Spain in America; a history of the conquests, dominion and overthrow of Spain in the new world, ending with the Spanish-American War

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1898 Excerpt: ...from Colombia and its own independence. General Flores was the first president and he maintained the ascendency through a troublous period of fifteen years. Insurrections and revolutions followed in rapid succession for about twenty years, when an alliance was made in May, 1865, with Chili and Peru against Spain, and all Spanish subjects were banished from their territories. In August, 1868, an earthquake destroyed Quito and three other principal towns. In 1869 Moreno, who favored religious despotism, forced President Espinosa out of office by revolution, and succeeded in having himself elected in 1870 to a six years term of office. August 14, 1875, Moreno was assassinated by three of his private enemies. Insurrections began again and continued until 1886, when a spirit of internal improvement and commercial enterprise took hold of the people and they became more united under a given policy. From 1890 to 1894 numerous boundary disputes were disposed of and internal peace seemed assured. Roman Catholicism is the state religion. Suffrage is extended only to those who can read and write and are Roman Catholics. In a population of nearly a million and a half there is an enrollment in the schools ot about sixty thousand. The area is about 120,000 square miles. Colombia. THE Bepublic of the United States of Colombia is a confederation of states. Its coast line is about a thousand miles in length on the Atlantic. Western Colombia is the most mountainous district in the world. The eastern part takes in part of the great plains of the Orinoco and the Amazon. Its coast was first touched by Ojeda in 1499 and 1501. Columbus, on his last voyage, reached Veragua and Portobello, in 1502. The principal settlements were made at Panama, from which conquering expeditions were...