South American Independence 237
ence. It is true also that some very distinguished British
officers like Cochrane, Miller, Guise, and O’Leary, fought
successfully in the revolutionary army and navy. Nor can
it be denied that the British officers and the British soldiers
recruited against the orders issued by the British Govern-
ment had a distinguished rôle in the battles fought in the
northern movement. But neither the services of these men
nor their number and influence would be considered as a
factor of primary importance. The only thing that could
help efficiently the South American Revolution would have
been the formal recognition of these countries in the early
stage of emancipation, or formal alliance with them. Un-
happily, recognition by the United States and England
came very late. John Quincy Adams’s policy prevailed
over the eloquent pleading of Clay. Only after the fall
of Lima and the triumph of Carabobo, assuring the inde-
pendence of Venezuela, did President Monroe deliver his
famous message of the 8th of March, 1822. Professor
Paxon was right when he said, “But South America had
already gained its independence, so that recognition was
an acknowledgment of a fact, rather than a prop to a
wavering cause. It came too late to be considered as an
emotional appeal.”
Canning was even more cautious. He waited until the
last moment. And South America was obliged to wait
three years more to be recognized. It is rather an exagger-
ation to say that he called this new world into existence
when he recognized it. The new world was called into
life by itself. The step taken by,England, like the recog-
nition of the United States, was only the acceptance of the
fait accompli. Doubtless the recognition of England and
the United States had great influence afterwards in the
consolidation of the new nationalities and in preventing the