The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-05-08
The Argentine Confederation.

Since the new President of the Argentine
confederation, Don Domingo F. Sarmiento,
assumed the executive power, great change
has taken place in the Plata valley. Public
improvements, railroads and telegraphs appear
to be the order of the day. Now, our cor
respondence tells us, telegraphic lines are to
be run from Buenos Ayres to all the principal
cities of the republic. This will certainly be
the best protection that can be had against the
repeated gauclso uprisings which have kept that
country so long in a revolutionary condition.
The Argentine people have, since the date
of their independence, been divided into
two great parties. The marked characteristics
of these have not been caused so much by
political creeds as by the pecu-
liarities of the topography of the country.
Buenos Ayres up to late date has
been the one great centre of commerce. Here
has been concentrated the wealth and nearly
all the civilization of the country. Two-thirds
Of its large population are English, French,
German and Italians. The people of the in
terror, uneducated, yet full of sturdy feeling
of independence, could not stand the dictation
which characterized Buenos Ayres as pro-
vince of the confederation. Wars arose in
consequence, and the now fourishing city of
Rosario sprung up upon the banks of the
Parana, two hundred and seventy miles above
Buenos Ayres. This new city has become the
great outlet for the upper provinces and the
terminus of railroad two hundred and fifty
,,;1o IN, oor1x Late 10
very heart of the country. Other railroads
have penetrated inland to the west and south.
They are all built by English capital and are
all paying large dividends.
Next to the United States the Argentine re-
public has had the greatest influx of immi-
grants from Europe, and there is an immense
annual increase. These are principally Ital-
ians, who are very rapidly exerting an impor-
tant influence, not only upon the Argentine
government, but upon that Of the neighboring
republic Of Uruguay, where many have also
settled Political jealousies between the vari-
GUS provinces have lately become more quiet
One event is notable-President Mtre COM
pleted his Presidential term and quietly turned
over his chair to his regularly elected sue
cessor, Sarmiento. The interior provinces,
although somewhat uncertain Of the policy of
the new Executive, have quietly submitted to
the laws and lend themselves to the general
desire for national Improvement and progress
The Southwestern tribes of Indians, who have
heretofore made fearful raids upon the cattle
farms, are receiving due attention. Freedom
of religious worship has contented the settlers
and merchants from other countries, and five
or six Protestant churches, which the energy
of the Rev. William Goodfellow has called into
existence, attest moral progress.
The Argentine republic, in the fertility of
its soil and the superiority of its climate, is to
South America what our Mississippi Valley is
to North America. The Plata basin is but
little inferior to our own great valley, while
the water carried to the ocean by the Plata is
far greater in quantity than the drainage
which, from our own States, flows into the
Gulf of Mexico. All that the great Plata
valley requires is good government, and the
prospects are that II is now on the right track.
With twenty years Of prosperity IL will be the
strongest and most prosperous country in
South America.