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Literary
November 24, 1817
Daily National Intelligencer
Washington, District Of Columbia
What is this article about?
An article for the Rational Intelligencer discusses Divine Providence in Southern revolutions aiming for independence from the Old World, presenting a 1812 poem urging Columbia's sons to break colonial fetters, using gold mining as a metaphor for exploitation amid Napoleon's threat to Spain.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
FOR THE RATIONAL INTELLIGENCER
In the revolutions now taking place in the South of this great continent, we may trace the finger of Divine Providence, tending to an entire severance of the Eastern from the Western world!—a disruption which may restore the natives to Independence and happiness. Heaven, we may hope, will not deny the blessings of liberty to that vast portion of the earth, which to us it has so graciously granted.
The following lines were written, without any design for publication, in the year 1812, when a great part of Old Spain was in possession of the armies of France, and the ancient Spanish dynasty tottered before the legions of Napoleon.
By what fell charm, by superstition wrought,
Have worlds been linked: the New one to the Old,
Earth's fairest portion, held by tie unnatural?
Why count the ages of this loathsome toil,
This burrowing labor, which in deep recess
Of ingulph'd misery, from moon to moon,
Digs the base gold; to waste life's vital lamp,
Shut out from Heaven's pure light—from the
bright sun,
And gay creation; hid in gloomy night;
To force the unwilling earth; tear from her womb
The glittering ore, moisten'd with bitter tears
And many a heaving groan and heart-felt sigh,
To load the pamper'd sideboard, and to heap
The miser's chest, or swell the mighty vault,
From rich Potosi?—Quick rend thy fetters!
Rise from thy prostrate state; in freedom walk
Stand thou at once erect, Columbia's son;
Know thou and feel the dignity of man!
Thy parent soil, now trod by giant power,
Awakes to greatness, and her Cortez chiefs
Will not deny thy heritage. Be free!
Free from thyself—in native grandeur rise!
Shake off thy shackles, and in union firm,
Defy a world!
H.
In the revolutions now taking place in the South of this great continent, we may trace the finger of Divine Providence, tending to an entire severance of the Eastern from the Western world!—a disruption which may restore the natives to Independence and happiness. Heaven, we may hope, will not deny the blessings of liberty to that vast portion of the earth, which to us it has so graciously granted.
The following lines were written, without any design for publication, in the year 1812, when a great part of Old Spain was in possession of the armies of France, and the ancient Spanish dynasty tottered before the legions of Napoleon.
By what fell charm, by superstition wrought,
Have worlds been linked: the New one to the Old,
Earth's fairest portion, held by tie unnatural?
Why count the ages of this loathsome toil,
This burrowing labor, which in deep recess
Of ingulph'd misery, from moon to moon,
Digs the base gold; to waste life's vital lamp,
Shut out from Heaven's pure light—from the
bright sun,
And gay creation; hid in gloomy night;
To force the unwilling earth; tear from her womb
The glittering ore, moisten'd with bitter tears
And many a heaving groan and heart-felt sigh,
To load the pamper'd sideboard, and to heap
The miser's chest, or swell the mighty vault,
From rich Potosi?—Quick rend thy fetters!
Rise from thy prostrate state; in freedom walk
Stand thou at once erect, Columbia's son;
Know thou and feel the dignity of man!
Thy parent soil, now trod by giant power,
Awakes to greatness, and her Cortez chiefs
Will not deny thy heritage. Be free!
Free from thyself—in native grandeur rise!
Shake off thy shackles, and in union firm,
Defy a world!
H.
What sub-type of article is it?
Poem
What themes does it cover?
Liberty Freedom
Political
What keywords are associated?
Columbian Independence
Spanish Colonies
Colonial Exploitation
Gold Mining
Napoleon Invasion
Divine Providence
What entities or persons were involved?
H.
Literary Details
Author
H.
Subject
Written In The Year 1812, When A Great Part Of Old Spain Was In Possession Of The Armies Of France, And The Ancient Spanish Dynasty Tottered Before The Legions Of Napoleon.
Key Lines
By What Fell Charm, By Superstition Wrought,
Have Worlds Been Linked: The New One To The Old,
Quick Rend Thy Fetters! Rise From Thy Prostrate State; In Freedom Walk
Stand Thou At Once Erect, Columbia's Son;
Shake Off Thy Shackles, And In Union Firm, Defy A World!