St. Landry democrat., 1889-10-12
The American Congress.

gress of American Nations The Old
World is watching this movement with
Jealous eyes. The capitalists and politi-
clans of Europe are exceedingly anxious
over the matter and grave fears are enter
tanned by theE2 that movement will be
inaugurated that will make the Western
Continent more independent If them.
There was time when the commercial
and political powers of the Old World
combined, held completely in their power
the greater part of American nations and
controlled the governments Of quite num-
Der. Now nearly all the Continent is free
from European political control. Spain
once enjoyed large share of America and
exercised control over great part of
North and South America, but England
and France held the greater part of North
America. The Republican form of gov
eminent has driven out their holdings.
England and France gave up North
America. Spain gave up Mexico and the
Central and South American Republics and
now holds only few small islands. The
Empire of Brazil is independent and thus
nearly if not quite all of South America
is free from foreign control. England con-
trolls in North America, Canada, Nova
Scotia, the Hudson Bay and New Found
land. All these holdings are doubtful.
One by one they pass from their control
politically, but commercially they hold the
trade. This is why they fear this Amerl-
can Congress. Measures are likely to be
put in motion that will direct the channel
of trade to and through other sources.
Should this American Congress succeed In
establishing such relations between the
countries of the American continent as to
turn the channels of trade it is thought by
many that it will drive out the European
capital from these countries and they Will
seek to open more extensive trades with
other nations. Capital may not be with
drawn but will pass more into the hands
of investors and will be of immense value
in adding to the a.th of our country.
1
attention at their hands than ever before.
The Times Democrat in speaking of this
subject says:
Nearly all of the continent is free from
Enronean political control. British North
America has but provincial governments,
which promises ultimately to become indie.
nend.nt. Spain holds its most valuable
possession in insular America with q
doubtful tenure and even France has had
more or less trouble with her little West
Indian islands.
But while the political power of the Old
World over the New has been long ago
broken forever, all of America is
under independent governments, Europe,
retains commercial dominion over the
greater part of the Western Continent, and
profits enormously by that dominion: Ii
the Congress of American nations can sue
coed in obtaining it's object of establishing
closer commercial relations between the
countries of the American continent and
form that dreadful 'szollverein," or COM
mercial union, which meets with such bit
ter disapproval on the other side OF the
Atlantic, the commercial dominion OF
Europe over America will be as completely
overthrown as it's political dominion has
been.
The English, German, French, Spanish
and Austrian political and commercial
journals have good reason for the great
alarm they are showing on the eve of the
me @ ing of the American international
Congress. That COW e1tion of the repre-
sentatives of all American nations can issue
another great and general declaration Of
independence against Europe and thi.
will be to free all America from the con.
troll of European commerce and finances
The continent produces and manufactures
everything that its great and various peo-
pies need. The deliberations and declara
lions of this Congress can be carried out b.
the American nations SO as to bring then
,, all mutual benefit, and to strengthen theil
general political standing to position O
impregnable power.
A Vienna paper, in speaking of thi
movement, says:
As those markets in the South of Amer
lea close up, one after another, more ant
more each year of European manufacturers
they are turning their views toward Afric'
and other undeveloped countries to max
up for the lack.
, These statements are made strong ant
earnest because of the dependence of Eu
repean manufacturers on foreign markets
In the United States we do not feel tn
shutting up of a foreign market so much
7 but in Europe it is in many cases matte
of commercial life or death, and for thi
reason they see the immediate necessit.
for prompt action to counterfeit this com
mercial movement.