Page:The World's Famous Orations Volume 9.djvu/90

 THE WORLD'S FAMOUS ORATIONS other and of the strength and resources of the several parts of her American possessions, she next prohibited the inhabitants of one vice- royalty or government from visiting those of an- other; so that the inhabitants of Mexico, for example, were not allowed to enter the vice- royalty of NeAv Granada. The agriculture of those vast regions was so regulated and restrained as to prevent all collision with the agriculture of the peninsula. Where nature, by the char- acter and composition of the soil, has command- ed, the abominable system of Spain has forbid- den, the growth of certain articles. Thus the olive and the vine, to which Spanish America is so adapted, are prohibited wherever their culture can interfere with the olive and the vine peninsula. The commerce of the country, in the direction and objects of the exports and imports, is also subjected to the narrow and selfish views of Spain, and fettered by the odious spirit of mon- opoly existing in Cadiz. She has sought, by scattering discord among the several castes of her American population, and by a debasing course of education, to perpetuate her oppression. What- ever concerns public law or the science of gov- ernment, all writings upon political economy, or that tend to give vigor and freedom and ex- pansion of the intellect, are prohibited. Gentle- men would be astonished by the long list of distinguished authors whom she proscribes, to be found in Depon's and other works. A main 80