Ineffectuatingsomeofthemostimportantoftheseestablishments，thedifferentgovernmentsofEuropehadaslittlemeritasinprojectingthem。TheconquestofMexicowastheproject，notofthecouncilofSpain，butofagovernorofCuba;
anditwaseffectuatedbythespiritoftheboldadventurertowhomitwasentrusted，inspiteofeverythingwhichthatgovernor，whosoonrepentedofhavingtrustedsuchaperson，coulddotothwartit。TheconquerorsofChiliandPeru，andofalmostalltheotherSpanishsettlementsuponthecontinentofAmerica，carriedoutwiththemnootherpublicencouragement，butageneralpermissiontomakesettlementsandconquestsinthenameofthekingofSpain。Thoseadventureswereallattheprivateriskandexpenseoftheadventurers。ThegovernmentofSpaincontributedscarceanythingtoanyofthem。ThatofEnglandcontributedaslittletowardseffectuatingtheestablishmentofsomeofitsmostimportantcoloniesinNorthAmerica。
Whenthoseestablishmentswereeffectuated，andhadbecomesoconsiderableastoattracttheattentionofthemothercountry，thefirstregulationswhichshemadewithregardtothemhadalwaysinviewtosecuretoherselfthemonopolyoftheircommerce;toconfinetheirmarket，andtoenlargeherownattheirexpense，and，consequently，rathertodampanddiscouragethantoquickenandforwardthecourseoftheirprosperity。InthedifferentwaysinwhichthismonopolyhasbeenexercisedconsistsoneofthemostessentialdifferencesinthepolicyofthedifferentEuropeannationswithregardtotheircolonies。Thebestofthemall，thatofEngland，isonlysomewhatlessilliberalandoppressivethanthatofanyoftherest。
Inwhatway，therefore，hasthepolicyofEuropecontributedeithertothefirstestablishment，ortothepresentgrandeurofthecoloniesofAmerica？Inoneway，andinonewayonly，ithascontributedagooddeal。MagnavirumMater！Itbredandformedthemenwhowerecapableofachievingsuchgreatactions，andoflayingthefoundationofsogreatanempire;andthereisnootherquarteroftheworldofwhichthepolicyiscapableofforming，orhaseveractuallyandinfactformedsuchmen。ThecoloniesowetothepolicyofEuropetheeducationandgreatviewsoftheiractiveandenterprisingfounders;andsomeofthegreatestandmostimportantofthem，sofarasconcernstheirinternalgovernment，owetoitscarceanythingelse。
PART3