ognizing the independence of the several republics。 Only in Peru and Charcas the royalists still battled on behalf of the mother country。 In the West Indies； Santo Domingo followed the lead of its sister colonies on the mainland by asserting in 1821 its independence； but its brief independent life was snuffed out by the negroes of Haiti； once more a republic； who spread their control over the entire island。 Cuba also felt the impulse of the times。 But； apart from the agitation of secret societies like the 〃Rays and Suns of Bolivar；〃 which was soon checked； the colony remained tranquil。
In Portuguese America the knowledge of what had occurred throughout the Spanish dominions could not fail to awaken a desire for independence。 The Prince Regent was well aware of the discontent of the Brazilians； but he thought to allay it by substantial concessions。 In 1815 he proceeded to elevate the colony to substantial equality with the mother country by joining them under the title of 〃United Kingdom of Portugal； Brazil； and the Algarves。〃 The next year the Prince Regent himself became King under the name of John IV。 The flame of discontent； nevertheless； continued to smolder。 Republican outbreaks； though quelled without much difficulty； recurred。 Even the reforms which had been instituted by John himself while Regent； and which had assured freer communication with the world at large； only emphasized more and more the absurdity of permitting a feeble little land like Portugal to retain its hold upon a region so extensive and valuable as Brazil。
The events of 1820 in Portugal hastened the movement toward independence。 Fired by the success of their Spanish comrades； the Portuguese liberals forthwith rose in revolt； demanded the establishment of a limited monarchy； and insisted that the King return to his people。 In similar fashion； also； they drew up a constitution which provided for the representation of Brazil by deputies in a future Cortes。 Beyond this they would concede no special privileges to the colony。 Indeed their idea seems to have been that； with the King once more in Lisbon； their own liberties would be secure and those of Brazil would be reduced to what were befitting a mere dependency。 Yielding to the inevitable； the King decided to return to Portugal； leaving the young Crown Prince to act as Regent in the colony。 A critical moment for the little country and its big dominion oversea had indubitably arrived。 John understood the trend of the times； for on the eve of his departure he said to his son： 〃Pedro； if Brazil is to separate itself from Portugal； as seems likely； you take the crown yourself before any one else gets it！〃
Pedro was liberal in sentiment； popular among the Brazilians； and well…disposed toward the aspirations of the country for a larger measure of freedom； and yet not blind to the interests of the dynasty of Braganza。 He readily listened to the urgent pleas of the leaders of the separatist party against obeying the repressive mandaes of the Cortes。 Laws which abolished the central government of the colony and made the various provinces individually subject to Portugal he declined to notice。 With equal promptness he refused to heed an order bidding him return to Portugal immediately。 To a delegation of prominent Brazilians he said emphatically： 〃For the good of all and the general welfare of the nation； I shall stay。〃 More than that； in May； 1822； he accepted from the municipality of Rio de Janeiro the title of 〃Perpetual and Constitutional Defender of Brazil； 〃 and in a series of proclamations urged the people of the country to begin the great work of emancipation by forcibly resisting； if needful； any attempt at coercion。
Pedro now believed the moment had come to take the final step。 While on a journey through the province of Sao Paulo； he was overtaken on the 7th of September； near a little stream called the Ypiranga； by messengers with dispatches from Portugal。 Finding that the Cortes had annulled his acts and declared his ministers guilty of treason； Pedro forthwith proclaimed Brazil an independent state。 The 〃cry of Ypiranga〃 was echoed with tremendous enthusiasm throughout the country。 When Pedro appeared in the theater at Rio de Janeiro； a few days later； wearing on his arm a ribbon on which were inscribed the words 〃Independence or Death；〃 he was given a tumultuous ovation。 On the first day of December the youthful monarch assumed the title of Emperor； and Brazil thereupon took its place among the nations of America。
CHAPTER IV。 PLOUGHING THE SEA
When the La Plata Congress at Tucuman took the decisive action that severed the bond with Spain； it uttered a prophecy for all Spanish America。 To quote its language： 〃Vast and fertile regions； climates benign and varied； abundant means of subsistence； treasures of gold and silver 。 。 。 and fine productions of every sort will attract to our continent innumerable thousands of immigrants； to whom we shall open a safe place of refuge and extend a beneficent protection。〃 More hopeful still were the words of a spokesman for another independent country： 〃United； neither the empire of the Assyrians； the Medes or the Persians； the Macedonian or the Roman Empire； can ever be compared with this colossal republic。〃
Very different was the vision of Bolivar。 While a refugee in Jamaica he wrote： 〃We are a little human species； we possess a world apart 。 。 。 new in almost all the arts and sciences； and yet old； after a fashion； in the uses of civil society。 。 。 。 Neither Indians nor Europeans； we are a species that lies midway 。 。 。 。 Is it conceivable that a people recently freed of its chains can launch itself into the sphere of liberty without shattering its wings； like Icarus； and plunging into the abyss？ Such a prodigy is inconceivable； never beheld。〃 Toward the close of his career he declared： 〃The majority are mestizos； mulattoes； Indians； and negroes。 An ignorant people is a blunt instrument for its own destruction。 To it liberty means license； patriotism means disloyalty； and justice means vengeance。〃 〃Independence；〃 he exclaimed； 〃is the only good we have achieved； at the cost of everything else。〃
Whether the abounding confidence of the prophecy or the anxious doubt of the vision would come true； only the future could tell。 In 1822； at all events； optimism was the watchword and the total exclusion of Spain from South America the goal of Bolivar and his lieutenants； as they started southward to complete the work of emancipation which had been begun by San Martin。
The patriots of Peru； indeed； had fallen into straits so desperate that an appeal to the Liberator offered the only hope of salvation。 While the royalists under their able and vigilant leader； Jose Canterac； continued to strengthen their grasp upon the interior of the country and to uphold the power of the viceroy； the President chosen by the Congress had been driven by the enemy from Lima。 A number of the legislators in wrath thereupon declared the President deposed。 Not to be outdone； that functionary on his part declared the Congress dissolved。 The malcontents immediately proceeded to elect a new chief magistrate； thus bringing two Presidents into the field and inaugurating a spectacle destined to become all too common in the subsequent annals of Spanish America。
When Bolivar arrived at Callao； the seaport of Lima； in September； 1823； he acted with prompt vigor。 He expelled one President； converted the other into a passive instrument of his will； declined to promulgate a constitution that the Congress had prepared； and； after obtaining from that body an appointment to supreme command； dissolved the Congress without further ado。 Unfortunately none of these radical measures had any perceptible effect upon the military situation。 Though Bolivar gathered together an army made up of Colombians； Peruvians； and remnants of San Martin's force； many months elapsed before he could venture upon a serious campaign。 Then events in Spain played into his hands。 The reaction that had followed the restoration of Ferdinand VII to absolute power crossed the ocean and split the royalists into opposing factions。 Quick to seize the chance thus afforded； Bolivar marched over the Andes to the plain of Junin。 There； on August 6； 1824； he repelled an onslaught by Canterac and drove that leader back in headlong flight。 Believing； however； that the position he held was too perilous to risk an offensive； he entrusted the military command to Sucre and returned to headquarters。
The royalists had now come to realize that only a supreme effort could save them。 They must overwhelm Sucre before reinforcements could reach him； and to this end an army of upwards of ten thousand was assembled。 On the 9th of December it encountered Sucre and his six thousand soldiers in the valley of Ayacucho； or 〃Corner of Death；〃 where the patriot general had entrenched his army with admirable skill。 The result was a total defeat for the royaliststhe Waterloo of Spain in South America。 The battle thus won by ragged and hungry soldierswhose countersign the night before had been 〃bread and cheese〃threw off the yoke of the mother country forever。 The viceroy fell wounded into their hands and Canterac surrendered。 On receipt of the glorious news； the people of Lima greeted Bolivar with wild enthusiasm。 A Congress prolonged his dictatorship amid adulations that bordered on the grotesque。
Eastward of Peru in the vast mountainous region of Charcas； on the very heights of South America； the royalists still found a refuge。 In January； 1825； a patriot general at the town of La Paz undertook on his own responsibility to declare the entire province independent； alike of Spain； Peru； and the United Provinces of La Plata。 This action was too precipitous； not to say presumptuous； to suit Bolivar and Sucre。 The better to control the situation； the former went up to La Paz and the latter to Chuquisaca； the capital； where a Congress was to assemble for the purpose of imparting a more orderly turn to affairs。 Under the direction of the 〃Marshal of Ayacucho；〃 as Sucre was now called； the Congress issued on the 6th of August a formal declaration of independence。 In honor of the Liberator it christened the new republic 〃Bolivar〃later Latinized into 〃Bolivia