalty in its train。
When San Martin arrived at Guayaquil； late in July； 1822； his hope of annexing the province of Quito to Peru was rudely shattered by the news that Bolivar had already declared it a part of Colombia。 Though it was outwardly cordial and even effusive； the meeting of the two men held out no prospect of accord。 In an interchange of views which lasted but a few hours； mutual suspicion； jealousy； and resentment prevented their reaching an effective understanding。 The Protector； it would seem； thought the Liberator actuated by a boundless ambition that would not endure resistance。 Bolivar fancied San Martin a crafty schemer plotting for his own advancement。 They failed to agree on the three fundamental points essential to their further cooperation。 Bolivar declined to give up the province of Quito。 He refused also to send an army into Peru unless he could command it in person； and then he declined to undertake the expedition on the ground that as President of Colombia he ought not to leave the territory of the republic。 Divining this pretext； San Martin offered to serve under his ordersa feint that Bolivar parried by protesting that he would not hear of any such self…denial on the part of a brother officer。
Above all； the two men differed about the political form to be adopted for the new independent states。 Both of them realized that anything like genuine democracies was quite impossible of attainment for many years to come； and that strong administrations would be needful to tide the Spanish Americans over from the political inexperience of colonial days and the disorders of revolution to intelligent self…government； which could come only after a practical acquaintance with public concerns on a large scale。 San Martin believed that a limited monarchy was the best form of government under the circumstances。 Bolivar held fast to the idea of a centralized or unitary republic； in which actual power should be exercised by a life president and an hereditary senate until the people； represented in a lower house； should have gained a sufficient amount of political experience。
When San Martin returned to Lima he found affairs in a worse state than ever。 The tyrannical conduct of the officer he had left in charge had provoked an uprising that made his position insupportable。 Conscious that his mission had come to an end and certain that； unless he gave way； a collision with Bolivar was inevitable； San Martin resolved to sacrifice himself lest harm befall the common cause in which both had done such yeoman service。 Accordingly he resigned his power into the hands of a constituent congress and left the country。 But when he found that no happier fortune awaited him in Chile and in his own native land； San Martin decided to abandon Spanish America forever and go into selfimposed exile。 Broken in health and spirit； he took up his residence in France； a recipient of bounty from a Spaniard who had once been his comrade in arms。
Meanwhile in the Mexican part of the viceroyalty of New Spain the cry of independence raised by Morelos and his bands of Indian followers had been stifled by the capture and execution of the leader。 But the cause of independence was not dead even if its achievement was to be entrusted to other hands。 Eager to emulate the example of their brethren in South America； small parties of Spaniards and Creoles fought to overturn the despotic rule of Ferdinand VII； only to encounter defeat from the royalists。 Then came the Revolution of 1820 in the mother country。 Forthwith demands were heard for a recognition of the liberal regime。 Fearful of being displaced from power； the viceroy with the support of the clergy and aristocracy ordered Agustin de Iturbide； a Creole officer who had been an active royalist； to quell an insurrection in the southern part of the country。
The choice of this soldier was unfortunate。 Personally ambitious and cherishing in secret the thought of independence； Iturbide； faithless to his trust； entered into negotiations with the insurgents which culminated February 24； 1821； in what was called the 〃Plan of Iguala。〃 It contained three main provisions； or 〃guarantees；〃 as they were termed： the maintenance of the Catholic religion to the exclusion of all others； the establishment of a constitutional monarchy separate from Spain and ruled by Ferdinand himself； or； if he declined the honor； by some other European prince； and the union of Mexicans and Spaniards without distinction of caste or privilege。 A temporary government also； in the form of a junta presided over by the viceroy； was to be created； and provision was made for the organization of an 〃Army of the Three Guarantees。〃
Despite opposition from the royalists； the plan won increasing favor。 Powerless to thwart it and inclined besides to a policy of conciliation； the new viceroy； Juan O'Donoju； agreed to ratify it on conditionin obedience to a suggestion from Iturbidethat the parties concerned should be at liberty； if they desired； to choose any one as emperor； whether he were of a reigning family or not。 Thereupon； on the 28th of September； the provisional government installed at the city of Mexico announced the consummation of an 〃enterprise rendered eternally memorable； which a genius beyond all admiration and eulogy； love and glory of his country； began at Iguala； prosecuted and carried into effect； overcoming obstacles almost insuparable〃and declared the independence of a 〃Mexican Empire。〃 The act was followed by the appointment of a regency to govern until the accession of Ferdinand VII； or some other personage； to the imperial throne。 Of this body Iturbide assumed the presidency； which carried with it the powers of commander in chief and a salary of 120；000 pesos； paid from the day on which the Plan of Iguala was signed。 O'Donoju contented himself with membership on the board and a salary of one…twelfth that amount； until his speedy demise removed from the scene the last of the Spanish viceroys in North America。
One step more was needed。 Learning that the Cortes in Spain had rejected the entire scheme； Iturbide allowed his soldiers to acclaim him emperor； and an unwilling Congress saw itself obliged to ratify the choice。 On July 21； 1822； the destinies of the country were committed to the charge of Agustin the First。
As in the area of Mexico proper； so in the Central American part of the viceroyalty of New Spain； the Spanish Revolution of 1820 had unexpected results。 Here in the five little provinces composing the captaincy general of Guatemala there was much unrest； but nothing of a serious nature occurred until after news had been brought of the Plan of Iguala and its immediate outcome。 Thereupon a popular assembly met at the capital town of Guatemala； and on September 15； 1821； declared the country an independent state。 This radical act accomplished； the patriot leaders were unable to proceed further。 Demands for the establishment of a federation； for a recognition of local autonomy； for annexation to Mexico； were all heard； and none； except the last； was answered。 While the 〃Imperialists〃 and 〃Republicans〃 were arguing it out； a message from Emperor Agustin announced that he would not allow the new state to remain independent。 On submission of the matter to a vote of the cabildos； most of them approved reunion with the northern neighbor。 Salvador alone among the provinces held out until troops from Mexico overcame its resistance。
On the continents of America； Spain had now lost nearly all its its possessions。 In 1822 the United States had already acquired East Florida on its own account； led off in recognizing the independence of the several republics。 Only in Peru and Charcas the royalists still bat