238 Hispanic America
extension to South America of the European policies and
methods. But this influence had nothing to do with inde-
pendence in itself, and its creative and heroic character.
Instead of looking for external causes in the explana-
tion of the independence, we ought to focus our attention
on the movement in itself and on the psychology of the
race, or one might rather say, the men who embodied this
movement. Was the South-American race capable of such
audacious thought, continuity in effort, heroic energy, orig-
inal plans, and a feeling of absolute self-denial for their
achievement? May we attribute this wonderful work
chiefly to human will and energy?
Dealing with the Renaissance, Burckhardt has dis-
credited the mere intellectual explanation of the ijnita-
tion of the thoughts and ideals of the Greco-Roman civiliza-
tion. Instead of this intellectual explanation, Burckhardt
has presented what we may call to-day the voluntaristic
explanation. The Renaissance was a creative movement,
due chiefly to the strong will and wonderful qualities
of the high personalities aroused in the political tumult
of Italy, and precisely because of it. The constant strug-
gle and the political dissensions among the mediæval
Italian towns developed the type of all-round men. The∙
influence of ancient civilization came at the precise moment
to give an intellectual direction. The Renaissance was the
work of great personalities.
We may apply the standpoint of Burckhardt to South
American independence on military and political grounds,
and the explanation is entirely in accord with what history
tells us about the psychology of the Spanish race. In spite
of the three centuries of colonial quietude, the heroic energy
of the race was not extinguished. As soon as the new ideal
came, the spirit of adventure arose. South American