"We are not yet ready for complete independence."
"So long as Spaniards rule over us we shall never be more ready than we are now."
"How do you propose to begin?"
"I wish to form a small secret committee of men who are ready to dare everything for the accomplishment of our one object."
"Have you spoken to any one else of it?"
"You are the first."
"Then let me be the last also, Carlos. We are so strong that we have no need of any secrecy, what we want is publicity to educate the people into a knowledge of their own rights and of their own power. To form a committee as you suggest is the first step towards a conspiracy, and will give a pretext for forcible measures of repression, which can only end in civil war. Let us openly demand that half the seats in the Cabildo be given to Creoles, and that Creoles be henceforth eligible for any post under government."
"And then we will throw open our ports to the world and invite the English to come and trade with us?"
"Just so. With our own men in every corporation all necessary reforms are possible."