as far as your rifles cover

Do you think, you slaves of a thousand years to poverty, wealth and pride, you can crush the spirit that has been free in a land that's new and wide? When you've scattered the last of the farmer bands, and the war for a while is over, you will hold the land – ay, you'll hold the land – the land that your rifles cover. Till your gold has levelled each mountain range where a wounded man can hide, till your gold has lighted the moonless night on the plains where the rebels ride; Till the future is proved, and the past is bribed from the son of the land's dead lover – you may hold the land – you may hold the land just as far as your rifles cover.