france's blockade had lasted for two years, and the 'american' government, inspired by 'american' spirit, was facing off with france, european principles, european pretensions. the social results of the french blockade, however, had been fruitful for the argentine republic, and served to demonstrate in all their nakedness the current state of mind and the new elements of struggle, which were to ignite a fierce war that can end only with the fall of that monstrous government.