New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-12-27
PROGRESS or EDUCATION IN SPANISH
AMERICA

In many respects the republican principle or
government has not yet made that progress in
Spanish America which the noble men who
conducted the war of independence anticipated,
and which all friends of republican institutions
hope for. Civil wars are still of too frequent
occurrence, showing that in many of the prom
inent men personal ambition is still mlghtler
than respect for the law and devotion to the
public welfare Freedom of religious worship
is not yet fully established in most of the re-
publcs Education is not yet as universally
diffused and as far advanced as in the United
States and in the great countries of Western
Europe. Commerce. Industry. and Agriculture
are not yet sufficiently developed, and the i'm
mense resources of the soil are still far from
yielding to the inhabitants all the advantages
that might be derived therefrOm.
And yet there is progress in all directions,
and greater progress than is commonly known
among us. Railroads, telegraphs, and steam
boats are steadily increasing, and proving there,
az elsewhere, the apostles of true civilization.
Almost each one of the many letters which
THE TRIBUNE publishes from South America
mentions some interesting instances OF new
enterprise The population is everywhere on
the increase There is evidently growing
aversion TO lawlessness and civil war. But
what more than anything else promises the
success of republican institutions in this part
of America, no less than in our own country,
are the praiseworthy efforts which for years
have been made, and still are being made, for
the general diffusion of popular education. No
man has, in this respect, distinguished him
self so much as the ambassador of the Ar
Oeafac
Domingo +. SarmentO. For more than
thirty years Mr. Samiento has labored
in this field with untiring energy. 1t is, In
particular Chl-in which Republic he was for
many years employed as a practical educator
and the Argentine Republic, his native State,
and OF which he is now one of the most dis
tinguished diplomatic agents. which are largely
indebted to the zeal of Mr. SarmientO for the
progress of education. Mr.. Sarmento has writ
ten a number of works on the subject, the last
of which is a report to the Argentine Minister
of Public instruction on the schools In the
United States, considered as the basis OF their
prosperity and republican Institutions"
More recently. Mr. Sarmiento has established
in this city an Educational Review, under the
name Of A1,bds americas (Both Americas
tho chief object of which is to aequalnt the
people of South America with the progress of
the United States in education and in agricul-
ture and to serve as the central organ of all
the educational interests of the South Ameri-
can Republics. The second number, which has
Just been published shows that the faith
full labors of Mr.. SarmientO are appreciated
in all parts Of South America Letters frop
all the Republics show that everywhere the
Review meets with intelligent and enthusi-
astic friends, who fully comprehend the i'm
portance of popular education, and therefore
volunteer their services for the circulation of
the Review The Federal Government of the
Argentine Republic has subscribed for the
journal several States of the Confederation
have followed the example, and it is hoped
that the Governments of other Republics will
show the same interest in the matter
This general interest in the cause of educa-
cation we regard as one of the most hopeful
signs for the future of allSouth America. Uni
versatility of education has everywhere proved
sound basis of progress and prosperity, and
il will prove so no less in South America.