Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-10-12
Especial Correspondence

lSpectai CofrcSpoDuenceI
WASHINGTON, Oct. i0.--As I mingled
last week with tho delegates from South
and Central America who were in this
city attending the American congress,
heard them talk Of their countries and
industries, and noted that almost with.
out exception they were men of superior
education and attainments, the lesson
was brought home TO me. as dare say it
was to many others, that IL is the height
Of conceit for US to call ourselves. as we
do, "the Americans" There are other
great countries and peoples on this con.
tinent We are not the only Americans.
The United States has less than one
half the population of the western hemis-
phere, and by no means oil Of the cul-
ture, progress, literature. art and ma
terial resources. We'd well to cultivate
the acquaintance Of our neighbors to the
south, who are just now blossoming and
blooming both industrially and politi-
cally. The delegates from these southern
countries are now seeing what We some-
what narrowly term America. They are
visiting our cities and towns. our manu-
featuring establishments and our iaruis
Doubtless they will Gee much and be
greatly interested, but with some curl
osity concerning the commerce and in.
dustries of their own countries | made
inquiry of one Of the most intelligent Of
the delegates from South America, one
who has travelled from Patagonia to
British America.
"This is great country, a great coun-
try" said he, "but we have some great
countries, too. You people do not know
us; we do not know you. II is not so
easy to get from our country to yours
We go often to Paris, to London, even
to Berlin, but rarely to New York or
New Orleans, which are much nearer.
just now the English appear to be closer
TO us than any other people. They are
investing ia our railways, our mines,
our stock farms, our steamships, our
factories. They pour out money like
water for all our securities, corporation
as well as governmental There is ap-
parently no limit TO the confidence they
have in our future, as there seems to be
no bottom to their purse. Will they
lose on some Of their investments? All,
sir (and the delegate twisted his black
hh"S'oSho anu eih uSSeu his ehOulueTsl
no one cah tell that. Some have already
lost; others are likely to lose. But, no
matter. Is it not SO In all ventures? And
IL the English and French lose some
money in our enterprises. do they not
get all Of our trade?
"We think you people Of the United
States slow and unenterprising, because
you do not come down and invest with
us and trade with us as do the English
and French. For instance, l was talk
ing not long ago with your consul at
Maracaibo, Venezuela. For a long time
he endeavored to persuade capitalists of
the United States to invest in proposed
railway from Maracaibo to Merida, trav-
ersing the rich coffee regions of the Cor
dillera. But his suggestions bore no
fruit, except In Paris, where company
was organized to build the railway. The
Venezuelan government guaranteed Z
per cent. interest on the capital and
granted other extraordinary privileges.
The company has made a very nice
thing of it, and you Americans might
just as well have had the profit, for il is
an actual fact that it was the sugse