[540] a quien tocaría, whose lot it would be.
[541] el golpe definitivo. The battle of Ayacucho (1824), fought between the Spaniards and the combined Colombian and Argentine forces under the command of Sucre, Bolívar’s lieutenant, put an end to Spanish domination in South America. As a feat of arms it stands among the most brilliant of those recorded in the annals of South American history. Sucre, though his forces numbered but half those of the Spaniards, completely routed them, capturing about one-third of their army, including La Serna, the commander-in-chief, as well as all their baggage and ammunition.
[542] describiera. Cf. 66, 16; 223, 16.
[543] Fray Cayetano Rodríguez (1761-1823), historian of the proceedings at the Congress of Tucumán. As a poet he wrote a sonnet Al 25 de Mayo, and versified on other events of his time.
[544] no es de extrañar, it is not to be wondered at.
[545] Se pensó en traer, Some thought of bringing.
[546] San Martín, Belgrano. Cf. 18, 17, and Introduction.
[547] uno de los detractores de la monarquía. One of the few voices raised against the monarchical idea was that of the deputy Anchorena, but his arguments were so specious that they rather strengthened the supporters of the monarchy.
[548] una mano firme. Argentina owes in large measure her present republican form of government to Fray Justo de Santa María de Oro, who at the Congress of Tucumán stood out firmly and energetically in behalf of a republic.
[549] la vía, i.e., of democracy.