The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1886-03-24
Get five of your neighbours 60 take SentiDe
and your own will be paid for.
THE AMERICAN ZOLVEREIN. ,"

THE AMERICAN ZOLVEREIN."
Perhaps Europe has really taken alarm, as
we few days ago indicated in the Sentinel
it was likely to do, in its great naval prepa-
ration at the contemplated American Zol-
verein," embracing a commercial and Gus
toms union of the Western Continent. The
plan has developed both support and antago-
nism in the Spanish American countries
Many letters and expressions from promi-
nent Mexicans and South Americans are
favorable to the plan which, indeed would
meet with universal appreciation except from
their fears of our predominating physical
strength, fears that are political IN their ma
ture and which are kept alive aud increased
by English, French and German agents.
Every American would ridicule a political
union. No good to any of the parties could
possibly come from such union. Only
evil could possibly result to all. All the
Spanish American countries recognize the
benefits and would welcome the results of
such a community of interests, once their
fear of political interference were overcome.
The plan in short, is no political union or
coTumon action, but merely absolute free
trade between all the countries on this Con-
tiDent
1t is daily growing into stronger faver with
Congress, and 1t affords the only practicable
solution for many of our most perplexing
questions. Yet this practicability depends
largely upon the will of Europe, and it is
safe to say that not only is that will intensely
hostile, but that it will go so far as to forci-
bly, prevent it, if that be within their power.
Our own military and naval helplessness at
this critical moment can only be regarded
in the light of calamity, but that helpless
ness should not prevent us from persevering
in the line our interests end the interests OF
the entire continent have determined. 1t is
not to be imagined that this project can be
accomplished at once. But events will make
it easier and difficulties will disappear. The
first intimation OF European political inter.
ference would show these governments OF
South America that they must be allied to q
stronger power in order to retain their in.
dependence. This was made apparent long
ago, when the Emperor of Brazil attempted
personally to get the American Government
to guarantee Brazil against European en-
croachment at a time when 1t was threatened
with Spanish and German opposition op
posed to the title of Dom Pedro.
That this country needs above all else, tc
engage with energy in the affairs of the
world is as true as that our internal prosperi
ty and peace depends upon it. As a whole
our internal development has passed beyond
the point of feverish activity it has also gone
too far into the future. Our railways are
made, and our wilderness is subdued The
machinery Of commerce and industry /:
scattered throughout the breadth of the land
While we will still progress, the movement
will be slower, more conservative, more due
to the natural growth and needs of popula
ton and less to the possibilities of specula
ton. We have built up an industry that we
can not support And we must find an out
let for it or see it either crumble away, OF
see 1t turn upon and destroy us. The same
causes that impel the nations of Europe into